kykNET reveals cast of new Diepe Waters telenovela as several actors tread water in the same timeslot and newcomers take a dive into TV.

by Thinus Ferreira

kykNET has revealed the cast of its upcoming new Afrikaans telenovela Diepe Waters, with several faces from the cancelled Getroud met Rugby soap staying put and treading water in the same TV timeslot, while several new and veteran actors have been added to the Penguin Films produced series.

Set around a competitive South African swimming club, Diepe Waters will start on Monday 3 October in the 18:00-timeslot on kykNET (DStv 144).

Diepe Waters makes use of the existing Coronationville indoor swimming pool in Glencairn Street in Johannesburg for exterior scenes, as well as new studio-based sets constructed in Johannesburg.

On Tuesday evening kykNET revealed the cast at a poolside media event at the Hotel Sky in Sandton, Johannesburg, that included a Q&A with the cast and crew, as well as kykNET executives.

The Diepe Waters cast includes veteran actors like Justin Strydom, Sandi Schultz, Nadia Valvekens, Neels van Jaarsveld, Lea Vivier, Werner Coetser, Altus Theart, Lizz Meiring, Rika Sennet and Eloise Cupido, alongside a crop of new actors.

Justin Strydom plays Gys Swarts who lives beyond his means with his ambition and drive causing him to hurt people close to him.

Sandi Schultz is the scheming Zelda, bent on taking revenge on Gys.

Lea Vivier is Meghan, with Werner Coetser in the role of Jacques, one of Gys' sons. Altus Theart plays the role of Gys' eldest son, Rossouw. Rossouw is married to Sanet (Nadia Valvekens). These two seem happy on the surface, but their true colours show behind closed doors.

Rossouw and Sanet have two children, Johan (Liam Bosman) and Karla (Danielle Swanepoel).

Reandi Grey plays the role of Anja, who left the country 20 years ago. Now she is suddenly back in South Africa and has a lot on her mind. 

Lizz Meiring has been cast as Auntie Bybie Bekker, who carries a big secret with her.

Stephanie Baartman plays the role of Lettie who owns the coffee shop, Lettie's Keffie.

"We asked the actors together to see if they work well together. You have to get the cast right, because I believe it is 90% of the success of a series," says Roberta Durrant, creative producer.

Lucia Meyer-Marais, kykNET commissioning editor, says "because a large part of the story revolves around a swimming school, many of the characters had to prove they could swim".

"The group of actors fit each role like a glove. To be able to see and hear how they interpret the storylines we've been working on for months and months, is wonderful."

ALSO READ: kykNET hopes to make a splash with Diepe Waters as a new swim club set telenovela from Penguin Films starting in October 2022.

kykNET hopes to make a splash with Diepe Waters as a new swim club set telenovela from Penguin Films starting in October 2022.

by Thinus Ferreira

kykNET is hoping to make a splash with a new Afrikaans telenovela, Diepe Waters, from October, set in and around the pool of a competitive swimming club where secrets and revenge inside and away from the water, abound.

The new Afrikaans telenovela that M-Net's Afrikaans kykNET division said it will launch this year is Diepe Waters, produced by Penguin Films in Cape Town, telling the story of the various people involved with a competitive swimming club.

Diepe Waters, with 208 episodes, splashing onto kykNET (DStv 144) in October, will have four stacked weekly episodes from Mondays to Thursdays at 18:00.

Penguin Films, also responsible for kykNET series like Arendsvlei, Afgrond and Projek Dina will mine the fictional Die Swartmarlyne swimming club for stories "filled with intrigue, secrets, illegal loves and above all a story with heart and depth", according to kykNET.

"Diepe Waters has been created by a world-class team who knows and tries to understand the kykNET viewers and the South Africa of today even better," says Waldimar Pelser, M-Net director of kykNET channels.

"Our aim is to tell engrossing, authentic stories with which viewers can start their evening's viewing enjoyment."

kykNET and Penguin Films haven't announced the cast but is providing character descriptions.

Die Swartmarlyne swimming club is a family-owned business of Gys Swarts in which his sons, Rossouw and Jacques are also involved, and with his grandkids, teenager Karla and Johan who are included as swimming team members.

Karla is under pressure to be a swimming champion with her mom Sanet pressuring her to get an overseas swimming scholarship. Jacques is the sexy swimming coach while Zelda Joubert is the owner of the beauty salon Skinvestment and Pam is her daughter.

Lettie runs the coffee shop and Henry is the new caretaker of the club whose son, Tshepo is a threat to Johan's reputation.

Roberta Durrant, creative producer, says Diepe Waters is "unusual and about something else, yet a telenovela about love, secrets and intrigue, as well as revenge. We have an amazing cast and interesting setting and we hope viewers will resonate with it".