Tuiskoms as Netflix South Africa's second Afrikaans series produced by Infinity Films and releasing 28 February stars Amalia Uys and Michelle Botes in her final on-screen role

by Thinus Ferreira

Netflix South Africa will release the streamer's second Afrikaans drama series, Tuiskoms, on 28 February - produced by Infinity Films - which is the last on-screen role of actress Michelle Botes who died in December 2024. 

Tuiskoms set in the Wilderness, stars Amalia Uys as a widowed chef Fleur in this 7-episode romantic drama series. Tuiskoms follows after 2022's Ludik as a crime series on Netflix.

Michelle Botes plays Abigail, Fleur's mother. 

Tuiskoms was filmed in mid-2024 with Louis Pretorius and Albert Snyman as co-producers. Nina Swart is the director and besides co-producer Louis Pretorius was also the head writer.

In Tuiskoms, the widowed Fleur returns to her mom Abigail's home in the Wilderness and in a flower shop she starts a new chapter of her life - and finds new love.

The Tuiskoms cast includes Armand Aucamp as Werner, Pierre van Pletzen, Rika Sennett, David Minnaar as Jonathan and Catona James as Evan.

Jane de Wet is Kelly, with Marvin-Lee Beukes as Michael, Hendrik Nieuwoudt as Sean and Anathi Rubela as Gift. 

Netflix announced Tuiskoms as well as its other new upcoming South African content at the end of last month as part of a preview of its global content offering for 2025.

Michelle Botes (62) loses battle against blood cancer

by Thinus Ferreira

The South African actress Michelle Botes, known for several iconic roles including that of Isidingo's Cherel de Villiers-Haines died this morning after losing her battle against a rare form of blood cancer. She was 62.

In July 2022 Michelle Botes was diagnosed with advanced multiple myeloma, a rare and incurable type of blood cancer that attacks bone marrow.

In October her cancer count increased drastically and her health deteriorated the past few weeks.

While doctors gave her three months to live she was hoping to undergo new types of holistic cancer treatment in January 2025.

"Michelle was an icon in our industry," says her agent Suzi Howes. "She took her craft seriously and was passionate about performing. She was filled with grace and had a beautiful spirit."

She was married to Ian Roberts until their divorce in 1999 and the pair had two children, Cara and son Daniel.

In 2023 she won an award at the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) in the category Best actress in a telenovela for her role of Angelique in M-Net's Legacy.

"It's very sad that Michelle became ill," Ian Roberts told me today.

"Two and a half years ago she underwent the whole chemotherapy thing. After the chemo she told me it was absolutely horrible and that she won't do chemo again."

"Her health improved somewhat but then the cancer returned. She said 'I'm going my own way now. It's tragic that we lost someone like Michelle."

"She was a talented actress and a fantastic mother to our children. It's very, very sad."

Since 2022 until her death Michelle Botes lived with her son Daniel, and his wife, in Observatory in Cape Town.

During her career of over four decades she appeared in several theatre roles, as well as in film and on television in series like Arende, Konings, Triptiek and as Ingrid Jordaan in kykNET's Binnelanders.

The bitch is back as Michelle Botes reprises her Cherel de Villiers character for a 2-episode appearance on SABC3's Isidingo for the soap's 21st anniversary in July.

The biggest bitch on South African television is returning with Cherel de Villiers-Haines-Le-Roux-Kumar-Homes who will return to SABC3’s Isidingo for a 2-episode arc to mark its 21st anniversary.

TV thesp Michelle Botes is back on the Isidingo backlot filming scenes today for Isidingo’s 21st birthday special episodes produced by Pomegranate Media.

These will be broadcast on Friday 5 July and Monday 8 July on SABC3. 

According to Isidingo publicist Catherine Sidyiyo, the special episodes will contain scenes not related to the main ongoing story arcs but are additional special scenes to mark the local weekday soap’s anniversary.

On Tuesday Isidingo on its social media shared a photo of Michelle Botes back in the dressing room getting hair and make-up done before scenes being shot today.

After years on the then-Endemol produced show, the Cherel character was shipped off to an asylum in 2007, with Botes who then jumped to M-Net’s Binnelanders soap on kykNET (DStv 144) where she remained a few years after which she went back to Isidingo in June 2010 to reprise the character of Cherel again for a short stint.

Cherel de Villiers - Haines - Le Roux Holmes.#Isidingo #Isidingo21 #bts pic.twitter.com/XzsupbUw3K

— Isidingo (@IsidingoSABC3) June 18, 2019

BREAKING EXCLUSIVE: CHEREL DIDN'T DO IT! Michelle Botes talks about the fire which destroyed the Isidingo set.

You're reading it here first. 

Cherel didn't do it. I just touched base with Michelle Botes, the doyenne of devious deliciousness as Cherel De Villiers-Haines in Isidingo on SABC3, after fire engulfed the Isidingo set which was destroyed in the blaze ripping through Studio 6 at the SABC's Henley Studios.

A shocked Michelle Botes was still speechless when asked for reaction. "I don't know the true extent of the damage; how bad it is or anything; nothing," she says.

I asked her who told her and when she heard. "I found out early this morning," says Michelle Botes. I got messages from very early on from the whole world."

ALSO READ: Fire engulfs the SABC; Isidingo destroyed in massive blaze as fire rips through Henley Studios; damage of millions of rands.
ALSO READ: SABC in shock after Isidingo blaze: "Something we don't know how to handle," says Hlaudi Motsoeneng, the acting chief operating officer (COO).
ALSO READ: SABC works all night to keep SABC3 on air and ensure that SABC3's morning breakfast show Expresso goes out live Thursday morning without a break in transmission.
ALSO READ: Interim measures after Isidingo set is gutted by fire and destroys Studio 6 at the SABC; will take months for SABC and soap productions to return to normal.

BREAKING. Cherel to add another new surname in Isidingo's December wedding; soap's returned evil vixen weds Braam le Roux!

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Let me be first to break the news that Isidingo's Cherel De Villiers-Haines will be adding another surname on Monday, December 6 at 18:30 on SABC3 when South Africa's most delicious soap vixen will marry Braam le Roux.

The Isidingo producers Endemol SA didn't wait to rejuvenate the flagging soap opera with the return of Michelle Botes. The oh-so-evil Cherel have wasted no time to worm her way into the Le Roux family by smootching father and son and putting mom on the happy pills.

Now I can exclusively reveal that one more final soap wedding is coming South African viewers' way in the December sweeps with the producers pumping the Isidingo drama for all it's worth and making the most of the soap's creative resurgence with the renewed presence of Cherel who's back - and back with her dastardly deeds. ''It's a biggie,'' quips an on-set source about the dramatic wedding. ''It really happens,'' whispers another, ''arch-evil finally got her claws into yet another man''.

And I can tell you that SABC3's glam weekly entertainment magazine Top Billing filmed everything behind the scenes of the Cherel and Braam le Roux wedding and will broadcast it on Thursday, December 2 at 19:30.

BREAKING. The bitch is back! Michelle Botes set to return to SABC3's Isidingo from June as Cherel de Villiers-Haines.

You're reading it here first.

I can exclusively break the news that Michelle Botes will be returning to SABC3's Isidingo and her iconic role of the evil villainess, schemer and backstabber Cherel de Villiers-Haines from June.

I can tell you that Michelle Botes will finish her current contract and film her last scenes as part of M-Net's Binneland Sub Judice within weeks and be done by the end of May. I was first to tell you way back in February when rumours started swirling about her possible departure from the M-Net soapie to return to the deliciously evil and scheming ways of her former character. Her final on-screen Binneland Sub Judice scenes will play out on M-Net in June on TV screens. In the same month Michelle Botes will return to SABC3's soap, Isidingo when she goes back to her old role, to help inject some much-needed drama since her character left and Isidingo's ratings also started to slide. ''Whatever they pay her, it's worth it,'' an insider told me. ''Isidingo needs Cherel back.''

Another on-set actor source at Binneland Sub Judice who confirmed Michelle Botes' departure told me ''she's walking around happy. She's somewhat sad to go, but she's returning to her iconic role on SABC3 with a sense of purpose.'' An SABC3 source confirmed to me that Michelle Botes will be theirs from the beginning of June again when she re-joins the Endemol SA produced soapie. ''It's supposed to be a massive, massive surprise for everyone.''

ALSO READ: Hot rumour! Is Michelle Botes returning to Isidingo as Cherel de Villiers-Haines?
ALSO READ: Michelle Botes in talks to return to Isidingo as Cherel.

BREAKING. Michelle Botes, Isidingo in talks to return as Cherel.

You're reading it here first.

Michelle Botes could possibly leave M-Net's Binnelanders and return to Isidingo on SABC3 as Cherel de Villiers-Haines. I just got positive confirmation of the huge rumour that has the industry completely abuzz.

''Endemol is in talks with Ms. Botes but nothing has been concluded yet,'' I'm told.