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.

Netwerk24 orders Op en Af as a second Afrikaans streaming soap; 65 webisode comedy series produced by Jester Productions and VIA will start in February 2020.

Media24's Afrikaans TV channel VIA is producing a second online video streaming soap, Op en af (Up and down), for the Netwerk24 portal that will play out in daily episodes from 3 February 2020.

The comedy of 65 episodes written by Leon Kruger and produced by Jester Productions of Diaan Lawrenson and Jody Abrahams, follows after Die Testament drama that marked Netwerk24's entry into Afrikaans online TV series. 

"The soap is about ordinary people who are a little bit eccentric and holds up a mirror," says Diaan Lawrenson. All the couples live in the same apartment building and are seemingly friends - although viewers later see that their interactions are loaded with jealousy and competition, and sugar-coated with some gossip."

The Op en af cast include Charlton George as André Mouton and Quanita Adams as his wife Bev who have been married the longest although Bev is hiding a secret life, while Neels van Jaarsveld's character Frans du Plessis dabbles as a stock broker and Nadia Valvekens' (Leande du Plessis) character is an online vlogger.

Marlo Minnaar and Nicole Fortuin play the recently-married Charlie and Ilse Daniels who are trying but struggling to get pregnant. Diaan Lawrenson also appears on-screen as Christelle, Bev's best friend.

Netwerk24 will roll out episodes of Op en af as 5-minute webisodes with a new episode on weekdays at 8:00 between 3 February and the end of April 2020.

"The reaction to our first soap, Die Testament, surpassed our expectations," says Henriëtte Loubser, Netwerk24 editor. "It's clear that such instant viewing enjoyment in Afrikaans is a format that resonates with Netwerk24's audience."

"While Die Testament had a dramatic approach our second soap is humoristic and provides a whole new experience."

Similar to Die Testament episodes of Op en Af will remain available on Netwerk24 indefinitely with subscribers who can watch a new episode daily or the omnibus over weekends. Eventually the entire series of 65 episodes will be available to binge watch.

Izelle Venter, VIA channel boss says "When we watched the first episodes and the actors felt completely like your friends on a Friday night we became really excited. We believe that Netwerk24 viewers will be just as excited over our new soap from the producers-duo Diaan Lawrenson and Jody Abrahams".

EISJ, JA. Soap stars Neels van Jaarsveld, Dawid Minnaar, Elma Postma and Odelle de Wet out of kykNET's Binneland.

Soap stars Neels van Jaarsveld, Dawid Minnaar, Elma Postma and Odelle de Wet are all out of the Afrikaans weekday soap Binneland on kykNET (DStv 144) after no new contracts were signed between the top talent and Stark Films which produces the show.

The characters of Delia (Odelle de Wet) and Gideon Basson (Neels van Jaarsveld) will disappear at the end of March 2014. Egoli and Isidingo soap veteran Mary-Anne Barlow makes her appearance in Binneland from January 2014.

"We wish them only the best," says Elsje Stark of Stark Films in a statement about the departing actors.