Soap Actress Kate Roothman Becomes 8th Presenter to Front kykNET's Boer Soek 'n Vrou Reality Dating Series

by Thinus Ferreira

Soap actress Kate Roothman, known for a role in kykNET's Binnelanders Afrikaans TV soap, will be the new presenter of the Afrikaans South African version of Farmer Wants a Wife, Boer Soek 'n Vrou after Reandi Grey quit. 

Reandi Grey lasted two seasons after deciding she had enough, with Kate Roothman taking over from 2027's 19th season of the reality dating show produced by Wolflight Films.

Previous presenters who got tired of the long distances on dirt roads and having to spend a lot of time away on farms, far from South Africa's metropoles include Elma Postma, Angelique Gerber, Nadia Beukes, Minki van der Westhuizen, Leah van Niekerk, Marciel Hopkins and Reandi Grey.

kykNET (DStv 144) sent out a press release about Kate Roothman as new presenter - but only to some media, and ahead of time, so that only certain publications were given the courtesy to do interviews and articles that could be published on Thursday. 

After making a media query, publicist Wilmer Muller sent a press release on Friday morning to TVwithThinus, noting in it that Kate Roothman is going to do an exclusive interview with Bravo! on kykNET that "will be broadcast on Thursday at 21:00 on kykNET".

But that was last night.

MultiChoice and kykNET also botched its own announcement when the Bravo! episode was apparently loaded to DStv Catch Up too early anyway and gave away that the soap star is now the new reality series presenter.

MultiChoice's Borromean Rings: M-Net, kykNET and Springbok Rugby are Deliberately Grouped Together: 'Three Content Streams Which are Extremely Popular'

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice deliberately interlinks M-Net, kykNET and Springbok rugby together on DStv and while the latest DStv package restructuring is opening M-Net and kykNET up to a larger subscriber base by downtiering these two out of Premium, Canal+ and MultiChoice, like the Charmed sisters, are well aware of, and are harnessing the magic of the "Power of the Three".

These three extremely sought-after content funnels are what power Canal+'s DStv Premium by far and are the core drivers of DStv premium uptake and keeping them subscribed.

Waldimar Pelser, M-Net director for premium channels, says "We like to group Springbok rugby and kykNET and M-Net together. These are three content streams which are extremely popular with South Africans".

"We also see a lot of English viewers watching kykNET because so little English drama is produced these days in South Africa. kykNET is the viewing of English viewers looking for authentic South African drama content."

With Canal+ and MultiChoice's adjustment to the DStv packages, channels like M-Net, BBC Earth, Discovery and others which have always been DStv Premium locked, are now included and down-tiered into the cheaper Movies & Series package.

This allows more DStv subscribers, at a lower price point, to now get access to channels like M-Net (DStv 101) and the premium content on that channel.

"It's important for us in the design of these DStv packages to enlarge the Afrikaans world a little bit," he says.

"kykNET is now available on the new Movies & Series package, which is big news for us. It's also the home of M-Net and the top M-Net Movies channels watched by many kykNET viewers."

"If you're not a sports-watching home, and there are those, then there's another package where you can view kykNET."

"The kykNET & Kie channel is included in the new Starter package and we want as many viewers as possible to enjoy Afrikaans content," he says.

"The Afrikaans content we produce costs much more than the Hollywood content we broadcast, so it's very important for us to protect this investment."

"How we do it, is that we broadcast the new programmes where the most viewers are, and that's between 18:00 and 21:00 on weeknights."

ALSO READ: kykNET Now Channel with Most Viewers on DStv Premium After MultiChoice Correctly Predicted the SABC Would Drop Afrikaans Output Post-1994

kykNET Now Channel with Most Viewers on DStv Premium After MultiChoice Correctly Predicted the SABC Would Drop Afrikaans Output Post-1994

by Thinus Ferreira

The biggest pay-TV channel in terms of viewership on DStv's most expensive premium package - the subscribers most sought-after by Canal+'s MultiChoice - is the Afrikaans kykNET channel, after MultiChoice executives years ago correctly predicted that the South African public broadcaster would dump Afrikaans content after 1994.

MultiChoice and M-Net deliberately started kykNET (DStv 144) from scratch in 1999 and then invested millions of rands into the creation of original Afrikaans content across various genres, predicting that the SABC would marginalise its output of Afrikaans TV content - which is exactly what happened.

The SABC's loss and steady alienation of Afrikaans viewers due to its ongoing erosion and loss of Afrikaans programming, led these viewers to migrate to DStv, where kykNET has since been the biggest single commercial beneficiary of premium subscribers.

kykNET has not only managed to capture a massive Afrikaans audience on pay-TV but also attracts English viewers who seek out local South African drama series and decide to watch kykNET because of the English subtitles.

Waldimar Pelser, M-Net director for premium channels, says "the bulk of kykNET's viewers are in the premium bouquet".

"The opportunity that was identified years ago with the launch of kykNET, 26 years ago, was the anticipation that South Africa's public broadcaster was not going to - and now I have to be very diplomatic - prioritise Afrikaans content in the years after 1994."

"That's exactly what happened. If you now look at what's available on the SABC, there's one soap in Afrikaans on the SABC. That's all there is. And there's the news. It's not a full offering to reflect Afrikaans viewers' world."

"kykNET started with no budget, no programmes. It started very, very small and today kykNET is the biggest channel on Premium. I think it's because it does something for people that's really important to them," he says.

"We can see ourselves on screen. We can see the themes and issues which are important to us, reflected on screen. It ranges from current affairs to documentaries and or course, very important, drama series."

He says "it's very interesting to see how many English viewers come to kykNET because very little English drama is produced in South Africa with the South African English audience in mind".

"If you look at some of the very good drama series that were produced for M-Net over the last couple of years, they were mostly international co-productions with a South African and overseas audience in mind."

"The kykNET content is truly local content, really made for South Africans. So a lot of English viewers, because there are English subtitles, come aboard and say 'Here is where we can find authentic South African stories - on kykNET - and we welcome that."

ALSO READ: MultiChoice's Borromean Rings: M-Net, kykNET and Springbok Rugby are Deliberately Grouped Together: 'Three Content Streams Which are Extremely Popular'

kykNET Revives Original Kokkedoor Cooking Reality Competition Show with Homebrew Films for November Airing

by Thinus Ferreira

M-Net's Afrikaans pay-TV channel kykNET (DStv 144) is reviving its original Kokkedoor food reality competition show as Kokkedoor: Klassiek, which means a technical 6th season of the Kokkedoor series, or the 11th overall when counting the spinoffs.

Homebrew Films is once again lensing the next instalment, which will be broadcast from Thursday 5 November at 20:00 on kykNET (DStv 144).

Kokkedoor had 5 seasons on kykNET, with the format that spawned several spin-offs like Koekedoor, Kokkedoortjies, Kokkedoor: Vuur & Vlam in 2023, and last year's Kokkedoor: Son & See.

Kokkedoor started on kykNET in 2013.

Kokkedoor: Klassiek returns to the team dynamic of a passionate home cook or "onthoukok", paired with a professional chef or "kinkelkok". 

Together, they must compete to combine treasured family food memories with advanced professional techniques to reinvent South African culinary classics.

The judges are food writer and TV personality Herman Lensing, and chef and restaurateur Jess van Dyk who is the executive chef and owner of Post & Pepper in Stellenbosch.

Waldimar Pelser, M-Net director for premium channels, says "Kokkedoor classic is what it started with more than a decade ago. Filming just wrapped and we can't wait to see it on screen. This is the classic version of Kokkedoor that a lot of viewers will remember."

kykNET Adds 4 Willie Esterhuizen Made-for-TV Movies, Including Orkney Spin-off Poeksie Woeksie From 20 October

by Thinus Ferreira

kykNET (DStv 144) has commissioned four made-for-TV Afrikaans movies from legendary Afrikaans producer Willie Esterhuizen, which will start from 20 October.

Willie Esterhuizen was one of three lifetime achievement award recipients at this year's 4th kykNET Silwerskerm Awards for Film and Television, which closed out the 14th Silwerskermfees film festival in Cape Town.

Waldimar Pelser, M-Net director of premium channels, announced on stage at the awards that the channel has commissioned "Four new made-for-TV movies from Willie Esterhuizen's pen, which will start on kykNET from 20 October on Tuesday nights at 20:00".

"One of them is a spin-off from Orkney Snork Nie, Poeksie Woeksie."

"Poeksie Woeksie" is part of a famous pet name and catchphrase that Frank Opperman's character of Ouboet would say to Yollie, played by Sally Campher, in Orkney Snork Nie.

Besides Orkney films, the two actors reprised their iconic roles in Willie Esterhuizen's TV series for kykNET, Ouboet en Wors, when he combined some of the characters from Orkney Snork Nie and Vetkoekpaleis. 

Ouboet en Wors aired for two seasons on kykNET from 2017. 

Now an older Yollie and Ouboet will likely resurface yet again, this time in a made-for-TV-movie.

Pierre Breytebach the Host of Die 1% Klub as Rapid Blue and kykNET's Afrikaans Version of Worldwide Game Show Format

by Thinus Ferreira

Pierre Breytenbach, a co-presenter on kykNET's morning show Die Groot Ontbyt, will be the presenter of the South African and Afrikaans version of the game show The 1% Club called Die 1% Klub.

Entries for the South African version of the game show, produced by Rapid Blue, originally opened in late April and initially closed at the end of May.

Now Rapid Blue opened entries again, with a final closing date extended to 31 October 2026. No reason has been given for the new application round.

Rapid Blue is filming Die 1% Klub in Johannesburg and kykNET originally said that it would start airing towards the end of 2026. 

With the delay and the new round of applications, it is unclear whether the starting broadcasting date will be pushed to 2027.

Die 1% Klub requires 100 contestants from across South Africa to sit inside the studio, per episode, with 100 new contestants per episode - meaning that 13 episodes would require a contestant pool of 1 300 people, as well as backups.

Pierre Breytenbach is a South African actor and comedian known for TV commercials and roles in local soaps ranging from Egoli and 7de Laan to Villa Rosa, Generations and Binnelanders. 

He was also a field presenter for SABC2's 50/50 wildlife programme for a number of years, and appeared in Die Casper Rasper Show, Getroud met Rugby, Wild at Heart, as well as Proesstraat.

As the co-host of the 4th kykNET Silwerskerm Awards for Film and Television, which closed out the 14th Silwerskermfees film festival in Cape Town, Pierre Breytenbach announced on stage that he will be the presenter of Die 1% Klub when it starts on kykNET (DStv 144).

"I'm going to be the host of Die 1% Klub on kykNET," Pierre Breytenbach said on stage.

The 1% Club was created by the British TV producers Andy Auerbach and Dean Nabarro through their Magnum Media production company.

The 1% Club launched on ITV in 2022 with BBC Studios, which is distributing the format globally.

The contestants - 100 initially - get multiple answers for each question, which deals with logic and puzzles, and between a minute and 30 seconds to choose an answer. Wrong answers and contestants are eliminated until a final three are left.

Since 100 contestants start an episode, the final question, if answered correctly, means that 1% of the people who started, got it correct and knew the right answer.

The British version has the English comedian Lee Mack as presenter; Joel McHale is the American presenter, and Jim Jefferies is the Australian presenter of The 1% Club.

The 1% Club is already in 15 territories worldwide, with South Africa's Afrikaans version counting as the 16th version of the show format.

When kykNET announced Die 1% Klub, Waldimar Pelser, M-Net director of premium channels, said that the channel "simply fell in love with this format immediately when BBC Studios showed it to us last year".

"The kykNET audience loves studio game shows, and it was no small task to find a format that could provide the same dose of adrenaline as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. We believe Die 1% Klub – which tests logic and common sense in a humorous way, instead of general knowledge – is the right show to do that, and we hope our viewers will be just as crazy about this fresh format as we are."

Grant Flynn, Rapid Blue's chief creative officer, said that The 1% Club celebrates "sharp thinking in a playful, inclusive manner that resonates with viewers across generations".

"We are excited to produce this show for kykNET and to bring this globally successful programme to South African screens, and we cannot wait to see how our local contestants will tackle the challenges".

14th kykNET Silwerskermfees Back in Camps Bay as Questions Abound Over its Future after Canal+ Takeover and Cost-cutting

by Thinus Ferreira

The 14th kykNET Silwerskermfees returned to Camps Bay and The Bay Hotel from 19 to 22 August as questions abound over the future of this crucially important South African film festival.

The 14th film festival, as with everything done by the pay-TV operator, is now in the crosshairs of cost-cutting after Canal+'s takeover of MultiChoice, with the new French bosses looking to cut costs by €400 million (R7.5 billion) by 2030.

The 14th kykNET Silwerskermfees film festival screened four features, 17 short films, and the first episodes of several upcoming new TV series and documentaries.

The programme this year, for the first time, also included short films from the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival - another indication of how Canal+'s takeover of MultiChoice is infusing and changing all aspects of what used to be MultiChoice, including the Silwerskermfees.

Disturbing to a lot of South African filmmakers - both veteran and established as well as emerging content makers - is that there were only three feature-length films in competition at the film festival. It was the smallest offering of new Afrikaans films in years.

That's due to content that was not ready, not ready in time, and simply not produced, for this year's festival. 

TVwithThinus is aware of, and first spoke months ago, to filmmakers, producers and content makers who said their already approved projects for this year's Silwerskermfees got stalled when they were told the money is not forthcoming and that they would therefore not be in any position to meet production and principal photography deadlines.  

In his speech on the festival's opening night, Waldimar Pelser, M-Net director for premium channels, noted that "At a time when more and more people are watching TV and film on small screens, often with video on top of video and attention that is divided, this week we will sit in a dark room and focus on just one thing: the projection on the big screen of Afrikaans stories that we at DStv and MultiChoice believe deserve to be made". 

ALSO READ: IN IMAGES. 36 Photos of Day 1 of the 14th kykNET Silwerskermfees Film Festival

ALSO READ: IN IMAGES. 29 Photos of Day 2 of the 14th kykNET Silwerskermfees Film Festival

ALSO READ: IN IMAGES. 16 Photos of Day 3 of the 14th kykNET Silwerskermfees Film Festival

kykNET Adds 6-episode Series Boere in Patagonië from 6 July with Johan Badenhorst Visiting and Exploring Archaic Afrikaans Speakers in South America

by Thinus Ferreira

The new 6-episode series Boere in Patagonië will start on kykNET (DStv 144) from 6 July, with Johan Badenhorst returning to South America to visit and do interviews with the archaic Afrikaans-speaking people of Patagonia.

The new series follows from a 4-day visit that Johan Badenhorst and his Voetspore team did in Patagonia in 2023 during the 12th season of Voetspore: Cono Sur.

In that season, Johan Badenhorst told people like farmer Juan Schlebusch that he would return in future for another visit, and he did keep his promise.

The group of South Americans who speak an older version of Afrikaans, are the descendants of the group of Afrikaans-speaking South Africans who emigrated to Argentina in 1902 and continued to speak the language.

For Boere in Patagonië, Johan Badenhorst travelled with the production team of Stefan Sonnekuns, Adam Heyns and James Robb back to Comodoro Rivadavia and Sarmiento, and also visited places like Esquel on the other side of the Andes.

M-Net's kykNET channel has started running an on-air promo for Boere in Patagonië, noting that the series will start on 6 July, which immediately led to interest from viewers and readers asking for more information.

TVwithThinus asked kykNET publicity a week ago for more information about the show since kykNET is broadcasting the promo on-air but kykNET refused to provide any information about Boere in Patagonië.

Boere in Patagonië will be of interest to Afrikaans viewers, historians, linguists, and travel enthusiasts.

Although different, Boere in Patagonië shares some similarities with the multiple Safta award-winning documentary film from 2015, The Boers at the End of the World, which visited the same 100-year old community of people of Dutch descent who sailed across the ocean to South America.

Beloved VIA Landbouweekliks and kykNET Kwêla presenter and SuperSport commentator Johnny Davids dead at 48 after heart attack

Thinus Ferreira

Johnny Davids, the beloved TV presenter of programmes like Landbouweekliks on VIA (DStv 147) and Kwêla and Ysters op die Landgoed on kykNET (DStv 144) who was also a sports commentator on SuperSport in Afrikaans died on Thursday morning after a heart attack. He was 48.

Johnny Davids who lives in Cape Town started to complain about chest pains on Wednesday but ignored it and died in Pretoria where he was staying in a guest house and was working on an episode of Landbouweekliks.

At 03:00 this morning an ambulance was called but medics failed to revive him on the scene.

Johnny Davids who wrote the searing autobiography Boytjie that was published in 2024, is survived by his wife, Liezel, and three sons, Ayden, Conway and Juan.

Johnny Davids joined Landbouweekliks in 2024 and was also a motivational speaker, besides working for SuperSport as an Afrikaans sports commentator and working for Homebrew Films on shows like Kwêla, Bravo! and the golf estate magazine show Ysters op die Landgoed.

His unbelievable life journey is chronicled in his book and how he grew up without his birth parents, got adopted by a teacher and won the singing reality competition Zing on kykNET.

On radio, he became a familiar voice and hosted shows on the SABC's RSG, like music programmes OppiRadio and Al Daai Jazz, for seven years, in addition to anchoring daily sports coverage. 

During the beginning years of kykNET he was one of the channel's continuity presenters.

His wife Liezel said in a note on social media, "Johnny was a beloved person whose presence touched the lives of many people".

"His kindness, strength, and steadfast spirit will be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him. His passing has left us heartbroken and devastated and we share in the deep sorrow felt by us as his family, friends and community."

Azelia Morkel, VIA channel head, says "Johnny was an exceptional person with a wonderful story of conquering and hope."

"His passion for people and ability to connect with farmers as well as viewers made his a welcoming face on the channel. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Liezel, his three sons and extended family during this difficult time."

VIA and the Landbouweekblad magazine, as well as the Brand Republic producers of Landbouweekliks say they will always cherish Johnny's contribution to the channel and his warm approach to his work: "He will be missed".

Waldimar Pelser, director of premium channels at MultiChoice, in a statement, says "Johnny chose to live his life in such a way that it served as an example for young men".

"In his warm, engaging way, he showed that dedication, integrity, and humanity are non-negotiable, and thus became an example not only for the youth, but for all of us."

"Johnny was also loved by kykNET viewers. He made his debut on the channel in 2003 by winning the Zing talent competition with his singing partner, Vivian Molauly. He then became a familiar face as a presenter on, among others, Kwêla and Ysters op die Landgoed."

"His death, especially at such a young age, is a great shock and a tremendous loss."

Paul Venter, Homebrew Films producer, says "Johnny was one of our stalwarts at Homebrew Films, from years ago's Kollig op Kie to Ysters op die Landgoed en Kwêla".

"He was was professional, very good at what he did but above all probably the most decent person to work with imaginable - he would never say anything bad about anyone."

"He was always positive, full of enthusiasm and a role model for everyone. I don't think the void he leaves can ever be filled. We will miss him incredibly much and are thinking of his family, friends and also other colleagues during this difficult time."

SuperSport in a statement in Thursday afternoon, says "SuperSport is deeply saddened by the passing of beloved Afrikaans commentator, award-winning TV presenter and artist, Johnny Davids, who passed away suddenly in the early hours of Thursday morning."

"Born in Narraville, in Namibia, Davids was a prominent and authoritative voice in both rugby and cricket since joining the broadcaster in 2012."

"A multi-talented broadcaster, his repertoire extended far beyond the commentary box; he was an acclaimed sports commentator, a seasoned radio presenter, and a gifted musician who brought immense passion to everything he did."

"Most recently, Johnny Davids graced our screens during the Betway SA20 tournament, where his sharp analysis and vibrant Afrikaans commentary brought the thrill of the game into the living rooms of fans across the country."

"Johnny was an invaluable asset to the SuperSport team. His infectious energy, profound knowledge of the sports he covered, and warm, approachable demeanour made him a favourite among viewers and colleagues alike."

Rendani Ramovha, Canal+ director for sport content for English & Portuguese-speaking Africa, says "Johnny was an immense talent and a cherished member of our broadcasting team".

"His dedication to his craft and his unique ability to articulate the emotion and nuance of sport made him truly special. On behalf of SuperSport, I wish to express our most heartfelt condolences to the Davids family and his loved ones during this incredibly tough time."

"He leaves behind a rich legacy and will be hugely missed by the entire SuperSport family. SuperSport extends its deepest sympathies and support to the Davids family, friends, and the broader sporting community."

Angry MultiChoice execs sidelined by Canal+ frustrated and fearful for the(ir) future after decision-making moved to Paris - report

by Thinus Ferreira

Frustrated MultiChoice executives, sitting in Randburg in Johannesburg and who used to have final approval on decisions, say they're fearful about the future and their futures, after new owner Canal+ swooped in and moved the final decision-making function to Canal+'s own executives in Paris.

In a new report by Africa Intelligence, MultiChoice executives are quoted as saying they're frustrated and angry about having been sidelined in the decision-making process regarding content and other decisions since Canal+ acquired MultiChoice in September 2025.

According to the report, several MultiChoice executives who used to be in the loop, explained that they were not even so much as consulted recently before the publication of Canal+'s financial results for 2025 that now includes MultiChoice.

Angry MultiChoice executives are blaming Maxime Saada, Canal+ CEO, and David Mignot, Canal+ Africa managing director, for the way that things inside MultiChoice have deteriorated and broken down.

Meanwhile discontent under MultiChoice executives are growing, as well as producers and content creators, with MultiChoice staff telling producers that projects, budgets and approvals are all delayed and stacking up at Canal+ headquarters in Paris where Canal+ either can't or won't make decisions and do final sign-offs.

According to Africa Intelligence, the new Canal+ Africa management structure includes the former MultiChoice CEO, Calvo Mawela who has been kept on as Canal+ Africa president; Hennie Visser as director of Africa operations, and Byron du Plessis who was MultiChoice SA CEO, as a regional manager.

Aziz Diallo now oversees French-speaking Africa, Kemi Omotosho is now responsible for Nigeria, Retief Tromp is looking after English-speaking countries outside of South Africa, while Glauco Ferreira is overseeing the Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa.

Fuming MultiChoice and SuperSport executives say their hands are tied and they can no longer make decisions, are isolated and have no final say with anything anymore, and have to send decisions to Paris and then wait approval from there.

 Not only are these executives frustrated, they're also wondering about their futures within what used to be MultiChoice or Canal+ Africa going forward.

Canal+ is shuttering MultiChoice's loss-making streamer Showmax by 30 April, and while neither staff involved with Showmax, or within MultiChoice can he retrenched, Canal+ is now going to offer voluntary severance packages to try and get rid of workers who might want out.

According to the agreement Canal+ signed with South Africa's Competition Commission, no MultiChoice workers can be retrenched for a period of three years. 

What is however happening, is that people who work for service providers and production companies making local content for DStv channels like M-Net, kykNET, Mzansi Magic and Africa Magic are losing jobs.

This is because the volume of content that MultiChoice used to commission for these channels are decreasing due to Canal+'s cost-cutting, and because of the end of Showmax as a separate platform.

'Secrets, survival and a sprinkling of love': Creator and creatives of kykNET's Appels en Tee on the new family drama's story of redemption and hope

Thinus Ferreira

Tina Kruger, executive producer and head writer of the Afrikaans series Appels en Tee starting on kykNET (DStv 144) on Tuesday 21 October at 20:00, says the new family drama is about "friendships, secrets, survival, reconciliation with a sprinkling of faith, hope and love".

Tina Kruger spoke at the media launch of Appels en Tee, a new 10-episode local series filmed on location in the Langkloof, along the Garden Route and Hoekwil and set in the fictional Paradysbos.

Starring Diaan Lawrenson as Lisa Rossouw, Tinarie van Wyk Loots as Henriette de Klerk as two 1998 high school friends who experience a tragedy and reunite 27 years later around several big secrets from their past, Appels en Tee was produced by Meerfout Films with Berdene Burger as director, producer and writer, and Sunel Haasbroek as cinematographer.

The rest of the Appels en Tee cast includes Ivan Zimmermann, Jacques Erasmus, Ivan Roberts, Neels van Jaarsveld, Rika Sennet, Bianca Langedyk, Moses Williams, Vilje Maritz, Julia Marone, Beata Bena, Sibongile Mlambo and Marlo Minnaar.

"It's a coming-of-age story spanning multiple generations," Tina Kruger said.

About the role, Diaan Lawrenson said "It's not often that you get the opportunity to play more mature, older female characters which are not stereotypical".

"I think both Lisa and Henriette are both complex characters. Neither are good or bad. Both have pasts - like all of us. Things have happened. There's pain and joy. It's enjoyable to be on a set where there is a safe space in which Sunel Haasbroek played a huge role in creating."

"Within that safe space you can play and emote complex women. It's a joy. It's nice to do a role where you're no longer arm candy alongside a complex male character. It's great to get the opportunity to play the woman who is layered."

Sunel Haasbroek explained that with lensing Appels en Tee the goal was "to make the kykNET viewer feel at home watching it".

Bianca Langedyk, who portrays Annie de Klerk, Henriette's daughter, isn't hearing-impaired in real life but plays her deaf daughter with aplomb and learnt sign language for the role.

"Initially, I didn't realise what I was taking on," she said. "I did a lot of research, I've also met a lot and have hearing-impaired friends. The mom of one of my friends is also a speech therapist and she works with hearing-impaired people and I also spoke with her and asked how I can play the character of Annie as authentically as possible."

"I'm not deaf but I spoke with a lot of people, did a lot of research, and Jana the sign language coach, also helped me a lot. I spent a lot of time learning sign language."

Actor Neels van Jaarsveld, who portrays the character of Wessel de Klerk, said "You can watch Appels en Tee and immediately bond with the various characters to such an extent that you instantly wonder how everything will end for each one of them".

"When I saw the cast and that it's Diaan and Tinarie and these fantastic young people, I knew we would create something fantastic for viewers to watch."

Film editor Canya Cruywagen said "In this situation, I was in the enviable position to actually be on set during filming. That helped me tremendously to start looking at the rushes and that was a big benefit in the editing process later".

"I read the script and then I take it from scene one to the last. I look through all the takes, then I read the script again and then I map how I would like to put it all together. Although that's not always how it works out. There are so many factors that influence the process."

"I cut it together, and then I move on, and then I watch it again the next day. Sometimes I think: 'Oh wow, what did I do?' and then, depending on how much time I have, I change some things."

Tina Kruger laughs. "Canya is always the first one who cries since she sees it first. She would send voicenotes saying 'I just cut this scene and it's wonderful'. 

Actor Moses Williams said it's great that more series are being filmed along the Garden Route.

Recent Afrikaans drama series lensed here include Netflix's Tuiskoms and kykNET's Juffrou X.

"Hopefully, there will be many more," Moses Williams said. "Previously, people like me had to go to the big cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg to go and try and find opportunities and to become part of productions."

"To be able to wake up in your own bed in the morning and go to a set because it's filming where you live, and to be able to return to your own house in the evening to go and sleep is a blessing. I can definitely say it makes a big difference for these kind of productions like Appels en Tee to come to our towns."

"It doesn't mean that other locations wouldn't be as suited to film Appels en Tee but I really think the Garden Route has so much more to offer and we look forward to welcoming many, many more TV and film productions there."

TVwithThinus asked Tina Kruger about the multi-generational depiction and inclusion and whether it was part of the pitch from kykNET's side, or something the creatives decided to build into the story.

"It's important when you craft a family drama series to have something for every viewer within the mix of the compelling story."

"I think there are other family dramas with a bigger focus on the younger generations, but for us as Appels en Tee writers, it was very important, specifically for this series, to show moms and daughters, fathers and daughters, and older adults and their children, as well as the impact and effect we all have on each other."

"Early on it's the teenager who discovers a letter and it's from her grandmother and she realises that it's her grandmother who did something and nobody knows about this. And it's about how something a grandmother did that affects more than one generation and a teenager today."

"We spoke a lot about the show title of Appels en Tee (Apples and Tea) and the apples represent the bruisable, innocent youth within the 1998 timeline. Tea represents a healing medicine for the present."

ALSO READ: FLEUR DE THÉ. High tea in Cape Town with kykNET for the media launch of its new Afrikaans drama series Appels en Tee

FLEUR DE THÉ. High tea in Cape Town with kykNET for the media launch of its new Afrikaans drama series Appels en Tee

Thinus Ferreira

Any time is a good time for a tea party and that is exactly what kykNET (DStv 144) did at Welgemeend in Cape Town for the media launch of its latest Afrikaans drama series, Appels en Tee (Apples and Tea) starting on Tuesday 21 October at 20:00.

It's been a very long time since a South African TV channel - anyone - did something a little bit different, and more distinct, than the all-the-same, general media launch for a new TV show and kykNET hit it out of the tea garden park with its beautiful, intimate, well-organised and colourful Appels en Tee high tea event.

At the upmarket venue, the cast, creatives and producers mingled together with media, where kykNET (correctly and smartly!) screened two episodes to show the media the content, while two Q&A sessions took place - one after each of the episodes.

Tea flowed - together with (of course) wine as well as sparkling wine on offer - as guests munched on delectables ranging from chocolate and dessert later, to various sandwiches, cheeses, savouries and waiters carrying around trays with tasties by the crate-full.

kykNET gave the media a high-gloss brochure about Appels en Tee that contains episode synopses for the 10-episode series, a breakdown of the story, a credit list of who worked on it, as well as character bios and actor breakdowns - with photos - so you know immediately who plays what character and who the characters are.

Tina Kruger is the executive producer and head writer of Appels en Tee, with Berdene Burger as director, producer and writer. Gita Fourie was the third writer, with Sunel Haasbroek as cinematographer.

The Appels en Tee main cast includes Diaan Lawrenson, Ivan Zimmermann, Jacques Erasmus, Ian Roberts, Tinarie van Wyk Loots, Neels van Jaarsveld, Rika Sennet and Bianca Langedyk, as well as Moses Williams, Vilje Maritz, Julia Marone, Beata Bena, Sibongile Mlambo and Marlo Minnaar. 

Appels en Tee is an Afrikaans family drama (with English subtitles) fully centred around female characters and anchored in the two main characters of Lisa (Diaan Lawrenson) and Henriette (Tinarie van Wyk Loots), who share some tragic secret from their past that, in a sense, destroyed their lives and caused an end to their friendship.

What this tragic and fateful "we will never speak about this" incident and secret from the past is, is slowly revealed through flashbacks to 1998 as Henriette and her family (who are in a financial crisis after having lost their farm) coincidentally end up at the home of Lisa 27 years later.

Appels en Tee is also a multi-generational drama series. 

Besides the tension-filled current and past friendship dynamic between Lisa and Henriette, as well as the tension-filled relationships both of them have with their husbands, there are also grandparents on both sides, as well as kids on both sides, who interact with emotional (romantic?) entanglements that ensue.

Produced by Meerfout Films, Appels en Tee looks very similar to the recently released Afrikaans drama series Tuiskoms - also a family drama series. Appels en Tee was filmed in Hoekwil with beautiful cinematography.

Also notable: The inclusion of a deaf character, Annie, played by Bianca Langedyk (who isn't deaf) but learnt sign language for the role.

ALSO READ: 'Secrets, survival and a sprinkling of love': Creator and creatives of kykNET's Appels en Tee on the new family drama's story of redemption and hope

kykNET announces nominees for 2025's Silwerskerm Awards for Film and TV

by Thinus Ferreira

kykNET has announced the nominees for the 2025 Silwerskerm Awards for Film and TV which will take place on Saturday 23 August at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) and cap this year's 13th kykNET Silwerskermfees film festival, taking place from 20 August in Camps Bay.

The 2025 Silwerskerm Awards for Film and TV will have Armand Aucamp and Rozanne McKenzie, with performances by Early B, Janie Bay and Elandré.

The 2025 Silwerskerm Awards for Film and TV will be broadcast on Sunday, 24 August at 19:00 on kykNET (DStv 144).

Only kykNET and MultiChoice's Showmax streamer programming are eligible and Afrikaans content on channels like Media24's VIA and broadcasters like the SABC and e.tv are excluded. kykNET's eNuus is also not eligible.

The TV nominations are:

1. Best lead performer in a comedy

Jai’prakash Sewram – Banana Air (S1)

Emile Smit – Mince jou hare (S1)

Bianca Flanders – Mince jou hare (S1)

Pietie Beyers – Pronk Primêr (S1)

2. Best supporting performer in a comedy

Gershwin Mias – Mince jou hare (S1)

Lee-Ann van Rooi – Mince jou hare (S1)

Laura-Lee Mostert – Pronk Primêr (S1)

Tobie Cronjé – Pronk Primêr (S1)

3. Best actor in a drama

Frank Opperman – Nêrens, Noord-Kaap (S2)

Waldemar Schultz – Die Byl (S6)

Jacques Bessenger – Een keer om die son (S1)

Charlton George – Juffrou X (S1)

4. Best actress in a drama

Milan Murray – Die Byl (S6)

Jana Kruger – Een keer om die son (S1)

Donnalee Roberts – Een keer om die son (S1)

Trix Vivier – Juffrou X (S1)

Ilse Klink – Nêrens, Noord-Kaap (S2)

5. Best supporting actor in a drama

Albert Pretorius – Nêrens, Noord-Kaap (S2)

Geon Nel – Nêrens, Noord-Kaap (S2)

Liam Bosman – Een keer om die son (S1)

Gershwin Mias – Juffrou X (S1)

De Klerk Oelofse – Nêrens, Noord-Kaap (S2)

6. Best supporting actress in a drama

Melissa Willering – Die Byl (S6)

Alma van Heerden – Een keer om die son (S1)

Anja Taljaard – Juffrou X (S1)

Daneel van der Walt – Nêrens, Noord-Kaap (S2)

Marion Holm – Nêrens, Noord-Kaap (S2)

7. Best actor in a telenovela or soap

Germandt Geldenhuys – Binnelanders (S14)

Hykie Berg – Binnelanders (S14)

Justin Strydom – Diepe waters (S3)

Gershwin Mias – Skemergrond (S1)

Dann-Jaques Mouton – Skemergrond (S1)

Irvine van der Merwe – Suidooster (S10)

8. Best actress in a telenovela or soap

Mienke Ehlers – Wyfie (S2)

Jill Levenberg – Suidooster (S10)

Marlee van der Merwe – Binnelanders (S14)

Nadia Valvekens – Diepe waters (S3)

Sandi Schultz – Diepe waters (S3)

Minke Marais – Reënboogrant (S1)

9. Best supporting performer in a telenovela or soap

Lorraine Burger – Binnelanders (S14)

Shimmy Isaacs – Skemergrond (S1)

Gretchen Ramsden – Skemergrond (S1)

Dirk Stoltz – Skemergrond (S1)

Char Carrie – Suidooster (S10)

Therese Bam – Wyfie (S2)

10. Best newcomer in a telenovela or soap

Zandélle Meyer – Binnelanders (S14)

Julian Robinson – Binnelanders (S14)

Caleb Swanepoel – Diepe waters (S3)

Mila de Villiers – Reënboogrant (S1)

Hunter Plaatjies – Skemergrond (S1)

11. Best host of an entertainment programme

Emo Adams – Oppie noot

Rian van Heerden – Wie word ’n miljoenêr?

De Klerk Oelofse – Kyk wie praat

Aiden Thomas – Sê jou sê

Elwira Standili – Koortjies met Elwira Standili

12. Best host of a lifestyle programme (including talk and magazine shows)

Erns Grundling – Elders (S7: Ligtoringroete)

Lundi Khoisan – Fiësta

Anzél Rabie – Anzél in die Boland

Leah – Lottoland help ’n dorp

Hannon Bothma – Glam guru

Neil Sandilands – Die groot niks

Minki van der Westhuizen – Lamb champs

Ewan Strydom – Bravo!

13. Best host of a current affairs or talk show

Lee-Ann van Rooi – Waar daar ’n wil is

Hannes van Wyk – Kwêla

Bonné de Bod – Bewonder en bewaar met Bonné de Bod

Lourensa Eckard – In gesprek (S9)

Rian van Heerden – Laataand by Rian

14. Best host of a reality programme

Ewan Strydom – Plaasjapie

Marciel Hopkins – Boer soek ’n vrou

Robbie Kruse – Klein paradys

Bertus Basson & Kobus Botha – Kokkedoor: Vuur & vlam

15. Best ensemble presenter team

Breyton Paulse, Hamilton Wessels, Rika Nieuwoudt, Rikus de Beer, Janina Oberholzer, Jean de Villiers, Jonathan Mokuena, Jannie du Plessis, Tommy Dickson (Chef Vaatjie) – Toks & Tjops

Dawie Roodt, Charlene Lackay, Leon Gropp, Corli Prinsloo, Anneke de Beer – Ontbytsake

Pierre Breytenbach, Jennifer Myburgh, Su-an Müller-Marais – Die Groot Ontbyt

Legends for lifetime achievement awards in television will be announced in August.

On the Saturday morning, non-televised awards will be handed out in these categories during a morning awards event at The Bay Hotel:

Best script for a feature film

Best original soundtrack for a feature film

Best sound design for a feature film

Best cinematography for a feature film

Best hair and make-up for a feature film

Best wardrobe for a feature film

Best directing for a feature film

Best script for a short film by an upcoming filmmaker

Best directing for a short film by an upcoming filmmaker

Best short film by an upcoming filmmaker

Best cinematography for a short film

Best editing for a short film

Best actress in a short film

Best actor in a short film

Best short film by an established filmmaker

Best short documentary

Best directing in a short documentary

Best editing in a short documentary

Festival favourite

Lifetime contribution

Four special mentions

"While South Africa's finest actors could excel on any global stage, international actors would not be able to achieve what South African talent delivers on a daily basis," says Waldimar Pelser, director of M-Net's premium channels, in a nominees statement.

"Our people have a remarkable ability to capture on screen what it means to live here and now. It's incredible how dynamic this small industry is, and it's a real pleasure to see this year's nominees in the spotlight before they return to the hard work of making film and television."

"These nominees know better than anyone how much blood, sweat and tears the craft demands. We honour them, because they enrich the lives of viewers in countless ways."