''Arendsvlei'' () is a South African

soap opera A soap opera, or ''soap'' for short, is a typically long-running radio or television serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored ...

. Featuring an almost all-

Coloured Coloureds ( af, Kleurlinge or , ) refers to members of multiracial ethnic communities in Southern Africa who may have ancestry from more than one of the various populations inhabiting the region, including African, European, and Asian. South ...

cast, it premiered on 1 October 2018 as kykNET & Kie's first telenovela. It was originally intended to be a limited series spanning one year, its first season picking up two SAFTAs. Due to popular demand, ''Arendsvlei'' was renewed for a second season in August 2019 and a third in August 2020. The series hit 500 episodes in August 2021.

Premise

The series centres on a prestigious school, its administration, and the families associated with it in a fictional community of the

Cape Flats The Cape Flats ( af, Die Kaapse Vlakte) is an expansive, low-lying, flat area situated to the southeast of the central business district of Cape Town. The Cape Flats is also the name of an administrative region of the City of Cape Town, which lie ...

called Arendsvlei.

Cast

Main

* Jolene Martin as Beatrice Abrahams, Arendsvlei High vice-principal * Oscar Petersen as David Abrahams, Arendsvlei High principal * Maria Valente de Almeida as Samantha Abrahams, Beatrice and David's daughter and school captain * Sherman Pharo as Thys Cupido, Beatrice's brother and co-founder of Arendsvlei High *

Crystal-Donna Roberts Crystal-Donna Roberts (born 13 October 1984) is a South African actress, presenter, and writer. She is best known for her roles in the films ''The Endless River'' (2015) and ''Krotoa'' (2017). Early life Roberts spent her early childhood in Cap ...

as Janice Cupido, Thys' wife * Celeste Matthews as Aunty Gertie Cupido, matriarch of the Cupidos * Ann Juries-May as Claudia Cupido, Thys and Janice's daughter * Rehane Abrahams as Wendy Newman, the Cupidos' adversary who runs the WendyHouse restaurant * Kay Smith as Debra Newman, Wendy's daughter * Melanie du Bois as Ronel Foster, Beatrice's friend and an aspiring actress *

Roberto Kyle Roberto Kyle (born 7 December), is a South African actor and vocalist He is best known for his role as Lee-Roy Foster in the soap opera ''Arendsvlei''. Early life Kyle is from Paarl, Western Cape. He attended William Lloyd Primary School and t ...

as Lee-Roy Foster, Ronel's son who transfers to Arendsvlei High to escape bullying * Jody Abrahams as Lionel Foster, Lee-Roy's negligent father with ulterior motives for moving to Arendsvlei

Supporting

* Ernest St Clair as Christopher February, teacher at Arendsvlei High * Dillon Windvogel as Vernon Booysen, an ambitious student who gets in an accident * Christian Bennett as Emile February, a gardener who helps out at WendyHouse * Craig Adriaanse as Wesley Roussow, a student with a troubled past * Gerwen Simon as Valdonia Lee Matthews * Menicia Sass as Chantel Williams * Gretchen Ramsden as Nicolene * Joseph Mitchell as Uncle Johnny * Ceagan Arendse as Woelag (seasons 1–2) * Elton Landrew as Steve Mortlock (seasons 1–2), Janice's brother * Danny Ross as Nathan Koopman (seasons 2–3) * Maurice Carpede as Ridwaan "Waanie" Matthews (season 2), Chantel's father *

Shaleen Surtie-Richards Shaleen Surtie-Richards (7 May 1955 – 7 June 2021) was a South African television, stage, and film actress, perhaps best known for her starring roles in the 1988 film '' Fiela se Kind'' and the long-running series '' Egoli: Place of Gold.'' Sh ...

as Muriel Foster (seasons 2–4), Lionel's mother *

Zenobia Kloppers Zenobia Kloppers (born 10 December 1974) is a Namibian actress, soprano, and writer. Based in South Africa, she starred in the titular role in the film ''Fiela se Kind''. On television, she appeared in ''Amaza'', ''Suidooster'', and ''Arendsvlei ...

as Aunty Emily (season 2) *

Quanita Adams Quanita Adams is stage and screen actress living in Cape Town, South Africa. She has performed in the movies ''Forgiveness'' (2004, alongside Arnold Vosloo), ''Cape of Good Hope'' (2004) and ''Skeem'' (2011). She has appeared on stage in nota ...

as Mother Laetitia (seasons 2–3) *

Jarrid Geduld Jarrid Geduld (born 13 January 1990), is a South African actor. He is best known for his roles in the popular films ''10,000 BC'', '' Ellen: Die storie van Ellen Pakkies'' and ''Boy Called Twist''. Personal life He was born on 13 January 1990 i ...

as Gavin "Bombie" Galant (seasons 2–3) * Cantona James as Daniel Lafras (season 2) *

Antoinette Louw Antoinette Louw (born 9 May 1975, Pretoria) is a multi award-winning South African actress. Life Antoinette Louw is the daughter of Dap Louw and Anet Louw, both professors in psychology who have written psychology handbooks for South Afr ...

as Advocate Rina Botha (seasons 2–3) *

Ilse Klink Ilse Klink (born 4 March 1972), is a South African actress and singer. She is best known for his roles in the popular television serials ''Isidingo'' and ''Inkaba'' and ''Arendsvlei''. Personal life She was born on 4 March 1972, in Cape Town, S ...

as Dorothy Galant (season 3), matriarch of the Galants * Chelsea Thomas as Angelique Galant (season 3), Dorothy's daughter * Nancia Dorland as Candice Burger (season 3), Angelique's friend * Carmen Maarman as Natalie Burger (season 3), Candice's stepmother * Chad Baai as Kaleb Jakobs (season 3) *

Brendon Daniels Brendon George Kofi Nana Osei Mainoo Daniels (born 24 September 1993) is an English footballer who plays as a winger for club Stourbridge. He turned professional at Crewe Alexandra in May 2011, but was released after two years with the club ...

as Constable Krige (season 3), detective and Lionel's friend * Inge Isaacs as Emmie Langeveld (season 3), new student at Arendsvlei * Clayton Evertson as Jake Sylvester (season 3)

Production

''Arendsvlei'' is based on a concept Theltom Masimila brainstormed and originally penned as a short story. He serves as its head writer and co-producer. Masimila makes a point of the Afrikaans dialect used in the series being "authentically Cape-based". Also in the writers' room are Wilmien Rossouw, the head storyliner, as well as Ilse Oppelt, Margaret Goldsmid, Henry Cloete,

, Johann Davis and Retief Scholtz. The series is directed by Denny Y. Miller and produced by Penguin Films. Roberta Durrant was the creative director for season 2. It is filmed at Atlantic Studios in Milnerton.

Reception

Awards and nominations

Notes

References

External links

*{{IMDb title, 9248932 *
Arendsvlei
' at TVSA 2010s high school television series 2020s high school television series 2018 South African television series debuts KykNET original programming South African television soap operas Afrikaans-language television shows