Why are fathers held to a different standard than mothers? That was the question that planted the idea for the new drama series, Beter as gister, which premieres on kykNET (DStv channel 144) on 30 June 2026.
Corné and René van Rooyen, known as the writers and directors of series such as Alles Malan and Summertide, are responsible for this new thirteen-episode series. Tascha van der Westhuizen is also attached as producer, as with all productions by Red Letter Day Pictures.
“It all started with the birth of our daughter, Hannah, during Covid. Like many fathers at that time, I was on paternity leave at home for almost a year,” says Corné. “During that time, I began to understand what it really means to be a one hundred per cent present father, but also how differently the world looks at a present father compared to a present mother.
“When I changed her nappy, I almost got a standing ovation. I walked around with her to get her to sleep and people would say: ‘Wow, you really are a good father’. But when a woman does exactly the same thing, she’s not a hero. She’s just a mother.
“It made me realise how low the standard is for men to be seen as good fathers and how incredibly high the standard is for women to be recognised as good mothers. In the public’s eyes, it is easy to be a good father: just do the basic things, and everyone applauds. But to me, that felt wrong. Because being a good father requires
much more than that.”
Beter as gister revolves around four families and especially focuses on the role of the men in each of them.
Meet the cast of Beter as gister
Neels van Jaarsveld as Marco Fouché
Marco Fouché (Neels van Jaarsveld) is a devoted stay-at-home dad who has been running the household for 10 years while his wife, Cecile (Rolanda Marais), pursued her ambition and ultimately became mayor of Cape Town. They have three children: fifteen-year-old Jessica (Nina Strydom), eight-year-old Coenie (Gerhard Conradie) and six-year-old Luca (Sebastian La Cock). But when Marco decides to return to work, the lives of the Fouchés begin to unravel.
Frank Rautenbach as Bernard Kruger
Bernard Kruger (Frank Rautenbach) is a ruthless businessman who will do anything to achieve success. He is married to Karen (Hanna Grobler), a kind-hearted schoolteacher, and they have two children. Reynard (Sebastian van Niekerk) is a seventeen-year-old troublemaker who has a very poor relationship with his father. The youngest of the Krugers is six-year-old Benji (Eben Kotze). A traumatic incident changes their lives in an instant. In the aftermath, Bernard in particular has to redefine what it means to him to be a man and a father.
Edwin van der Walt as Eben Strauss
Eben Strauss (Edwin van der Walt) is a loving single father and writer. His little daughter, Lilly (Luna Coetzer), is on the autism spectrum, and Eben does everything in his power to provide for her needs. Eben and Lilly’s lives are turned upside down when Lilly’s mother, Sally (Greteli de Swardt), reappears after years of absence.
Elton Landrew as Tariq Cupido
Tariq Cupido (Elton Landrew) is a grumpy, 62-year-old former police officer and widower. Years ago, he drove his only daughter out of the house and, when he unexpectedly discovers that she has passed away and that he is the grandfather of six-year-old Katinka (Alexis Newman), he has to make a decision that will change
both their lives.
Also in the cast are June van Merch, Mila Guy, Daneel van der Walt, Charlene Brouwer, André Weideman, Melanie du Bois and Danny Ross.
“The series is built on that feeling a parent gets when they have put their child to bed and watch them sleeping peacefully,” says Corné. “It may have been a long day filled with emotion, outbursts, guilt and impatience, but then you look at them and think: tomorrow, I will do better. In that quiet moment beside the bed, love, hope and a new resolve emerge. That is really the heart of the series.”
Beter as gister premieres on 30 June at 20:00 on kykNET (DStv channel 144) and will also be available on DStv Stream and Catch Up.
