A new drama series by legendary screenwriter Paul C. Venter debuts on kykNET on 17 October at 20:00. The series, simply titled Straat, boasts an exceptional cast and storylines with enough twists and turns to keep viewers wondering: Do I really know what’s going on in my street? And how well do I know my neighbours?
Survivor presenter Nico Panagio, also known for his roles in movies such as Semi-Soet and Vrou soek boer, is one of the leading cast in this action packed drama. In Aarbei Street, a cul-de-sac in a middle-class neighbourhood that looks serene from the outside, each of the inhabitants have their own story.
Watch the trailer of Straat
Let’s start at the beginning. The criminal Anton Videns (Frank Opperman), big boss of a financial institution, and his partners are in deep trouble. A whistleblower is going to testify agains them, and they will do anything to stop him. The whistleblower, an IT genius, lives in Aarbei Street under witness protection and the assumed name Robert Muller (Nico Panagio).
Zelda Postma (Amalia Uys) resides in the same dead-end street and is a bright attorney tasked with keeping Robert safe. She’s assisted by another neighbour, Potifar Vorster (Morné Visser), or Pote, as everybody calls him. Pote is a retired policeman, and him and his wife, the nurse Lorrie (Marisa Drummond), are the only other people in Aarbei Street who know Robert is under witness protection.
Trix Louw (Hélène Truter) is a sad widow and estate agent. Her son lives in Canada, and her dogs are the only sources of joy and pleasure in her life.
Hannes Brümmer is Maxwell Smit, the local pharmacist who sells more than medicine. He and his ditzy wife, Retha (Cintaine Schutte), live close to Jakkie van Tonder (Leandie du Randt) and Hendrikkie Fourie (Arno Meyer). Jakkie, an orphan, has her own business installing home computer systems.
Nicole Holm is Vinkie Beerwinkel, an overbearing woman who will do anything in her power to build a security wall around Aarbei Street. Deon Coetzee is her hen-pecked husband, Basie. Wiseman Sithole and Edith Plaatjies are the Makebas, Xolani and Nyakallo, and Wilhelm van der Walt is Billy Vogel, a creepy photographer who will do anything for money.
Kate Normington, Josias Moleele and Kiroshan Naidoo play Anton Videns’s crooked partners. Kevin Smith, Melt Sieberhagen, Mandri Sutherland and Celeste Loots star in guest roles.
The director is Morné du Toit who helmed the hit movies Hoofmeisie, Nul Is Nie Niks Nie and Vuil Wasgoed.
Straat starts on 17 October at 20:00 on kykNET (DStv channel 144) and will also be available on Catch Up and DStv Stream.
