Soon on your TV set: Maurice Paige in a Cape drama

SOON a familiar face will make an appearance on one of South Africa’s fastest-growing Afrikaans soaps, Suidooster.

Maurice Paige, famous for his role in another popular show, Isidingo, has traded the fictitious setting of Horizon Deep in Johannesburg for that of Ruiterbosch in Cape Town.

Ruiterbosch, never short of drama, is actually the old Makro Building in Montague Gardens, now Atlantic Studios where Suidooster is filmed.

Paige, who spent 11 years at Isidingo, will now play the role of Tyron Daniels, a character he describes as “a bit of a hustler and a rough diamond”.

“He is a good guy,” said Paige. “He had a difficult childhood as he was in the foster care system but walked away when he was 16 to start doing his own thing. He is now a mechanic and repairs cars in his backyard.”

Without giving too much away, Paige said: “Life in Ruiterbosch is going to become quite interesting and there is a major revelation for him (Tyron Daniels) on the cards that will change his life forever.”

The 34-year-old Paige is originally from the Cape. He said the decision to move back to the mother city was a no-brainer.

“I didn’t think twice when the producers of Suidooster offered me a role. I was also ready for a new challenge and it gave me an opportunity to act in Afrikaans again, especially in a soap that is so true to Cape Town and its people,” he told Weekend Argus.

“It didn’t take long for me to adjust at Suidooster as everyone at the production is friendly and professional, but most importantly, we feel like a family.”

Suidooster manager of publicity, Wilmer Muller, can barely contain his excitement at securing the services of Paige and said: “Maurice Paige is a legend in the South African television industry and for him to join Suidooster as a permanent cast member is a big honour for us.

“We are really excited to introduce him to our viewers, who will probably rejoice in seeing a TV icon like him in their favourite soapie.”