Prison break
Convicts Ty and Boeta get DeWet’s help to escape.
The last time viewers saw Ty Prinsloo (Wilhelm van der Walt, Jan in drama series Fynskrif, 2018-2020) was in 2016 when the son of Hillside’s greatest villain Gita (Jo da Silva, 2009-2016) was sent to prison for life for an offscreen murder. Ty is making his appearance again as one of André’s (Marcus Muller) prison mates. Disgraced lawyer André was convicted at the end of 2020 of assaulting and kidnapping his then-girlfriend Mariaan (Deirdre Wolhuter) and sent to prison for 10 years. He made friends with Ty, who showed him how things work in prison. “Ty is an excellent manipulator who can adapt to any situation,” says Wilhelm about the men’s friendship. Also behind bars is Boeta (David James, Danie Nel from 2011 to 2012 in soapie Binnelanders, 2005-now, see p33), who was also jailed for life for a murder years ago. Boeta is on good terms with the guards and even has a cellphone.
The wheel of fortune turns for Boeta and Ty when controversial businessman DeWet (Dirk Stoltz) arrives to visit his lawyer friend André, who introduces DeWet to his new prison pals Ty and Boeta – and there’s an immediate connection that leads to Ty and Boeta conspiring to break out.
THE PLAN
Shortly after DeWet’s visit, Ty and Boeta are conveniently told that they’re going to be transferred to a prison in Limpopo and it’s the perfect opportunity to make their prison break. “Boeta uses his secret phone to contact DeWet and lets him know that they’ve got a timeframe to break free,” Wilhelm explains. DeWet uses his connections to get the details on the prison transfer and shares his plan with his two friends. “DeWet is sending henchmen to shoot out the tyres of the transport vehicle and stage a hold up, forcing the guards to release Ty and Boeta,” says Dirk. “DeWet knows he can use Ty and Boeta in future when he needs grease monkeys to do his dirty work,” adds the actor.
GET TO WORK
You’d think that people like Boeta and Ty, who have been in prison for years, would make a run for the hills after the escape goes according to plan. Instead, they head back to Hillside, which Dirk says that is exactly what his character was hoping for – because Ty and Boeta are respectable crooks and keep to their word. “I’m not revealing what DeWet wants them to do right away,” says Dirk, but they’re up to no good. “Viewers will be getting a lot of drama with these three – especially Ty, because he is just as slippery as his snake of a mother.”