The supportive father
Willem will do anything to help his children through tough times as he continues to fight his alcohol problem.
Dawid Minnaar is one of the best-known local actors and as well as playing well-intending alcoholic dad Willem Potgieter, he does a lot of acting work when the camera isn’t rolling – he’s the script translator on telenovela Legacy. The series reaches its 100th-episode milestone in March and Dawid, along with his co-stars, are excited about the big day.
A FATHER IN NEED
Recovering alcoholic Willem is clear as day: the most important thing for him is to be there for his kids Petra and Stefan (Trix Vivier and Sean-Marco Vorster). “He will walk through the fire for them,” says David. Willem’s support for his children is unwavering, to fault. When Stefan goes through relationship problems again and again with Felicity Price (MaryAnne Barlow) and Petra is walked over at her work, Willem has a comforting shoulder for them. “Willem doesn’t love Stefan and Felicity’s relationship,” explains Dawid. “There are too many pitfalls popping up, more so this fortnight than ever, but he will always try to help. He has given his opinions when he sees trouble on the horizon, but he will never force his ideals on ex-cop Stefan,” adds Dawid.
EXPENSIVE JUSTICE
The same goes for Willem’s daughter Petra, although she is easier to deal with because she’s not sleeping with the boss like her brother. Petra and her office bestie Sanele (Teboho Tsotetsi) are taking on Sims (Lunga Shabalala), the son of Legacy bigwig Msizi (Siyabonga Thwala) who has stolen credit for the pair’s work. “If there’s one thing that makes Petra red with rage, it’s injustice,” says Dawid. “She does not tolerate it and because she feels so strongly about what is right and wrong, she decides to unmask Sims but it blows up in her face and Willem must comfort her.”
BAD ROMANCE
No matter how weak Willem is – and let’s be honest, booze has all but destroyed him – he continues to get up and take on the world. Even at the end of February when he was conned out of money for a bakkie, Willem never really gave up. “He has shortcomings like anyone else. The trauma he went through in the war, it hurt him,” says Dawid, who adds that he loves his new character because of the intensity of the role. “You have to give your all to convey it as credibly as possible. It is precisely such roles that motivate you.”