Werner on the road
Between dancing up a storm with Oumas and jiving with fans, viewers are head-over-hills in love with Zak Hendrikz.
Werner Visagie (played by Zak Hendrikz) is undoubtedly one of the most loved characters in Hillside. “Werner is a fun, compassionate guy who is a loving husband to his wife Tanya (Liezl de Kock) and a moral compass for his son Uys (Daniel Coetzee). Werner believes that one should be kind to your fellow man, regardless of race, sexuality or social status. He believes in always doing the right thing regardless of consequences,” explains Zak, who joined the 7de Laan cast in December 2021 only.
MOVING IN
Zak admits that he was nervous on his first day on set. “It is always daunting to start on a soap. You never know if you are going to get along with your fellow cast-family and that could be problematic onscreen. But in this case, Liezl and Hannelie Warren – Werner’s mom Augusta – are exquisite actresses whom I have worked with in the past. Because of that, there was an immediate connection, and our chemistry reads well onscreen. The amount of love and laughter we share is the best part of coming to work,” says Zak. “This is the first character in my career that I can identify with. I’ve used a lot of my own experiences and personality to colour in Werner. Because of that, I have a very soft spot for him.”
FUN TIMES WITH THE VIEWERS
Another part of his job that Zak can’t get enough of is going on roadshows and connecting with loyal viewers. “My first 7de Laan Roadshow was to Cape Town in March. Not only did the cast connect on a deeper level with one another, it was mesmerising to see how the viewers really believed in the story and characters we portray. Our characters become part of their extended family and the love and warmth you feel after meeting them is a blessing,” says Zak, adding, “There was a 92-year-old lady who came up on stage. She looked frail and needed help, but we had a full, fun dance on the stage! She was jiving like a 16-year-old!”
One thing Zak does stay quiet on is his marital status, especially when fans ask if he and Tanya are really married. Instead, he gives a shy smile and a wink.
PREVIOUSLY
Ivy made the wrong assumption about Werner, and Zee saw a ghost while babysitting. Romeo, Khethiwe and Vanessa fought back tears when Karmen left Tjattas a voicenote, and Shady tried her hand at working with food.
IN THIS ISSUE
Residents of The Hillside Heights are pleased to hear of improvements being made to the building, and DeWet’s fears are put to rest when he gets news of Rickus and Lana. Augusta has a warning for her grandson about meddling in his parents’ business, and Denzil has an innovative idea to rival Oppiekoffie’s competitors. Tanya opens up to Alexa about her marital woes, and Romeo and Khethiwe are excited about the dance lessons they’re taking for their wedding.
Ivy apologises to Augusta for spreading rumours about her son, Marvin gives Werner food for thought, and Denzil wants to take official ownership of Stasie Ses. Tanya and
Alexa have been through a lot respectively and decide that a night out will do them good, while Mariaan and Amorey have a warm mother and daughter moment. Bonita is bemused by Augusta flirting with DeWet, DeWet is thankful for his new wife Bonita’s heart-warming gift, and the Welman kids plan for Chris and Mariaan’s 40th wedding anniversary. Ivy is impressed by Vanessa’s selflessness, Romeo and Khethiwe panic when they can’t find Eddie and Karmen, who they’ve been babysitting, and Shady is anxious about an announcement.
CAST: Aggie Ngwenya Mimi Mahlasela •Alexa Welman Carina Nel
•Amorey Welman Kristen Raath •André Vosloo Marcus Muller •Augusta Visagie Hannelie Warren •Bonita Meintjies Hildegardt Whites •Byron/ Trigger Ruben Engel •Chris Welman David Rees •Connie van der Lecq Quinne Brown Huffman •Denzil Jaques de Silva •DeWet Basson Dirk Stoltz
•Eddie Peterson El-Kody Langeveldt •Erika Basson Corine du Toit •Esti Reandi Grey •Evelina Meme Ditshego •Fikani Chauke Nicholas Nkuna
•Gabby Blyde Smith •Hettie Karin van der Laag •Ivy Peterson Nazli George
•Justin Dann-Jaques Mouton •Karmen Gabriella Linton •Kopano Thabo Mhlanga •Kotie Marian Hooman •Khethiwe Sesethu Ntombela •Lana Basson Mila Guy •Lesedi Moloi KB Motsilanyane •Llewellyn Liaan Ferreira
•Ludo (Ludwig) Venter Rubin Wissing •Mariaan Welman Deirdre Wolhuter
•Marko Greyling Francois Lensley •Marvin Peterson Duncan Johnson
•Maxine Lian van der Weshuizen •Mieke Basson Reze-Tiana Wessels
•Mienkie Marijke Bezuidenhout •Nadine Mmapule Tsholo •Nikki Basson Danielle Retief •Nozi Dimpho More •Oom Bricks Nico Allers •Ouma Motta Khadija Heeger •Rhulani Sabelo Radebe •Romeo Peterson Clint Aplon
•Shady (Crushanda) Vermeulen Beáta Bena Green •Shawn Basson Deànré Reiners •Tanya Visagie Liezl de Kock •Thomas Fouché Vian Singleton
•Tjattas Rikus Strauss •Tumi Linda Sokhulu •Vanessa Ingrid Paulus •Uys Visagie Daniel Coetzee •Vee Peterson Zoey Volkwyn •Vince Meintjies Jacques Blignaut •Werner Visagie Zak Hendrikz •Zee (Zakhele) Ray Neo Buso