Empty hand, open heart
Werner and Denzil teach the Hillsiders to help each other this Mandela Day, with a kick and a slap.
Is the world ready for the Madiba chop? It’s not as crazy as it sounds. This Mandela Day on Monday 18 July in honour of the late President Nelson Mandela, Werner Visage (Zak Hendrikz) has a special gift for the Hillsiders: Self-defence classes.
Ever since Werner came to Hillside in November 2021, Zak has been impressed by his character’s commitment to helping people with a giving hand and heart. “The first person Werner met was Zee (Ray Neo Buso). He’d been beaten up and Werner tried to help him with self-defence,” says Zak. “When he lived on the farm, Werner faced a gang of home invaders, and he now works for DeWet’s (Dirk Stoltz) security firm. He also has a blue belt in karate, so Werner is the perfect person to teach self-defence,” adds the actor. And how better to unite people than with the skills and confidence to protect one another?
HONOUR THE LEADER
Zak says that this storyline is about hope. “President Mandela inspired the world. What Werner is trying to do is cultivate that same belief in people, to get them feeling good about themselves and also to feel safe on the streets. So instead of having a braai for Mandela Day, Werner wants to do something constructive and a self-defence class will help people in so many ways,” says Zak, adding, “Community is the cornerstone of 7de Laan.”
But one man can’t make a difference, so Werner approaches his friend Denzil (Jaques da Silva) for help. “Denzil is like Werner: They have a heart of gold. They are positive and want to see people happy and safe.” It doesn’t hurt that Denzil owns local coffee shop Oppiekoffie and if we know one thing about Hillside, it’s that if you want people to hear about something, Oppiekoffie is the place to spread news. “Word of mouth goes far, so Zak gets a surprise when so many people arrive for the class,” says Zak. Hillside, let’s get ready to rumble.
PACKING A PUNCH
Werner knows how to punch and kick his way out of trouble, but Zak is the opposite. “I’ve never thrown a punch. In fact, my only reference for fighting is being slapped by my brothers when we played around. Thankfully 7de Laan has a stunt co-ordinator who gets us moving correctly and looking legit,” he says. Wardrobe also played a part in getting Zak looking legit. “I got to set and they gave me a traditional karate gi (outfit). I’d never seen one in my life, it’s quite comfy!”
PREVIOUSLY
Augusta confronted Ivy for gossiping about Werner, mother-daughter Mariaan and Amorey bonded, and babysitters Romeo and Khethiwe were outsmarted by Eddie and Karmen.
IN THIS ISSUE
Announcements about the beauty pageant have Shady stressing, and the Welmans are finally able to put their stresses and problems aside for a small family celebration. Mariaan can’t hide her joy when Ivy suffers bad luck, and there’s gossip in town when the emergency services are called to The Heights flat complex. Marvin and Ivy aren’t seeing eye-to-eye when it comes to how they discipline their children and that’s causing the couple harm, and Werner approaches Denzil for help promoting his self-defence program as part of Hillside’s Mandela Day celebrations.
Mariaan makes a revelation to her son-inlaw Fikani about the life she had growing up and about her father, and Zelda returns to serenade her sister Mariaan and brother-in-law Chris for their wedding anniversary. Uys tries to flirt with Mieke when he bumps into her at Oppiekoffie coffee shop, and Ivy calls her mother (offscreen) for advice about her arguments with Marvin. Marvin isn’t impressed with his son Eddie’s misbehaviour, and Augusta has caught the eye of a suitor. Mariaan suffers a bit of a breakdown when her day goes pear-shaped, and Denzil tells Ivy that he’s impressed by her plans to get Oppiekoffie making a profit again.