Orkney Snork Nie
Encyclopedia
Orkney Snork Nie was a popular Afrikaans
sitcom, originally broadcast by the SABC in South Africa
between 1989 and 1992. The name translates directly into Orkney Doesn't Snore, but the message being conveyed in Afrikaans is that the town isn't sleepy, there's always something happening. The series was written and directed by Willie Esterhuizen who was also involved in other popular South African series and movies. The series consists of three seasons, with two movies also produced (see below for more details). , the series is being rebroadcast on the DStv
channel KykNet
.
), and followed the exploits of an Afrikaner
family named Van Tonder, a common Afrikaans surname.
The head of the household, Hendrik, worked on the mines and his wife, Maggie, was a housewife. They had four children (listed from oldest to youngest): Ouboet, Bennie, Hester and Wimpie. Neels (nicknamed Ouboet, played by Frank Opperman
) was a car mechanic. He and his wife, Yolanda (nicknamed Yollie), had a little baby of their own, named Hendrik after his grandfather. Hester (nicknamed Hess) and Wimpie (called Wimps by his girlfriend) were both at school. The character of Bennie was rarely seen as he joined the army in the first season of the series. Wimpie had an on and off relationship with a girl named Sonja, and a best friend named Koert.
From time to time other family members, such as grandfathers and grandmothers would stay with the family and cause all sorts of mischief. Later the family also adopted two orphans, a young Afrikaner girl named Riekie and a coloured boy named Neelsie.
In May 1989 the first season of 13 episodes was finally broadcast. It was received extremely well, and led to two more seasons, the second being broadcast from August 1990 and the third and final one starting in April 1992.
The success of the TV series, which occupied a top ten spot on ratings for most of its run and held the number one spot for weeks on end, lead to two movies also being produced. Both were extremely successful at the South African box office.
A second group felt that the presence of Neelsie, the coloured orphan adopted by the family, was inappropriate. It must be remembered that part of the show was broadcast at a time when South Africa was still very much an Apartheid state.
Criticism against the show represented a tiny percentage of viewers though, and it was well received by the vast majority of South Africans.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Snapshot !! Ep # !! Title !! Original airdate !! KykNet
airdate
|-
|rowspan="2"| || 1x01 || "Bossie Botha se longe" || May 10, 1989 || April 7, 2007
|-
|colspan="6"| After Hendrik sees Bossie Botha's lungs in a jar at work, Hendrik decides to quit smoking. Ouboet has trouble putting their new all-in-one cot together. Wimpie and Koert are caught smoking in the garage by Hendrik.
|-
|rowspan="2"| || 1x02 || "Wingnuts" || May 17, 1989 || April 14, 2007
|-
|colspan="6"| Yollie is in labour but her car's wheels have not yet been replaced by Ouboet. Ouboet also makes an error when he registers his new son’s name. This is baby Hendrikkie's first appearance.
|-
|rowspan="2"| || 1x03 || "Die Mynbestuurder se Bal" || May 24, 1989 || April 21, 2007
|-
|colspan="6"| Hendrik takes Maggie to a ball. Grandpa feels unwelcome. Maggie, Yolie and Rusty wear gowns made from the exact same material to the ball. Grandpa picks a fight at the ball. The family receives a letter from Bennie.
|-
|rowspan="2"| || 1x04 || "Man Tot Man" || 1989 || 2007
|-
|colspan="6"|
|-
|rowspan="2"| || 1x05 || "Rusty Sit en Roes" || 1989 || 2007
|-
|colspan="6"|
|-
|rowspan="2"| || 1x06 || "Stink Pap en Stywe Lyne" || 1989 || 2007
|-
|colspan="6"|
|-
|rowspan="2"| || 1x07 || "Kwaliteit - Tyd" || 1989 || 2007
|-
|colspan="6"|
|-
|rowspan="2"| || 1x08 || "Flaminco en Koffietafel" || 1989 || 2007
|-
|colspan="6"|
|-
|rowspan="2"| || 1x09 || "Ma Staak" || 1989 || 2007
|-
|colspan="6"|
|-
|rowspan="2"| || 1x10 || "Bennie Kom Huistoe" || 1989 || 2007
|-
|colspan="6"|
|-
|rowspan="2"| || 1x11 || "Die Kursus" || 1989 || 2007
|-
|colspan="6"|
|-
|rowspan="2"| || 1x12 || "Ouboet En Yolanda Se Trek" || 1989 || 2007
|-
|colspan="6"|
|-
|rowspan="2"| || 1x13 || "Wiele" || 1989 || 2007
|-
|colspan="6"|
|-
! Picture !! Name !! by !! !!Picture !! Name !! by
|-
| || Hendrik van Tonder
(Season 1–3) || Zack du Plessis
|| || || Maggie van Tonder
(Season 1–3) || Annette Engelbrecht
|-
| || Ouboet van Tonder
(Season 1–3) || Frank Opperman
|| || || Bennie van Tonder
(Season 1) || Charl van Heyningen
|-
| || Hess van Tonder
(Season 1–3) || Clara Joubert || |||| Wimpie van Tonder
(Season 1–3) || Anrich Herbst
|-
| || Yolanda "Yollie" van Tonder
(Season 1–3) || Sally Campher || |||| Hendrik "Hendrikkie" van Tonder
(Season 1) || Ruan de Jager
|-
| || Oupa van Tonder
(Season 1–2) || Jacques Loots || |||| Ouma Gous
(Season 1–3) || Dulsie van den Bergh
|-
| || Oom Hans
(Season 2–3) || Danie Smuts || || || Koert
(Season 1–3) || Rinus van Niekerk
|-
| || Spike Potas
(Season 1–3) || Pierre van Pletzen || || || Sonja Conradie
(Season 1–3) || Carien Wandrag
|-
| || Riekie van Zyl
(Season 3) || Bernice du Plessis || || || Neelsie van Zyl
(Season 3) || Eugene Martin
|-
| || Rusty
(Season 1) || Lerina Erasmus || || || Hendrik "Hendrikkie" van Tonder
(Season 3) || unknown
|-
|}
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
sitcom, originally broadcast by the SABC in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
between 1989 and 1992. The name translates directly into Orkney Doesn't Snore, but the message being conveyed in Afrikaans is that the town isn't sleepy, there's always something happening. The series was written and directed by Willie Esterhuizen who was also involved in other popular South African series and movies. The series consists of three seasons, with two movies also produced (see below for more details). , the series is being rebroadcast on the DStv
DStv
DStv is MultiChoice's multi-channel digital satellite TV service in Africa, launched in 1995. It operates from two satellites over Africa, broadcasting on Ku band via Eutelsat W7 and Intelsat 7 , which only requires a small satellite dish...
channel KykNet
KykNet
kykNET is a South African television channel, which broadcasts in Afrikaans. Owned by pay-TV operator M-Net, it was launched on the DStv satellite service in October 1999.-Programs:Some of the programs broadcast on kykNET:*DKNT*Trompie...
.
Plot
The show was based in the mining town of Orkney, near the city of Potchefstroom (and not too far from JohannesburgJohannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
), and followed the exploits of an Afrikaner
Afrikaner
Afrikaners are an ethnic group in Southern Africa descended from almost equal numbers of Dutch, French and German settlers whose native tongue is Afrikaans: a Germanic language which derives primarily from 17th century Dutch, and a variety of other languages.-Related ethno-linguistic groups:The...
family named Van Tonder, a common Afrikaans surname.
The head of the household, Hendrik, worked on the mines and his wife, Maggie, was a housewife. They had four children (listed from oldest to youngest): Ouboet, Bennie, Hester and Wimpie. Neels (nicknamed Ouboet, played by Frank Opperman
Frank Opperman
In 1993 he moved to America for a few years but later returned to South Africa to become co-owner of a Jazz club called Bassline in Johannesburg. He also released a rock album called Serial Boyfriend....
) was a car mechanic. He and his wife, Yolanda (nicknamed Yollie), had a little baby of their own, named Hendrik after his grandfather. Hester (nicknamed Hess) and Wimpie (called Wimps by his girlfriend) were both at school. The character of Bennie was rarely seen as he joined the army in the first season of the series. Wimpie had an on and off relationship with a girl named Sonja, and a best friend named Koert.
From time to time other family members, such as grandfathers and grandmothers would stay with the family and cause all sorts of mischief. Later the family also adopted two orphans, a young Afrikaner girl named Riekie and a coloured boy named Neelsie.
History
Esterhuizen had played around with the idea since the early 1980's, but the SABC rejected the proposal for five years claiming it was "in bad taste". The series was finally given the go-ahead in 1987, but only after it was laboriously rewritten several times, and even then the SABC held the view that very few Afrikaners would associate with the series.In May 1989 the first season of 13 episodes was finally broadcast. It was received extremely well, and led to two more seasons, the second being broadcast from August 1990 and the third and final one starting in April 1992.
The success of the TV series, which occupied a top ten spot on ratings for most of its run and held the number one spot for weeks on end, lead to two movies also being produced. Both were extremely successful at the South African box office.
Controversy
Although the series was one of South Africas best loved and most successful series at the time of its original screening, a small but vocal minority had criticism of the show. Some of those opposed to it felt that the show contained too many English words and slang, so harming the Afrikaans language. Compared to most modern Afrikaans TV shows, this claim now seems almost laughable.A second group felt that the presence of Neelsie, the coloured orphan adopted by the family, was inappropriate. It must be remembered that part of the show was broadcast at a time when South Africa was still very much an Apartheid state.
Criticism against the show represented a tiny percentage of viewers though, and it was well received by the vast majority of South Africans.
Season 1 (1989)
The first season contains a total of 13 episodes which were originally broadcast on SABC (TV1).{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Snapshot !! Ep # !! Title !! Original airdate !! KykNet
KykNet
kykNET is a South African television channel, which broadcasts in Afrikaans. Owned by pay-TV operator M-Net, it was launched on the DStv satellite service in October 1999.-Programs:Some of the programs broadcast on kykNET:*DKNT*Trompie...
airdate
|-
|rowspan="2"| || 1x01 || "Bossie Botha se longe" || May 10, 1989 || April 7, 2007
|-
|colspan="6"| After Hendrik sees Bossie Botha's lungs in a jar at work, Hendrik decides to quit smoking. Ouboet has trouble putting their new all-in-one cot together. Wimpie and Koert are caught smoking in the garage by Hendrik.
|-
|rowspan="2"| || 1x02 || "Wingnuts" || May 17, 1989 || April 14, 2007
|-
|colspan="6"| Yollie is in labour but her car's wheels have not yet been replaced by Ouboet. Ouboet also makes an error when he registers his new son’s name. This is baby Hendrikkie's first appearance.
|-
|rowspan="2"| || 1x03 || "Die Mynbestuurder se Bal" || May 24, 1989 || April 21, 2007
|-
|colspan="6"| Hendrik takes Maggie to a ball. Grandpa feels unwelcome. Maggie, Yolie and Rusty wear gowns made from the exact same material to the ball. Grandpa picks a fight at the ball. The family receives a letter from Bennie.
|-
|rowspan="2"| || 1x04 || "Man Tot Man" || 1989 || 2007
|-
|colspan="6"|
|-
|rowspan="2"| || 1x05 || "Rusty Sit en Roes" || 1989 || 2007
|-
|colspan="6"|
|-
|rowspan="2"| || 1x06 || "Stink Pap en Stywe Lyne" || 1989 || 2007
|-
|colspan="6"|
|-
|rowspan="2"| || 1x07 || "Kwaliteit - Tyd" || 1989 || 2007
|-
|colspan="6"|
|-
|rowspan="2"| || 1x08 || "Flaminco en Koffietafel" || 1989 || 2007
|-
|colspan="6"|
|-
|rowspan="2"| || 1x09 || "Ma Staak" || 1989 || 2007
|-
|colspan="6"|
|-
|rowspan="2"| || 1x10 || "Bennie Kom Huistoe" || 1989 || 2007
|-
|colspan="6"|
|-
|rowspan="2"| || 1x11 || "Die Kursus" || 1989 || 2007
|-
|colspan="6"|
|-
|rowspan="2"| || 1x12 || "Ouboet En Yolanda Se Trek" || 1989 || 2007
|-
|colspan="6"|
|-
|rowspan="2"| || 1x13 || "Wiele" || 1989 || 2007
|-
|colspan="6"|
|-
Characters
{| class="wikitable"! Picture !! Name !! by !! !!Picture !! Name !! by
|-
| || Hendrik van Tonder
(Season 1–3) || Zack du Plessis
Zack du Plessis
Zack du Plessis is a South African actor famous for his roles as Hendrik van Tonder in Orkney Snork Nie and as Frikkadel in Vetkoekpaleis. He died on 15 June 2011.-Filmography:* Winter van 14 Julie 1977* Pretoria, O Pretoria 1979...
|| || || Maggie van Tonder
(Season 1–3) || Annette Engelbrecht
|-
| || Ouboet van Tonder
(Season 1–3) || Frank Opperman
Frank Opperman
In 1993 he moved to America for a few years but later returned to South Africa to become co-owner of a Jazz club called Bassline in Johannesburg. He also released a rock album called Serial Boyfriend....
|| || || Bennie van Tonder
(Season 1) || Charl van Heyningen
|-
| || Hess van Tonder
(Season 1–3) || Clara Joubert || |||| Wimpie van Tonder
(Season 1–3) || Anrich Herbst
|-
| || Yolanda "Yollie" van Tonder
(Season 1–3) || Sally Campher || |||| Hendrik "Hendrikkie" van Tonder
(Season 1) || Ruan de Jager
|-
| || Oupa van Tonder
(Season 1–2) || Jacques Loots || |||| Ouma Gous
(Season 1–3) || Dulsie van den Bergh
|-
| || Oom Hans
(Season 2–3) || Danie Smuts || || || Koert
(Season 1–3) || Rinus van Niekerk
|-
| || Spike Potas
(Season 1–3) || Pierre van Pletzen || || || Sonja Conradie
(Season 1–3) || Carien Wandrag
|-
| || Riekie van Zyl
(Season 3) || Bernice du Plessis || || || Neelsie van Zyl
(Season 3) || Eugene Martin
|-
| || Rusty
(Season 1) || Lerina Erasmus || || || Hendrik "Hendrikkie" van Tonder
(Season 3) || unknown
|-
|}
Movies
In later years two movies were released based on the television sitcom. Many of the same actors were involved in the movies, though Ouboet was portrayed by Marcel van Heerden in the first one since Frank Opperman was acting in the lead role of another South African series The Big Time. The films were:- Orkney Snork Nie (Die Movie), tagline "Dis Lekker By Die See" (translation: It's Fun At The Sea), released 1992
- Orkney Snork Nie 2, tagline "Nog 'n Movie" (translation: Another Movie), released 1993