7de Laan

7de Laan
Sewende Laan logo
Created by	Danie Odendaal
Country of origin	South Africa
No. of seasons	17
No. of episodes	3830 (as of 27 June 2016)
Production
Running time	30 min (including commercial breaks)

7de Laan is a South African Afrikaans soap opera with some English and Zulu dialogue in between. It features English subtitles. It started in 2000 and is broadcast evenings on SABC 2 from Monday to Friday, and since 4 July 2016 at 19:00–19:29.

It is set in and around the fictional Sewende Laan ("Seventh Avenue") in the suburb of Hillside, Johannesburg where all the characters live or work. The street and shopfronts which are featured on the opening visuals, are that of Seventh Street in Melville, Johannesburg.

Sewende Laan was originally broadcast from Monday to Thursday, then later extended to include Fridays as well. Ratings are generally around the 2 million mark, according to tvsa.co.za.

The series' signature opening violin-tune, played by the Soweto String Quartet, has become one of South Africa's most iconic tunes. The theme-tune is so well-loved that many viewers complained when the instantly recognisable tune was replaced, for the first time in 15 years, by a newer more modern theme in 2015.

A milestone was reached on 9 May 2013 when episode number 3 000 was broadcast.

List of Characters

Main Cast

• Aggie Ngwenya (Mimi Mahlasela)
• Bonita Meintjies (Hildegardt Whites)
• Charmaine Meintjies (Vinette Ebrahim)
• Diederik Greyling (Hennie Jacobs)
• Errol Pieterse (Christo Davids)
• Felicity Daniels (Melanie Du Bois)
• Hilda de Kock-van Zyl (Annelisa Weiland)
• Kim Conradie (Corné Crous)
• Marko Greyling (Francois Lensley)
• Matrone Netta Nortjè (Annelize van der Ryst-Hattingh)
• Oubaas Septimus van Zyl (Pierre van Pletzen)
• Paula van der Lecq-de Bruyn (Diaan Lawrenson)
• Pulane Masemola (Masego Sehoole)
• Sifiso Ndlela (Anelisa Phewa)
• Vanessa Meintjies (Ingrid Paulus)
• Vince Meintjies (Jacques Blignaut)
• Willem Spies (Markus Haywood)
• Xander Meintjies (Theodore Jantjies)
• The Welmans:
  • Alexa Welman (Carina Nel)
  • Amorey Welman (Kristen Raath)
  • Chris Welman (David Rees)
  • Mariaan Welman (Deirdre Wolhuter)
  • Rickus Welman (André Lotter)

Guest actors

• Baby Mika (Nevaeh Stander)
• Maria Zibula (Themsie Times)
• Naledi (Monnye Kunupi)
• Petro (Carla van der Merwe)
• Winston Mokobane (Sam Medupe)

Past Actors (actors withdrawn from cast)

• Alan Fletcher (guest actor) (Duncan Lawson)
• Altus de Bruyn (Heino Schmitt)
• Alyce Morapedi (Vuyelwa Booi)
• Anna van Biljon (Hanli Rolfes)
• Annelie van Dyk (Donnalee Roberts)
• Antoinette Heyneke (Zoe Ras)
• Asha Sharma (Kajal Bagwandeen)
• Ava Jordaan (Emily McLaren)
• Bart Kruger (Neil Sandilands)
• Bernard Jordaan (Werner Coetser)
• Brandt van der Bergh (Steve Hofmeyr)
• Brionay (Verona Gosslet)
• Carlos Perestrelo (Pedro Camara)
• Cas van Graan (Andre Roothman)
• Christelle Terreblanche (Anna-Mart van der Merwe)
• Cindy (Christina Storm)
• Clara (Angelique Gerber)
• Connie van der Lecq (Quinne Brown)
• Daleen Meintjies (Denise Newman)
• Danelle (Andrea Streso)
• Dawid Greef (Stian Bam)
• Dewald Gerické (Kaz McFadden)
• Dezi Terreblanche (Elma Postma)
• Dorothy Daniels (Shaleen Surtie-Richards)
• Dr SP de Wet Malan (Gys de Villiers)
• Dwayne (David Johnson)
• Dylan (Charl Timotheus)
• Elna Bredenkamp (Mandy Baard)
• Elsa Winterbach (Isadora Verwey)
• Emma le Roux (Bertha le Roux)
• Esther, Matrone's sister (Late Trudie Taljaard)
• "Flooze van Witbank" (Sorina Erasmus)
• Francois Rossouw (Chris Van Niekerk)
• George Kyriakis (Nico Panagio)
• Hannes (Izak Taljaard)
• Helena Moolman (Jana Strydom)
• Henk (Francois Jacobs)
• Herman Croucamp (Deon Coetzee)
• Inge van Schalkwyk (Antoinette Louw)
• Isabelle Moolman (Illse Roos)
• Jacomien van Niekerk (Susanne Beyers)
• Jan-Hendrik Terreblanche (Waldemar Schultz)
• Jason De Lange (Jaco Snyman)
• Jerome (Terence Bridgett)
• Jocelyn Pieterse (Keziah Jooste)
• Johan (Reynard Slabbert)
• Kabelo Padi (Sekoati Tsubane)
• Karien Momberg (Christi Panagio)
• Kosie van die slaghuis (Kosie)
• Leon de Lange (Dawid Minnaar)
• Liam (Dezi's skelmpie) (Chris Chameleon)
• Liezl (Anel Alexander)
• Linda Jordaan (Elsabé Daneel)
• Lindile Hadebe (Musa Ngema)
• Louis Croucamp (Lesley van Wyk)
• Lukas Mulder (Hendrik Cronje)
• Madel Terreblanche (Wilna Snyman)
• Mandla Khumalo (Freedom Hadebe)
• Marcel van Niekerk (Zetske van Pletzen)
• Monique van Huyssteen (Minette Grové)
• Nadine (Mmapule Tsholo)
• Nadia Croucamp (Simoné Nortmann)
• Natalie Baker (Daniella Deysel)
• Neville Meintjies [† 4 September 2015](Zane Meas) Only the character died, not the actor
• Nthabiseng (Salamina Mosese)
• Neef Gert (Ben Kruger)
• Nila (Gulashafa Sayed)
• Nurse at the Hillside Clinic (Zelda Roelofse)
• Ockert (Anrich Herbst)
• Pierre (Brian Robson)
• Pieter van Heerden (Ivan Botha)
• Quentin [† 18 Okt 2012] (Danny Ross) Only the character died, not the actor
• Retha (Marlise Erwee)
• Riaan van Dyk (Luan Jacobs)
• Ryno Lategan (Chris Vorster)
• Sandra Theron-Stutterheim (Heléne Lombard)
• Sanjay Ramdin (Strini Pillai)
• San-Mari van Graan (Amalia Uys)
• Sheldon (Denver Vraagom)
• Sonja Theunissen (Tessa Holloway)
• Steyn (Ivan Zimmerman)
• Tante Dolores (Marga van Rooy)
• Tannie Rademan (Late Miems De Bruyn)
• Tannie Schoeman (Late Milla Louw)
• Tessa Krige (Vicky Davis)
• Tiaan Terreblanche (Francois Rautenbach)
• Tim Jordaan (Marius Weyers)
• Tokkie le Roux, Emma's father (Richard van der Westhuizen)
• Tony - warden (Marlo Minnaar)
• Trishan (Jai'prakash Sewram)
• Tshepo (Sam Mbuyane)
• Tyrone "Ty" Prinsloo (Wilhelm van der Walt)
• Willem Rautenbach (Ray Randall)
• Wilmien de Lange (Nina Swart)
• Wynand (Marcel van Heerden)
• Zinzi Kheswa (Caroline Jacobs)

Past guest actors

• Alex (Donovan Honeyborne)
• Allen (Duncan Lawson)
• Andre (Marcus Muller)
• Andries (Ian Rossouw)
• Anél Botha (Kara du Toit)
• Antoinette Heyneke (Zoe Ras)
• Arnold Langley (Simon Bruinders)
• Baba AJ de Bruyn (Jean Louw)
• Baba Karmen (Razeen Isaacs)
• Baba Samantha (Mia van Wyk)
• Bekker (Shaun Barnard)
• Benji (Rowan Cloete)
• Belinda (Maritsa)
• Bertus (Jean-Chris Posthumus)
• Bets (Gigi Strydom)
• Boeta (David James)
• Charlie (Yutamé Venter)
• Daleen Meintjies (Denise Newman)
• Dali (Thabiso Mokethi)
• David Abrahams (Abduraghmaan Adams)
• Douglas (Mike Huff)
• Dominee (Div de Villiers)
• Dr Moolman (Anriette van Rooyen)
• Dumisani (Sandile Makhoba)
• Dwelmsmous (Gert Steyn)
• Eben (Jacques Bessenger)
• Elaine Mostert (Natasha Dryden)
• Ettiene (David Louw)
• Fekile (Benni Langa)
• Freda (Corlia Troskie)
• Irma Theunissen (Adriana Faling)
• Jackson (Marcus Mabusela)
• Janet (Ingeborg Riedmaier)
• Joshi (Zane Gillion)
• Jurie (Herman Vorster)
• Karmen (Erin le Roux)
• Koot (Francois Stemmet)
• Kristin de Swardt (Loriska Bubb)
• Lana (Natalie van der Walt)
• Larry Saayman (Sean Brebnor)
• Leonie (Marinhta Labuschagne)
• Lilian Bala (Vicky Kente)
• Loyiso (Mike Mvelase)
• Luke (Jonathan Pienaar)
• Lynette Lindeque (Odelle de Wet)
• Lynn-Mari (Vanessa Smith)
• Michelle (Michelle Victor)
• Monique (Lizca Kruger)
• Nadine (Mmapule Tsholo)
• Nurse (Zelda Roelofse)
• Retief (Alwyn van der Merwe)
• Rick (Darren Kelfkens)
• Rochelle (Lindy Joubert)
• Tarryn (Kay Smith)
• Tinus le Roux [todler] (Juandré van Zyl)
• Tom (Craig Hawks)
• Tumi (Mari Molefe van Heerden)
• Vanessa's GP (Natasha du Plooy)
• Wessel Buys (André Schwartz)
• Yannis (Emmanuel Castis)

Shops, businesses and residences

7de Laan is set in Hillside which is a fictional suburb in Johannesburg. Within the suburb, there are many businesses and shops where the characters work, live and hang around in. These are the current locations that are used:

• Hillside Heights

The Hillside Heights is the centre of Hillside. It is an old residential building that has small apartments where most of the characters live. The Hillside Heights building is owned jointly by Gita McGregor and Willem Spies, and Oubaas van Zyl is the keeper of the building. Many a spookstorie made its appearance in the building's alleys, and so often somebody gets locked-up in the store room by accident.

• Oppiekoffie

Charmaine Meintjies owns and runs Oppikoffie along with her waiters. Oppikoffie is a coffee shop located on the ground floor of the Heights and directly opposite Eclectic E. Charmaine and the waiters are not coping under the busy workload at present and they soon will have to hire another waiter. Many of the young characters worked there as waiters in the past: Annelie, Bernard, Clara, Connie, Danelle, Diederik, Kabelo, Kim, Lucas, Monique, Pieter, Tessa and Zinzi.

• Eclectic E (Up-Market Boutique)

Eclectic E is the local boutique located opposite Oppikoffie. It is owned and ran by Felicity Daniels (who is a famed and successful fashion designer with her own designer clothing label called "Felicity Fashions"). Pulane currently works there as an assistant. Past assistants were Irma, Paula, Annelie, Clara, Monique and Tessa. It is a popular meeting place for many of the female characters.

• The Hillside Deli

The Deli is owned and managed by Vince Meintjies (one of Neville Meintjies' sons), with Hilda de Kock as the assistant chef. Jerome, Bart, Vanessa, Matrone, Lukas and Pieter used to work here at different times.

• The Hillside Bookshop

The bookshop is owned by Ryno Lategan with the assistance of Matrone Netta Nortjè. The bookshop has featured many real life book-releases on the show with the author guest-starring in the particular episode to sign autographs and to answer questions.

• Hillside Travel

Hillside Travel is a travel agency owned and ran by Gita McGregor. Zinzi Kheswa, Asha and Antoinette used to work there as PA's. Ty (Gita McGregor's nephew) was Gita's assistant.

• The Hillside Times (closed business)

The local community newspaper, The Hillside Times, was owned by Neville Meintjies and Nthabiseng (who bought her shares from Lilian Bala). Ryno Lategan served as editor-in-chief in Neville's absence when he was thought dead. Neville was shot and Anna then acted as editor till it closed its doors for business. Neville's journalists were Nthabiseng, Bernard Jordaan and Errol Pieterse, Aggie Ngwena as their PA and Paula van der Lecq as a part-time online journalist.

• Bruynwaves

Bruynwaves is an events organising company that is owned by Altus de Bruyn (hence "Bruyn"-waves). Vanessa Meintjies, Diederik and Sifiso are Altus's co-organisers.

• Theron & Terreblanche (T&T)

T&T is the local sporting equipment shop, owned by Herman Croukamp until his death. The Hillside Gym is located on the first floor of the building. Willem and Kim work in T&T as shop owner and assistant.

• O'Malley's

O'Malley's is the pub where the young crowd like to hang out. Former bartenders included Lucas, Pieter and Bernard.

• Stasie Ses

The new after-work recreation and relaxation venue in Hillside. Owned and run by Marko Greyling.

• Ryno's House

This is a real, old time mansion, previously owned by author Ryno Lategan, then by the Croukamps, but now by the Welmans. It turns out to be a popular venue for house parties, fashion shows, book launches as well as wedding receptions. A fictitional character (never seen on screen) is Evelina, the residence's cook and famous for her dish Evelina se niertjies. She started working there when it was still Madel's house in early episodes.

• Hillside Clinic

Whenever there is a medical emergency, this scene comes into play. "Patients" are kept in bed for a short while, visited by the other characters, and then discharged home.

Other places (seldom seen on screen):

1. Restaurant "Le Petit Paris"
2. The Cherry On Top (Restaurant)
3. Mostly Matise (Restaurant)
4. Laura Lee Beauty Salon
5. Felicity Fashions' factory
6. Die slaghuis (butchery)
7. Die apteek (pharmacy)
8. Police station and magistrate's court
9. The Church (mostly for weddings)

10th Anniversary

In April 2010, Sewende Laan celebrated ten years on television. During this month, viewers got to see pictures of the show through its ten years during the end credits of each episode.

External links

• 7de Laan official website
• Sewende Laan at IMDb
• TVSA's 7de Laan Mini-Site