Ballade Vir 'n Enkeling (Ballad for a Loner) is an Afrikaans language drama set in 1985 that centres around the search by a young journalist for her colleague and fellow journalist Jacques Rynhard following his sudden, mysterious disappearance.
As the story begins Jacques has just been awarded the Basson Prize for his novel Die Enkeling, but he disappears before the announcement is made.
Otto Beukes, the editor of the magazine Die Huisvriend, decides to follow up on the story and puts top journalist Carina Human on the story.
In a quest to find out where Jacques has gone and why he's disappeared Human begins the search for him by locating to the people closest to him.
Initially none of them wants to talk to her but as the continues asking her probing questions and sifting through their lies she slowly but surely gets them to open up to reveal the truth across the series.
The first people Carina makes contact with are Jan-Paul Otto, a freelance actor who is supposedly Jaques's best friend and Lena - who is an artist and the love of Jacques' life. They refuse to talk about Jacques but through the little they do say Carina realises that they have something to hide.
Ballade Vir 'n Enkeling was written by Leon van Nierop and directed by Henry Mylne, with additional scenes and dialogue written by Mylne. The series was produced by TV-Drama (Afrikaans) for the SABC. The theme tune was by Richard van der Westhuizen whilst all original music and orchestrations were by Louis van Rensburg.
Starring Cast
Season 1
Gavin van den Berg ... Jacques Rynhard
Karin Fourie ... Carina Human
Babs Laker ... Liebet Rynhard
Marie Pentz ... Trudie Linde (Shivas)
Selma van der Vyver ... Lena Aucamp
Alwyn van der Merwe ... Jan-Paul Otto
Anneline Kriel ... Alicia Francke
William Egan ... Otto Beukes
Shareen Swart ... Meisie Moolman
Hugo Taljaard ... Gavin Greeff
Season 2
Gavin van den Berg ... Jacques Rynhard
Karin Fourie ... Carina Human
Selma van der Vyver ... Lena Aucamp / Deirdré Latsky
Shareen Swart ... Meisie Moolman
Hugo Taljaard ... Gavin Greeff
Babs Laker ... Liebet Rynhard
Marie Pentz ... Trudie Linde (Shivas)
André Roothman ... Emile Human
Brümilda van Rensburg ... Alicia Francke
Nico van Zyl ... Lucas Naudé
Cobus Rossouw ... Lood Burger
David Vlok ... Jonathan Wright
Elma van Wijk ... Petro Latsky
Richard van der Westhuizen. Wynand de Swardt
Alwyn van der Merwe ... Jan Paul Otto
Johann van der Merwe ... Piet Potgieter
Leon van Heerden ... Giel Bouwer
Marié du Toit ... Irma Burger
Graham Armitage ... Frank
Dennis Ras ... Michael Rademan
André Hodgskin ... Wikus Rautenbach
Duncan Bouwer ... Olaf Brümmer
Susan Ross ... Denise Pieterse
Michele Burgers ... Marike Froneman
Pieter Brand ... Jimmy