Erfsondes is a South African television drama series created and written by Henrietta Gryffenberg about broken families and the lies and deceit within them and how sins committed to do good can come back to haunt families when they least expect it.
The series is broadcast in Afrikaans with English subtitles. The title of the show is Afrikaans for "The Sins of Our Fathers" (a rough translation).
The saga centres around Kate Ferreira who's in search of her family. As she tries to find out where she comes from she gets involved in the lives of thirteen diversely different South African families: each with their own sins seeking redemption.
The first episode introduces Kate and her business partner Ricci September. The two friends own a struggling events management company that do small functions such as children parties, bar mitzvahs and weddings.
Unhappy about this situation the ambitious and money driven master chef and partner Ricci seizes the opportunity to organize a press launch for Izibulo's property mogul Thabo Kekana, not knowing that his best friend and “foster” sister Kate will soon be drawn into a battle between Spencer and Izibulo.
Through the course of the series Kate tries to come to terms with her dark mysterious past while her life falls apart around her. Caught in an unhappy marriage to Stefan Ferreira she finds herself haunted by nightmares, desperately wanting a baby and thinking this would save her marriage.
Unfortunately her path is destined to cross with Chris and Samantha Spencer and the feud between the brother and sister pulls her into their web of lies and deceit. Will Kate fall prey to the Spencers? Are they to be trusted and will she find happiness through them?
Chris and Samantha's father Anthony Spencer worked his entire life to rebuild his father's company Spencer's to the powerful dynasty it is today. Anthony too has to make amends with the sins of his past.
Having chosen to abandon the pregnant woman he loved he marries the rich socialite Lucille O' Grady. Bed ridden and dying of a rare disease he has to watch his Empire falling apart as his two children fight for what each believes is rightfully theirs.
Anthony is forced to take a hard look at his life and his choices. Is he being punished for abandoning his love child and the women he loved or is he merely seeing his own sins revisited in his children?
Ricci September's family are also in the thick of things. Representing the wholesome family, the Septembers struggle through their own problems.
Ma Rose is a real mother hen and busybody meddling in Kate and Ricci's lives while Pa September struggles to come to terms with his new life as a retired school teacher.
Erfsondes is produced by Imani Media with Henriëtta Gryffenberg as the associate producer and writer. The series is directed by Bobby Heaney.