Arendsvlei is a South African, Afrikaans-language telenovela based on a concept by Theltom Masimila which revolves around a semi-private high school on the Cape Flats run by the Cupido family, in the fictitious community of Arendsvlei.
A brother and sister, both teachers, are determined to make a difference by giving as many children in the community as possible access to quality education.
Unfortunately, they need to overcome various stumbling blocks at work and in their personal lives.
The principal, Beatrice (Jolene Martin), founded the school to provide a good education for children in the community at an affordable price, which became a passion project funded by money she inherited after her father's death.
The people in Arendsvlei are a community with dreams and that wants to rise above their circumstances.
The themes focus on love, deceit, murder, revenge, family secrets, teen pregnancies, depression, addiction and homosexuality.
The series features a large ensemble cast including Oscar Petersen (Swartwater) as David, Jolene Martin (Getroud met Rugby) as Beatrice, Ernest St Clair (Ingoma) as Christopher, newcomer Maria Valente De Almeida as Samantha, Jody Abrahams (Fishy Feshuns) as Lionel, Melanie Du Bois (7de Laan) as Ronel, Crystal-Donna Roberts (Mense Mense) as Janice and Sherman Pharo (7de Laan) as Thys.
Other featured cast include Dillon Windvogel (danZ!) as Vernon, newcomer Gretchen Ramsden as Nicolene, Dean Richard Olivier (Fynskrif) as Anton, Ann Juries (Die Byl) as Claudia, Rehane Abrahams (Die Allemans) as Wendy, Christian Bennett (Sara se Geheim) as Emile, Kay Smith (Vlug/Terug na Egipte) as Debra, newcomer Craig Adriaanse as Wesley, Roberto Kyle (Homeland) as Lee-Roy, Celeste Matthews (Vinkel en Koljander) as Aunty Gertie and Joseph Mitchell (Die Boland Moorde) as Uncle Johnny.
Based on a concept by Theltom Masimila and produced by Penguin Films for kykNET as an M-Net Original Production, the series is the first original telenovela to air exclusively on kykNET & kie. Denny Y. Miller is the director and the head writer is Theltom Masimila.
The head storyliner is Wilmien Rossouw, with a writing team that includes Ilse Oppelt, Margaret Goldsmid, Henry Cloete, Quanita Adams, Johann Davis and Retief Scholtz.
The theme song is sung by Karin Kortje and original music is by Murray Anderson. The supervising producer for kykNET & kie is Janine Cornelius.
The 156-episode telenovela was filmed in Cape Town.