Season 1
Devil's Peak is a South African crime thriller television miniseries set in Cape Town which follows talented but broken Detective Benny Griessel, tasked with tracking down a righteous vigilante killer whose crimes are capturing the imagination of the city.
The series is an adaptation of Deon Meyer's 2004 novel of the same name, which is the first in the Detective Benny Griessel novels.
Benny is played by Hilton Pelser and Sisanda Henna is grieving father Thobela Mpayipheli, who is desperately seeking justice after the murder of his son.
Benny and Thobela are brought into the orbit of trapped mother, Christine (Tarryn Wyngaard), who is willing to do anything to achieve a better life for herself and her daughter.
The fates of these three characters become inextricably linked as the series builds to its explosive climax.
Rounding off the lead cast are Shamilla Miller as Anna Griessel, Benny's wife; and Masasa Mbangeni as Mbali Kaleni, Benny's detective colleague.
Devil's Peak is produced by Lookout Point and Expanded Media Productions in association with MultiChoice Studios and BBC Studios Distribution.
The series was written and created for television by Matthew Orton, with Amy Jephta serving as writer and associate producer.
Orton, Laura Lankester from Lookout Point and Francis Hopkinson from Expanded Media are executive producers; while M-Net's executive producers are Yolisa Phahle, Nomsa Philiso, Allan Sperling, Bob Conte and Waldimar Pelser.
The supervising producers are Nicola van Niekerk and Wikus du Toit; Johann Knobel is the producer.
The series is directed by Jozua Malherbe and the composer is Tim Phillips.
Main Characters
Benny Griessel (Hilton Pelser)
A troubled Afrikaans detective driven to depression and alcoholism by his exposure to Cape Town's rampant violence and corruption.
Benny's escalating panic attacks have started to get the better of him, as his drinking threatens to derail both his marriage and career.
Despite his fragile state of mind, Benny continues to hide from his problems, relying on his authority, quick wit and affable nature to get by.
Benny's hunt for the Assegai Killer will force him to confront uncomfortable sides of himself and challenge his beliefs about the nature of good and evil.
Thobela Mpayipheli (Sisanda Henna)
When a family tragedy strikes, Thobela, a retired Secret Service operative, takes matters into his own hands.
Putting his combat and surveillance skills to use, and employing an assegai spear to kill his victims, Thobela's vengeance captures the imagination of a city in pain.
Thobela wants his victims to understand the reasons for their deaths, but the more violence he commits, the more he risks losing himself.
Anna Griessel (Shamilla Miller)
A fearless journalist married to Benny Griessel, Anna was first drawn to Benny's wild charisma, but his deepening alcohol dependency has tested Anna's patience to the limit.
Practically raising their daughter alone, Anna isn't going to let Benny, or anyone, take away everything she's worked so hard for.
An article about the disappearance of a young boy draws Anna into the world of the Assegai Killer and her journalistic skill will prove useful for Benny.
But whilst Anna wants Benny to turn things around, she's going to do what's right for herself and her family.
Christine van Rooyen (Tarryn Wyngaard)
Mother to a young daughter and struggling to get by, Christine earns extra money attending parties thrown by Cape Town's shady businessmen.
Determined and resourceful but at the same time routinely underestimated, Christine's ability to exploit other people's preconceptions of her will end up being her greatest weapon as she is drawn into the world of the Assegai Killer.
Anton Heidt (Albert Pretorius)
Anton Heidt works hard to project an image of legitimacy as an affluent businessman and property tycoon, but the widely recognised truth is that Heidt's fortune rests not on bricks and mortar but on protection rackets, blackmail and violence.
Heidt's wealth and power sustains the illusion that he can take whatever he wants, whenever he wants it.
Mbali Kaleni (Masasa Mbangeni)
Mbali is one of SAPS's few university-educated officers and is a stand-out young detective.
Mbali puts up with her colleagues' condescension and sexism, focussing instead on furthering her career, and although she sees Benny as the poster boy for white male privilege, the pair develop a begrudging respect for one another.
Mbali admires Benny's intuitive hunches and recognises that despite his recklessness, he tends in the right direction.
Col. Themba Genge (Litha Bam)
Genge's loving husband and happy home life are sources of great comfort, enabling him to cope with the horrors that surround him at work.
Genge is an authoritative and pragmatic leader and, as one of the few people aware of the true extent of Benny's drinking, a vital ally to Benny, encouraging him to seek help.
However, over the course of the series Genge and Benny's relationship will be tested by Benny's increasingly erratic behaviour.
Boef Beukes (Gérard Rudolf)
Boef Beukes is an experienced SAPS officer brought into Benny's Assegai Killer investigation.
Boef is a close ally of Benny's, both as a friend and as a colleague, supporting Benny at his lowest and backing his unconventional policing methods, even when doing so puts Boef himself in the firing line.
Guest Stars
Other cast members include Soli Philander, Dawid Minnaar, Faith Baloyi, Thuli Thabethe, Tshamano Sebe, Lee Roodt, Gideon Drotschie, Sinako Lungiso, Sizwe Msutu, Adrian Collins, Rob van Vuuren, Brendan Murray, Motsi Tekateka, Athule Mazana, Jock Kleynhans, Julian Place, Cassidy Nicholson, Duane Williams, Craig Adriaanse, Aisha Sterris, Khadija Heeger, Boleng Mogotsi, Tamer Burjaq, Ntombi Makhutshi, Charlton George, Zintle Mayaphi, Michele Burgers, Toni Jean Erasmus, Thulani Nzonzo, Shane Manie, Amrain Ismail-Essop, Chima Okafor, Kazi Khuboni, Estelle Nel, Siphenathi Qeja, Mpumi Sizani, Roberto Kyle, Themba Nofemele, Genna Galloway, Rea Segoati, Bongolihle Mpoyiya, Lester Kiewit and Alwyn Marx.
Season 1 Cast
(scroll to bottom for available actor bios)
Starring
Hilton Pelser ... Detective Benny Griessel
Sisanda Henna ... Thobela Mpayipheli
Tarryn Wyngaard ... Christine van Rooyen
Shamilla Miller ... Anna Griessel
Masasa Mbangeni ... Mbali Kaleni
Recurring / Guests
Sizwe Msutu ... Cliffy Mketsu
Gérard Rudolf ... Boef Beukes
Thuli Thabethe ... Bonnie Mtetea
Dawid Minnaar ... Eugene de Klerk
Soli Philander ... Princess
Tshamano Sebe ... Madison Madikiza
Athule Mazana ... Xola Mpayipheli
Jock Kleynhans ... Xander Weiss
Julian Place ... Peter
Litha Bam ... Themba Genge
Mpilo May ... Jamie Keyter
Lee Roodt ... Enver Davids
Faith Baloyi ... Ntsusa ka Mlawu
Mpumi Sizani ... Courtroom Judge
Ntombi Makhutshi ... Brigadier Jamila Singh
Hanaa Brennen ... Carla Griessel
Safaa Brennen ... Carla Griessel
Zintle Mayaphi ... Tracey
Sinako Lungiso ... Someguy
Boleng Mogotsi ... Jacob ka Mlawu
Gideon Drotschie ... Johan Reyneke
Estelle Nel ... Sammy
Genna Galloway ... Angela
Bongolihle Mpoyiya ... Motel Receptionist
Amrain Ismail-Essop ... Dr Sairita Mbombo (as Amrain Ismael-Essop)
Tamer Burjaq ... Rami Hussein
Kazi Khuboni ... Detective Orlo Zako
Toni Jean Erasmus ... Cheryl
Thulani Nzonzo ... Ash Genge
Rob van Vuuren ... Lenny le Grange
Roberto Kyle ... Traffic Department Clerk
Duane Williams ... Jimmy
Albert Pretorius ... Anton Heidt
Brendan Murray ... Detective Cruywagen (as Brendan Sean Murray)
Charlton George ... Andreas
Themba Nofemele ... Gumede
Michele Burgers ... Nicola
Cassidy Nicholson ... Vanessa
Motsi Tekateka ... Detective Otto
Siphenathi Qeja ... Angry Father
Adrian Collins ... Stevie
Alwyn Marx ... Viper Guard
Chima Okafor ... Moses
Aisha Sterris ... Sonia van Rooyen
Khadija Heeger ... Ilhaam van Rooyen
Craig Adriaanse ... Dylan
Lester Kiewit ... Reporter
Shane Manie ... Security Guard Zwo (as Shane Mannie)
Rea Segoati ... Police Constable