Skeem Saamers... roll up for Part II of our special feature that celebrates the show's 10-years-on-air.
We've heard from Lerato Marabe (Pretty), Patrick Seleka (Kat) and Mogau Motlhatswi (Mapitsi) in Part I
here and now we hear from three more grandee cast members:
Harriet Manamela
Who's played Meikie since Season 1
TVSA: Where were you when you heard you'd been cast on Skeem Saam and what was the first thing you did after you heard?
Harriet: I was at home when I received the call and the first thing I did I ran to my parents and said, "Finally I will be acting in a show where I'll be speaking my home language!!”
TVSA: Your favourite memory on the show?
Harriet: My favourite memories will always be with Cornet Mamabolo and Eric Macheru, how they always have a trick to make me fluff just that one line in my dialogue.
Also my favourite storyline will always be the first season. Portraying how far a mother will go to protect her children. Whenever I see a hen sitting on her eggs I'm reminded of the storyline.
TVSA: What's your most unforgettable experience with a fan? - good, bad or crazy!
Harriet: My moments with my fans are mostly fun as they try to understand how Meikie operates. They also try to understand what her real secret is for keeping John to always be so much in love with her.
Putla Sehlapelo
Who's played Alfred since Season 2
TVSA: Where were you when you heard you'd been cast on Skeem Saam and what was the first thing you did after you heard?
Putla: I actually started out on the show as a casting director. Funny enough I ended up having to fill in for someone else that didn’t show up on the day. I was essentially just a filler so to say. And the rest, as they say, is history.
TVSA: Your favourite memory on the show?
Putla: My favourite storyline thus far has got to be the one that I am currently shooting surrounding the tender storyline. Now of course I can't give the storyline away prematurely, people would need to tune in. But it is a beautiful story.
I’m not a terrible person, but in playing Alfred I get to play the role of someone that is somewhat of a baddie sometimes.
TVSA: What's your most unforgettable experience with a fan? - good, bad or crazy!
Putla: I had two different experiences that I will never forget.
- The first was when a kid, no older than six or seven, walked up to me and spoke to me like I was his younger brother. In my head I’m thinking, “I’m probably the same age as your dad.” His approach just caught me completely off guard.
- The second was a girl, who cried when she saw me. She probably cried for about 20 minutes first, before calming down to tell me that when she saw me she saw greatness. That, she loved my work and every time she saw me on TV it made her emotional.
I suspect she also had dreams of one day becoming an actor hence she became so emotional. That experience was quite overwhelming and caught me completely off-guard.
Eric Macheru
Who's played Leeto since Season 1
TVSA: Where were you when you heard you'd been cast on Skeem Saam and what was the first thing you did after you heard?
Eric: I was home in Polokwane when I got the call. The first thing I did was ran and told my parents. My first impression on set was just nerves everywhere. I was very nervous.
TVSA: Your favourite memory on the show?
Eric: My favourite storylines have always been that of Leeto and Mokgadi. The two have been through so much together. I just love them. I also love the fact that it’s always laughter behind the scenes, we have really happy and funny people on set. Hahaha.
TVSA: What's your most unforgettable experience with a fan? - good, bad or crazy!
Eric: Fans can be unpredictable at times, you'll never know their next move. I've been pulled, kissed, pockets searched, scratched, hugged. Haha! But I mostly felt loved. I've had good fans.