Egoli: Place of Gold explained

Genre:	Soap opera
Creator:	Franz Marx
Starring:	Christine Basson Shaleen Surtie-Richards Brümilda van Rensburg David Vlok Steve Hofmeyr Lynne McCarthy Joan Collins
Country:	South Africa
Num Episodes:	4706
Num Seasons:	18
Runtime:	22-24 minutes
Network:	M-Net

Egoli: Place of Gold was a bilingual (English and Afrikaans) South African soap opera which first aired on M-Net on 6 April 1992. South African television's first daily soap opera, on 3 December 1999 Egoli became the first South African television programme in any genre to reach 2,000 episodes.^[1] As of 3 August 2007, 4,000 episodes had aired. Egoli: Place of Gold aired its final episode on 31 March 2010, after 18 years of acting from South African and international actors.^[1] ^[2]

The series was set in Johannesburg. The city of Johannesburg is also known by its isiZulu name, "eGoli", which means "the place of gold". Egoli was created by Franz Marx. The show is known in Afrikaans as Egoli: Plek van Goud.^[3]

Egoli was "aimed at women of all nationalities between the ages of 25 and 45, with middle or upper incomes."^[1] ^[2] The series aired Monday to Friday at 18:00. However, on from April 2009, M-Net moved Egoli to the 18:30 timeslot.

The series had a large following, and "Egoli Spectaculars" were held countrywide each year for fans of the series to meet the cast.^[4] These spectaculars offered publicity for the series but also raised money for charity.^[5]

Cast members

Actor! rowspan="2"
Character	Seasons / Year
1 (1992)	2 (1993)	3 (1994)	4 (1995)	5 (1996)	6 (1997)	7 (1998)	8 (1999)	9 (2000)	10 (2001)	11 (2002)	12 (2003)	13 (2004)	14 (2005)	15 (2006)	16 (2007)	17 (2008)	18 (2009)
	Nora Roelofse Naudé	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
Brümilda van Rensburg	Louwna Roelofse Vorster Edwards von Badenburg Edwards	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
Shaleen Surtie-Richards	Ester "Nenna" Willemse	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
Shaleen Surtie-Richards	Ruby Willemse
	Albertus "Bertie" Roelofse	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
David Rees (actor)	Niek Naudé	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*		*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
Tiffany Kelly	Sonet Vorster Naudé	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*		*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
Hannah Botha	Elsa du Plessis Pienaar	*Guest*	*Guest*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
David Vlok	Timothy "Tim" Herholdt Vorster	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
Thoko Ntshinga	Donna Makaula	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
Chantell Stander	Joanne Logan du Plessis	*Main*
Chantell Stander	Kimberly Logan Vorster Schults Du Rand Edwards		*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
	Lynette Strydom Vorster Makropoulos Malan	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
	Deon du Plessis	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
Christel Smith	Tarien Naudé	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*					*Guest*
Esta TerBlanche	Beatrice "Bienkie" Naudé Hartman	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
Christina Storm	Beatrice "Bienkie" Naudé Hartman																*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
Gé Korsten	Walt Vorster	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
Phillip Moolman	André Vorster	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
Jackie Davids	Margaret Rose "Margie" Willemse Brink	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
	Paul Brink	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
Hermien Dommisse	Monika Vorster	*Guest*	*Guest*	*Main*
Charl Engelbrecht	Arno Fourie	*Guest*	*Guest*	*Main*
Nthati Moshesh	Lerato Mashabela		*Guest*	*Main*
	Dewald Vorster	*Guest*	*Guest*
Phillip Henn	Johan Vorster	*Main*	*Main*
Sandra Prinsloo	Cecile Roelofse Sinclair	*Main*	*Main*
Kevin Smith	Andrew "Andy" Willemse	*Main*	*Main*
	Stan Krige	*Guest*	*Guest*
Wilson Dunster	Alistair Milner-Smythe "Spider"	*Guest*	*Guest*
Albert Maritz	Jimmy Smuts	*Guest*	*Guest*
David Butler	Brian Fletcher	*Guest*	*Guest*
James Whyle	Tom Sinclair	*Main*
Steve Hofmeyr	Doug Du Rand / Otto Heimer		*Guest*
Cliff Simon	Gregory "Mitch" Mitchell		*Guest*	*Guest*
Sorina Austin	Reneé		*Guest*
Mimi Coertse	Isabeau Vorster		*Guest*
	Menasse		*Guest*
Elize Cawood	Irma Raubenheimer		*Guest*
Gigi Strydom	Moira Krige		*Guest*
Macks Papo	Tsheko Mashabela		*Guest*
Catriona Andrew	Jane Edwards Vorster Schoeman			*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
Corine du Toit	Jane Edwards Vorster Schoeman														*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
Ernst Eloff	Buks Pienaar			*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
Nathan Gradwell	Zack Blackburn			*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
David Dukes	Johnney			*Guest*
Eckard Rabe	Chris Edwards				*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
Darryl Desmarais	Stephen Edwards				*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
Celia Kemp Steyn	Angel				*Guest*
Chris Linford	Rex de Koning Von Badenburg					*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
Darren Kelfkens	Joe Smith						*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
Lindie van Eeden	Karin Schoeman Edwards						*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
Dorette Potgieter	Susan Bosman						*Guest*
Ebi Halberstadt	Braam Schoeman							*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
Mandi Baard	Lara													*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
Tamarin du Toit	Cat																*Main*	*Main*	*Main*
Anton Fisher	Spike Roberts														*Main*	*Main*	*Main*

International Guest stars:

Joan Collins^[1] as Catherine Sinclair (Season 1)
Jackie Collins^[1]
Richard Steinmetz^[1] as Jeff Hartman (Season 2)
- James Horan
Perry Stevens^[1]
Samantha Fox^[1]
Jerry Springer
Helmut Lotti

Seasons

	Episodes	Date Started	Date Finished
1	260	6 April 1992	2 April 1993
2	259	5 April 1993	1 April 1994
3	260	4 April 1994	31 March 1995
4	260	3 April 1995	29 March 1996
5	260	1 April 1996	4 February 1997
6	260	5 February 1997	4 February 1998
7	300	5 February 1998	21 May 1999
8	260	24 May 1999	19 May 2000
9	180	22 May 2000	5 February 2001
10	260	6 February 2001	25 January 2002
11	260	28 January 2002	24 January 2003
12	260	27 January 2003	23 January 2004
13	260	26 January 2004	21 January 2005
14	160	25 January 2005	2 September 2005
15	353	5 September 2005	10 January 2007
16	285	11 January 2007	18 January 2008
17	310	21 January 2008	27 January 2009
18	259	30 March 2009	26 March 2010

International edition

The TV series was broadcast outside of South Africa, in neighbouring countries in the original bilingual Afrikaans-English version, and, beginning in May 1997, in an English-only international version.^[5] The bilingual version was shown in Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, where Afrikaans was spoken or widely understood. In the late 1990s, the English version was broadcast in at least 9 African countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Zambia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Mauritius.^[5]

At one time in the 1990s, the series was shown in at least 30 countries.^[6]

In creating the international version, all Afrikaans-language scenes were filmed twice, first in Afrikaans, then in English.^[5] To make the series more appealing to non-South African audiences, typical South African sayings and customs, were deleted from the international edition.^[5]

Egoli was also dubbed in Spanish for broadcast in some South American countries.^[5] The series was sold to Venezuela's state channel Venezolana de Televisión at the 1998 NATPE in New Orleans, a first for a South African television series post-apartheid. A package of 260 episodes were sold, compiled as one-hour episodes to match local tastes and lengths.^[7]

Parodies

Egoli: Place of Gold was one of the South African soaps to be parodied by comedian Casper de Vries in his soap parody Haak en Steek.

Demise

The final episode of the series aired on 31 March 2010. The final episode included surprises and special guests and ended at the memorial.

Movie

It was announced in August 2009 that a movie entitled Egoli – The Movie would conclude the longest-running soap opera in South African history.^[8] The movie was directed by Bromley Cawood and produced by series creator and writer Franz Marx, in cooperation with Burgert Muller, a co-producer of the TV series, and Pieter Venter of Brigadiers-Franz Marx Films.^[8] The feature film was released in South African cinemas on 16 June 2010 and starred many cast members from the TV show including David Rees, Shaleen Surtie-Richards, Tiffany Kelly, Christine Basson, Brümilda van Rensburg, and Lerato Motau.^[9] Some sources list the title of the movie as Egoli: Afrikaners is Plesierig.

Other media and products

A book entitled Franz Marx's Egoli 2000 by Reinet Louw was published by Human & Rousseau in 1999. The English-language edition was a translation of the Afrikaans-language edition, Franz Marx se Egoli 2000, also published in 1999.^[5] The book related how the show was developed, recounted storylines from the first 8 years of the show, provided biographical sketches of characters, and included photographs of cast members.^[5]

A cookbook featuring recipes by characters in the series (including Nenna, Elsa, Donna, and Mrs. Naidoo) was published during the program's run and ranked number 1 on the South African top ten best-seller list for several weeks.^[4] The recipes featured in the cookbook were collected by South African restaurateurs Eduan Naudé and Brian Shalkoff.^[5]

During the early years of its run, the TV show marketed a sticker book and stickers featuring pictures of the actors from the series.^[5]

After the series concluded in 2010, a double-disc DVD entitled Egoli 18 was released. The DVD featured highlights from each year of the series' 18-year-run, repackaged into new 24-minute episodes by the show's creator, Franz Marx. Episodes were introduced by actors, writers, and other notable personalities who were affiliated with or fans of the show.^[6]

The show also marketed its own fragrance.^[4] The perfume, named "Essence of Gold."^[5]

Clothes featured in the TV series, designed by fictional character Freddie Vermeulen of Louwna Fashions, were also sold in South African shops at one time.^[5]

External links

Official website
- TVSA's Egoli: Place Of Gold site

Notes and References

http://www.mnetcorporate.co.za/ArticleDetail.aspx?Id=721 Egoli – MNET Corporate
http://www.gautengfilm.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=488 "Jozi is a SOAPDISH." Gauteng Film Commission.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0128176/ Egoli: Place of Gold
Web site: Current Productions: Egoli." MNET Corporate website . 13 December 2007 . 29 September 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120423165959/http://www.mnetcorporate.co.za/articledetail.aspx?id=107 . 23 April 2012 . dead .
Louw, Reinet. Franz Marx's Egoli 2000. Cape Town, Pretoria, and Johannesburg: Human & Rousseau 1999. .
Egoli: 18 Years of Egoli. Johannesburg: NuMetro Home Entertainment, 2010.
"Egoli for Latin America", Africa Film & TV Magazine, nº. 16, January-March 1998
http://www.news24.com/Entertainment/SouthAfrica/Get-ready-for-Egoli-movie-20090826 Get ready for Egoli movie
http://www.channel24.co.za/Movies/Reviews/Egoli-20100605 "Egoli" (movie review)