Niggies: Drama series based on a horrific true crime – a first for kykNET

In 1966, young Issie Fourie and Petro Nel from the quiet town of Odendaalsrus in the Free State were abducted and murdered. Issie’s brother, André, vowed to do whatever it took to bring the perpetrator to justice—a journey that would take him 18 years.

Niggies (Cousins), a drama series based on this shocking crime, brings together a stellar team both in front of and behind the camera. The series is set to premiere on kykNET this March. Acclaimed director Jaco Bouwer, known for his groundbreaking theatre work and the international hit series Spinners, leads the production.

The cast is headlined by Beer Adriaanse as the older André. Adriaanse, a seasoned actor, screenwriter, and director, is recognised for his work in Wonderlus, Kanarie, and hit series like Hotel and Taktiek. Rising star Janru Steenkamp portrays the young André.

The cast also features Carel Nel (Donkerbos, Hartstog), who appeared in HBO Max’s Raised by Wolves, and the internationally acclaimed eco-horror film Gaia, also directed by Bouwer.

Niggies begins with the 1965 abduction and murder of Issie Fourie and Petro Nel in Odendaalsrus. However, the story spans the 1960s and 1980s, a time when South Africa remained under the firm grip of Apartheid. The events unfold in Odendaalsrus, Allanridge, and Kroonstad, in the northeastern Free State.

Due to government censorship, the white minority remained largely unaware of the country’s growing turmoil, making the Fourie-Nel murder an even greater shock in this conservative society.

Following the global success of Spinners, director Jaco Bouwer turns his focus to this poignant period drama with universal themes. Niggies is produced by Wolflight Films, with Roelof Storm (Kanarie, Poppie Nongena) as executive producer. The award-winning Saartjie Botha and Philip Rademeyer crafted the screenplay.

“While the abduction and murders made headlines at the time, the details have faded from public memory, except for those directly affected,” explains Bouwer. “Our goal isn’t to reopen old wounds, but rather to explore what really happened—with some dramatic license—and to examine these events in the context of modern South Africa, where such crimes have sadly become more common.”

“Niggies is a raw exploration of loss and the destructive impact of unresolved trauma on families,” says M-Net’s Director of Premium Channels, Waldimar Pelser. “It’s not a sensationalised story about violence; rather, it’s a sensitive examination of pain, resilience, and the search for healing in a place where hope seems impossible.”

The series follows in the footsteps of kykNET’s recent successful dramas like Plan B, Spoorloos, and Nêrens, Noord-Kaap Part II, all of which have delivered world-class Afrikaans-language storytelling.

Exact premiere dates and a more complete cast list will be released later. Visit the kykNET website and join the conversation on kykNET’s X, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook pages.