Pierre van Pletzen and Annelisa Weiland reunite in Suidooster.

• Pierre van Pletzen and Annelisa Weiland, best-known and beloved as Oubaas and Hilda from 7de Laan, reunite on Suidooster, bringing fresh intrigue to the kykNET soapie.
• Van Pletzen’s new character, Willie, introduces a complex, diamond-related storyline that shakes up Ruiterbosch.
• “This time, though, the dynamic between us is completely different,” says Weiland of their new on-screen relationship.

For many South African viewers, Pierre van Pletzen and Annelisa Weiland will forever be remembered as the beloved “Oubaas” and “Hilda” from 7de Laan – a duo whose quirky chemistry once had the country in stitches.

Now, the iconic pair shares the screen once again, this time in the kykNET soapie Suidooster, with Pierre making his first appearance from Thursday, 2 April – introducing a brand-new dynamic that promises fresh intrigue.

Viewers of Suidooster know by now that the show thrives on dynamic storytelling - where unexpected twists and colourful new characters are always just around the corner. Enter Willie…

A charming chatterbox with a twinkle still dancing in his piercing blue eyes, Willie may feel oddly familiar to audiences. That’s because he’s portrayed by Pierre van Pletzen, whose previous role as Oubaas opposite Weiland’s Hilda became the stuff of local TV legend – especially thanks to his hilariously muddled expressions that often escalated into “epidemic proportions.”

According to Annelisa, seeing Pierre on the Suidooster set initially required a double-take.

“This time, though, the dynamic between us is completely different,” she explains.

Unlike the gentle and lovable Oubaas, Willie is a man shaped by a tougher past. A retired train driver who has travelled the length and breadth of the country, he carries a treasure trove of stories – along with a few questionable chapters that once brought him face-to-face with the law. At heart, however, Willie is a rough diamond – an ironic description, considering that it’s a mysterious diamond-related situation that turns life in Ruiterbosch upside down.

Willie’s journey begins when he approaches Kate (Weiland) for help connecting with someone who can design a website for him. This leads him to Gary Booysen (Craig Adriaanse), who quickly realises that Uncle Willie has a “record,” as the police would put it. While there was only one arrest – for breaking into a house – Willie insists he wasn’t stealing anything, but merely retrieving diamonds that belonged to a friend.

From there, the story gathers momentum, pulling several of Ruiterbosch’s younger residents into a web of intrigue that could challenge even the sharpest crime writer.

Pierre’s arrival on Suidooster also reunited him with Ingrid Paulus - best known to 7de Laan fans as Vanessa Meintjies - who now directs on the show.

Reflecting on the experience, Pierre shares that working with familiar faces felt natural, despite the years apart. “We go back a long way - 17 years, to be exact,” he says. “I even trained Ingrid as a director back in the day, so it was quite something to now be directed by her.”

What proved more challenging, however, was resisting the instinct to fall back into the beloved Oubaas-and-Hilda dynamic when acting opposite Annelisa. “That only lasted for a moment on the first day,” he laughs. “After that, we quickly settled into our new characters. It’s always a joy working with her - we’ve shared many laughs over the years.”

For Pierre, the soap genre remains a firm favourite. “Everything is in place – the sets, the cameras, the costumes – and you’re working with a team that knows exactly what they’re doing. Everyone is focused on delivering the best possible scenes.”

And when it comes to Suidooster, that professionalism stands out. “It’s a well-oiled machine,” he says. “The organisation behind the scenes is exceptional. Communication is clear, and problems are solved quickly and effectively. There’s a real sense that the team has your back.”

That spirit of collaboration and harmony, he adds, makes all the difference: “When your work environment feels like that, your whole world becomes a better place.”

Suidooster airs weekdays at 18:00 on kykNET (DStv 144) and at 18:30 on kykNET & Kie (DStv 145). Episodes are also available on DStv Stream.