IVAN Botha and Donnalee Roberts, the husband and wife behind South African box office hits like “Pad na jou hart” and “Vir altyd”, stepped up their game with their first TV series, “Een keer om die son”.
And it’s been an emotional roller-coaster for viewers. If you haven’t watched it on kykNET yet, grab your tissues because the Van Wyk family will leave you in the feels.
This 12-episode series doesn’t just tell a story - it lives it. From mental health struggles to the raw realities of family loss, bullying and even marital issues, it lays everything bare.
Roberts nailed it when she said: “People can see themselves in these situations. All of us have lost someone and suffered pain. In South Africa, certain things are swept under the rug, and when we started writing, it was important for us to address that.” And address it, they did.
Watching the Van Wyk family navigate life’s toughest moments feels like a mirror reflecting our own struggles. But it’s not all tears. There are moments of real joy, too. And that’s the magic of “Een keer om die son”.
Award-winning actor Jaques Bessenger, who portrays Ruan van Wyk - husband and father - shared in an interview with “Rooi Rose” that he hopes viewers, especially men, understand it’s important to talk about emotions and mental health, especially within their own families.
He emphasised the importance of being comfortable with saying, “I’m not okay, and that’s okay, too."
Whether it’s from laughing at the awkward family dynamics or crying over a gut-wrenching scene, this series knows how to pull you in.
As actors and showrunners, Botha and Roberts are no strangers to telling heartfelt stories.
Their past films have explored themes of love, life journeys and relationships. “Pad na jou hart” was a symbolic journey through life, while “Vir altyd” explored the ups and downs of love and friendship.
And as their first TV series, it’s clear they’ve brought that same energy but expanded it into something even more gripping.
Fans of the show can look forward to more, as Botha teased that the second season will be packed with more life experiences, second chances, and a few new characters.
“I’m even more excited about the second season than the first,” said co-writer, producer and director Botha.
“There are a few new characters, but of course also the characters that viewers got to know in the first season. We are working hard as a team to give viewers everything they got from the first season again,” he said.
∎ The second season of “Een keer om die son” is expected to air on kykNET in 2026.