Season 1
Die Byl (The Axe) is a South African, Afrikaans-language crime drama television series inspired by legendary South African detective Piet Byleveld, who caught some of the country's most heinous murderers.
Featuring a fictitious specialist police squad that was formed to bring serial killers to book, in every 90-minute episode the highly trained specialised squad is confronted with another series of brutal murders.
They are all strong minded individuals who often have conflicting ideas of solving the case at hand. But when they stand together they are a formidable outfit that face the most dangerous criminals in their bid to be of service to their community.
The title of the series is derived from the nickname of the leader of the squad Colonel Piet van der Bijl – "Die Byl" for short.
Die Byl deals with important issues and ills in South African society. The characters' personal lives inevitably suffer under the strains of the highly dramatic and demanding task that they are confronted with. Each one deals with the gruesome nature of their everyday lives in a different way.
The stories are also full of surprises and the audience is invited to decide who the guilty suspect is. Sometimes they may be right, but often they will be wrong. All is revealed in the last scene of every episode.
At the same time the ongoing story throughout the series delves into the private lives of the main characters and presents unexpected twists and turns in the turbulent lives of career murder detectives.
The stories of Die Byl are entirely fictitious. The police squad - as well as their existence in Cape Town - is fictional. All the characters, including Die Byl, are fictitious.
Retired detective Piet Byleveld acted as technical advisor to the production, sharing his ideas and methodology of investigating murder cases with the script writers. He also had a brief meeting with Waldemar Schultz, to give him some practical tips on policing.
The series stars Waldemar Schultz as Kolonel Piet van der Bijl, the lead detective; Marvin-Lee Beukes as Sersant Juan Stuurman, a detective; Lika Berning as profiler Kaptein Lena Maree; Eric Nobbs as Dokter Fritz Barnard, the pathologist; Tertius Meintjies as Generaal Neels van As, the head of the Violent Crimes unit; and Milan Murray as Advokaat Nicky van As, the state prosecutor.
Die Byl is an M-Net Original Production, produced by kykNET and Lion's Head Productions. The first season was written by Anton Treurnicht, produced by Elmarie Botha and directed by Regardt van den Bergh.
The executive producer for the first season was Herman Binge. The supervising producer for kykNET was Marida Swanepoel. The theme music was by Braam du Toit.
Season 1 Cast
(scroll to bottom for available actor bios)
Starring
Waldemar Schultz ... Kolonel Piet van der Bijl (as Waldi Schultz)
Marvin-Lee Beukes ... Sersant Juan Stuurman
Lika Berning ... Kaptein Lena Maree
Eric Nobbs ... Dokter Fritz Barnard
Tertius Meintjies ... Generaal Neels van As
Milan Murray ... Advokaat Nicky van As
Recurring / Guests
Nicola Hanekom ... Jacky Bernardo
Morné Visser ... Jans
Paul du Toit ... Carinus
Stian Bam ... Rudi
Akram Allie ... Perdekar-eienaar
Anathe Shand ... Polisievrou / Konstabel
Anton Treurnicht ... Tiaan Bernardo (as Anton Treurnich)
Barbara-Marie Immelman ... Ellie Bonthuys
Charlton George ... Richard (Richy Rich)
Jeanne Neilson ... Tilla
Lente Treurnicht ... Rose Bernardo (as Lente Treurnich)
Oscar Petersen ... Duan
Inge Beckmann ... Mignon
Nico Burger ... Magnus
Jeroen Kranenburg ... Diederick Kriel
Matthew Roberts ... Schalk Bruwer
Deon Lotz ... Albertus "Smiley" Kriel
Johan Esterhuizen ... Edwin Nortje
Juliana Venter ... Esta
Euodia Samson ... Gevangenis se "Ma"
Henré Pretorius ... Stokes
Dorette Potgieter ... Jolene
Jody Abrahams ... Willem Ruiters
Bart Fouche ... Jurie
Lean de Wet ... Mariet
Martinus van der Berg ... Pietman
Michelle Nothnagel ... Emmie
Pierre Nelson ... Jako
Dean-John Smith ... Dewald
DJ Mouton ... Bendelid
Gamiet Pietersen ... Werksoeker
Rufus Swart ... Louis Sanders
Trude Gunther ... Belinda Saunders
June van Merch ... Dice
Keenan Arrison ... James
Kim Cloete ... Sulleen
Riana Alfreds ... Inmate
Diaan Lawrenson ... Saskia du Toit
Leon Kruger ... Ernst du Toit
Peter Butler ... David Pieterse
Tim Theron ... Kaptein Nortier
Albert Snyman ... Aron
Bea Claasen ... Lida Mouton
Tamarin du Toit ... Elize du Preez
Clara Joubert van den Bergh Martie
Hannah Borthwick ... Leonore
AJ van der Merwe ... Bart
Antoinette Louw ... Sanet (as Antionette Louw)
Darren Kelfkens ... Bill Badenhorst
Erica Wessels ... Lorien
Jacques Bessenger ... Slagyster Fourie
Marcel Maximilian ... Bregadier Roux (as Marcel Schoeman)
Ann Juries ... Bonita de Ville
Chanè Otto ... Rouchelle
Ira Blankenberg ... Amanda Griesel
Ludwig Binge ... Wikus Momberg
Chris April ... Smous
Hakeem Slabber ... Bo-Kaap Seun
Jana Kleynhans ... Wandelaar
Khadija Heeger ... Kaffee Eienaar
Andre Weideman ... Jo Henning
Anrich Herbst ... Kaptein Buks Botha
Antoinette Kellerman ... Martie Henning (as Antoinette Kellermann)
Charlie Keegan ... Cliff Nester
Hannes van Wyk ... Tony
Lee-Ann van Rooi ... Bo-Kaap Ma
Sekoati Tsubane ... Sersant Sipho Moloi (as Sekoati SK Tsubane)
Ambrose Uren ... Jakes
Andre Roothman ... Petrus
Charl van Heyningen ... Danie
Dean Dorvan Balie ... Johnny Noble
Lauren Joseph ... Mini
Marguerite van Eeden ... Zelda (as Marguerite van Eedan)
Mariechen Vosloo ... Sandra
Altan Ungerer ... Ben Vermeulen
Dean Slater ... Dirk Brand
Gantane Kusch ... Polisieman
Johann Nel ... Adriaan de Klerk
Joshua Nel ... Johan Vermeulen
Lise Slabber ... Elizma
Roeline Daneel ... Emily Brand
Joanie Combrink ... Alandi Vermaak
Johan Botha ... Opsigter
Marcel van Heerden ... Werner Barnard
Marlo Minnaar ... Konstabel
Martelize Kolver ... Jana Booysens
Neels Coetzee ... Dr. Pretorius
Nicole Holm ... Adele Vermeulen
Louw Venter ... Ronald
Margot Luyt ... Amanda Botha
Neels van Jaarsveld ... Ettiene Gilomee
Odelle de Wet ... Elana Pretorius
Vicky Davis ... Anel Roelofse
Elsabé Daneel ... Hester Broodryk (as Elsabe Daneel)
Francois Toerien ... Eben Roelofse
Marius Botha ... Thomas Engelbrecht
Octavia Meissenheimer ... Verpleegster
Regardt van den Bergh ... Gerrit Broodryk
Robin Smith ... Wikus
Adam Williams ... Klein Denzel
Crystal Donna Roberts ... Evelyn
Robin Smith ... Wikus
Brendon Daniels ... Denzel Cloete
Kim Engelbrecht ... Chantelle Cloete
Kira Wilkinson ... Denzel Ma