The Arendsvlei High class of 2024 will only get six months of education when the show ends on kykNET & Kie on 27 June after a shortened sixth season.
kykNET and the production announced the news this evening, three weeks after the Season 6 premiere on 25 September.
This series, which revolves around the semi-private school, Arendsvlei High School, managed by the Cupido family, made its debut on 1 October 2018.
Arendsvlei was initially planned for one season only. Due to popularity among viewers and two SAFTA Awards for the first season, it was renewed for a second season. As viewership numbers continued to grow, the show grew from two to four episodes a week - an extraordinary achievement for a show in this genre.
“From the very beginning, Arendsvlei blew our viewers away. As the first fully-fledged Afrikaans telenovela, it proved so popular that one season turned into six,” says Waldimar Pelser, M-Net Director of Premium Channels.
Three SAFTA Awards in six years is proof of the hard work and creativity of the production team and talent that made Arendsvlei a household name in South Africa. On 11 January 2024, the team will celebrate its 1 000 episodes milestone.
“The team behind Arendsvlei are incredibly proud of the rich storyworld that has become a part of our viewers’ daily lives. kykNET thanks Penguin Films, every actor, and every member of the production team who taught us to take Arendsvlei High’s motto to heart and ‘aim high’,” says Pelser.
Roberta Durrant, the creative producer of the programme, adds: “We are proud of what we have achieved with Arendsvlei over the past six years. It has resonated with many people across the country, and its storylines touched them deeply.
"Arendsvlei is not a soap opera - it’s a telenovela. It was always meant to come to an end. That the show still captivates viewers after six years is a remarkable achievement. We are grateful that we can end Arendsvlei on a high note.”
“We are grateful to kykNET for trusting us with the production of Arendsvlei, and we hope to work on future projects with the writers, actors, and production team after Arendsvlei comes to an end,” Durrant concludes.
kykNET is already planning more exciting content for kykNET&kie to launch early next year.