Lockdown laughter evolves into hit series

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The day after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Covid-19 lockdown in South Africa, comedian Moses Williams’ grandmother phoned to tell him to shut his mouth – because he talked too much and would contract the ‘Verona-virus’ that way.

Moses thought the conversation so funny he recorded a re-enactment of it on his phone and posted the video on Facebook. The next day it had gone viral, and people wanted more. Three years later (2023), the homemade videos of his impersonations of his beloved Ouma Sarie are legendary and are turning into a television sensation on eTV Extra.

The cast of Ouma Sarie in 2023

The first episode premier, screened on 11 June, attracted an extraordinary 423 274 viewers, 312 883 viewers on the repeat the next week, and 441 624 for the second episode premier. The achievement is even more impressive because it was written, acted and produced by mostly amateurs.

eTV content specialist Marli Schulze said the station anticipated good viewings because of Ouma’s social media track but the show exceeded all expectations. “Ouma Sarie doubled viewing figures for eTV Extra’s 7pm Sunday and 7.30pm Saturday timeslots. We are overjoyed and grateful that we can offer viewers such an excellent, enjoyable comedy. In addition, the show gave training and jobs for several very talented people in George.”

Garden Route Media managing director Marius Wannenburg said the Ouma Sarie series was a culmination of relationships and passion for the film industry. “I met Moses four years ago while he was driving for a courier company, and when we started talking realised his passion for comedy and people. Garden Route Media sponsored him so he could quit his job and pursue his acting and standup career fully, which led to some public performances before Covid-19 stopped everything in its tracks.

“When Ouma Sarie became a social media hit, we started toying with the idea of a series but needed trained crew that could produce TV-quality shows and enough pre-filmed episodes to get a television station onboard,” said Wannenburg.

Instead of sourcing professionals, Garden Route Media trained local film enthusiasts, mostly young people from disadvantaged communities, in all aspects of film production. Meanwhile Moses recruited local actors who had shared the stage with him at school and amateur theatre.

Another local, Actor Viljé Maritz, known for his role as Gys Eloff in M-Net soapie Binnelanders, heard of the Ouma Sarie initiative and put his hand up to direct the show.

Funded by eExtra, the team recorded 39 half-hour episodes for three seasons in ten weeks, an unrelenting pace for even seasoned professionals. “Everyone was so dedicated and passionate, and the result was a quality series that we could proudly present to eTV, who had agreed to a broadcasting licence so ownership of intellectual property of Ouma Sarie remained with Moses’ company KallitLaaitie Productions.

“But really, Moses is the star. He created every story idea, wrote every script, and played Ouma Sarie, all against very tight deadlines. He is truly talented with a bright future ahead of him,” said Wannenburg.

Over a chai latte at a coffee shop in George, Sunday Times talks to Moses Williams, aged 28, about his Karoo roots, high school drama success and seven years of sweat and tears before his breakthrough fame as Ouma Sarie.

“I was raised in Graaff-Reinett by my grandmother Sarie Williams, a small but formidable woman with strong opinions about everything, and no fear of expressing them. In our town, community meetings did not start without her, and local politicians lost their swag when she entered the room. She was a tough lady, took nonsense from nobody and was sharp as a tack. She was raw and real with endless wisdom and loved unconditionally.”

Moses moved to George for high school and took Drama as a school subject because he thought it required the least work. “I was lazy at school and were looking for the easiest subjects to pass, so I was unimpressed when it turned out there was a 50 percent theory requirement, but I was hooked from the start, nonetheless.

“I won major drama competitions and earned distinctions for the subject throughout my school career. There was a part of me that was shy and withdrawn, but my love to entertain overtook my inhibitions. I loved to make people laugh and couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

“I had been riding the rollercoaster of high school drama success without considering the future much, but two weeks before final matric exams I realised I had no plan. Yes, I had won all those awards, but how was I going to make a living from it?”

In an attempt to launch an acting career before the support structures were gone, Williams started a drama group in the middle of matric finals and was a little put off that his friends were more focused on matric exams and finding work. “Needless to say the drama group had limited success and I too went looking for work that would pay the bills between gigs. I did all kinds of jobs through the years, but I was best where I could interact with people – such as a petrol attendant and courier driver.”

He eventually established himself as a popular local master of ceremonies, but his heart was with comedy, especially standup. “Trevor Noah and Kevin Hart are my heroes because they tell their own stories and can make people laugh about the realities of life.

“I worked very hard, put in the hours, and travelled all over but never made that major breakthrough, and then Covid changed everything.

“That first Ouma Sarie post was instinctive and just a way to lift people’s spirits after such dire news. The overwhelming response inspired me to delve into the archives of my memories of the funny things my grandmother had said and done, and each clip was a re-enactment from a real-life situation.

“People loved it because it was relatable and authentic – we all know an aunty or granny like Ouma Sarie and she speaks the truth on behalf of us all.”

Williams said the real Ouma Sarie was initially unimpressed by his copying of her. “She told me in true Ouma Sarie style what she thought of my little videos and had rough words about the way in which I was throwing her name and reputation about.

“But, also in true Ouma Sarie-style, she knew a good opportunity when she saw it. When I told her of the videos’ success and that it was my boosting my career and income, she was quick to demand her cut, which I gladly ‘paid’. It was wonderful to give back to someone who had made sacrifices for me, protected me and so richly contributed to my life.”

Ouma Sarie died of natural causes in November 2021, aged 79. “She would have been really tickled by being on national television and would have loved to see the live performances on stage such as ‘her’ recent appearance at the Klein Karoo Kunstefees (Oudtshoorn 2023).

“Now, when I write about a scenario, I just go back in time and picture her in her pink gown, telling the world what to say and do. The series also involves other relatable characters such as the neighbourhood gossip lady, the new generation dolled up granddaughter always busy on her cellphone and the guy living in the backyard wendy house who never pays rent,” said Williams.

These days Moses seldom goes anywhere without being recognised and he takes great pride in being called ‘Ouma Sarie’. “I carry her legacy and hope to inspire a new generation to make the most of their circumstances.”

After three months of non-stop shooting, Moses is looking forward to exploring his ‘MC Moses’ comedic character that had been taking a backseat. “I have some great ideas and maybe even a new character to introduce.”

He is also looking forward to spending time with his partner Simone Cloete and sons Khilermo Cloete, six, and Emjay Williams, four.

But Ouma Sarie is unlikely to stay under the covers for long with preproduction for series 4 to 7 already on the cards, and a ‘Ouma Sarie on-the-go’ podcast in which ‘she’ interviews celebrities and interesting people while travelling around the country between gigs.

“One of the best things that have come out of the Ouma Sarie experience is the response from Afrikaans speaking people across all races. This opinionated lady is relatable to everyone and she is making people laugh together over this unique country and all its complications. To me, that is wonderful,” said Williams.

 

Written by ATHANE SCHOLTZ, this article was first published in Sunday Times newspaper on 2 July 2026.

Photographs by Garden Route Media.

40 years at municipality for Adam Appels

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40 years for Adam Appels

Imagine a 20-something housing inspector on a bicycle in the early 1980s, the handlebar of his bike loaded with chains and locks, cycling in a rough neighbourhood on a mission to set tenants out of municipal houses and chain up the doors. Long before the formidable Adam Appels was Senior Manager of the Anti-Land Invasion unit, he was that guy on the bike. In June (2018) he had 40 years’ service in the municipality, most of which was under potentially dangerous circumstances.

“I remember a protest in the 1990s when a black coffin was marched through town bearing my name along with other housing officials, and petrol bombs were thrown at our houses. It got so bad, my family and I was forced to leave town for fear of our safety. When we returned a few days later we weren’t sure if our house was going to be standing.”

Mr Appels was appointed as messenger/cleaner at the George Municipality in 1978 at the age of 17. His manager, the late AB de Swart, recognised his potential and appointed him as a housing inspector five years later.

“When we started, Pierrie Prins and I would cycle to houses where tenants had to be evicted, doors locked and electricity shut down. It was heart wrenching work and people thought I was unfeeling, but it was my job and I was going to do it to the best of my abilities.”

A position as senior housing inspector was offered to both men. “Pierrie declined, he could not bear the emotional burden, but I thought it was an opportunity and I adapted to the circumstances.

“I decided to try and not take my work home, to not let the conflict of the day influence my mood at home. My family was the reason I made it through all the tough times.”

The scariest moment came one day in 1992 when he and two colleagues were cornered at gunpoint in a house in Borchards. “We just ran, jumped out the window and scaled fences until we were out of harm’s way – if we stayed we would have probably been dead anyway, so running was the only option.”

When the Anti-Land Invasion Unit was established, Mr Appels was the obvious choice to head the division and continues to work in the field with his staff. “If my people break down shacks I break down shacks, I don’t think of my myself as higher than them.”

In 2016 Mr Appels had a stroke, and was still in recovery when riots broke out in Thembalethu. He defied medical orders and insisted to be driven to the site to see if his team was doing alright. More recently he and two unit members slept at the Albricks site for two nights to ensure it not be illegally occupied.

“For the first time since the 1990s, the atmosphere feels similarly volatile. I have spent hours talking people down, trying to explain the reasoning behind not allowing people to just occupy land as they please. I have been working with local communities for a long time, and until now those that know me have come up for me during negotiations and protected me – people in Thembalethu call me ‘Apile’ (apple in isiXhosa). It’s all about communication and how you speak to people.”

While he has earned respect, his reputation as an ‘evictionist’ is unescapable.  “I would see someone in public and they would confront me for putting their families on the street when they were children.”

His unit also removes homeless people illegally sleeping on private property. “We don’t just chase them away. We see if we can reunite them with their families or get them into a shelter or programme. I’ve often paid out of my own pocket for a bus ticket or a place in a homeless shelter. This is the one aspect of my job where there are sometimes feel-good moments, when someone finds a job, is rehabilitated or goes home. It is great to play a role in drastically changing a life for the better.”

After a predominantly stressful career, Mr Appels thinks it is time to retire soon. “Looking back, I am grateful for the time and energy my former deputy director, Thys de Beer, had invested in me, giving me opportunities and guidance throughout. “Senior administration officer Lecrecia de Wet has been my right hand for 22 years and our Director Protection Services, Steven Erasmus, has shown me what true leadership is. To all the people who have worked with me over the years, thank you so much for your valuable contribution.

“To all staff in the municipality I say: I was an uneducated man when I started here, but I did my best always and was noticed for it. Things don’t just fall in your lap, you must work for it – it took five years for me to get my first promotion, 15 years for the second and nine years until my current position. The municipality is a great place to develop skills, but you must be patient and deserving – you can’t be here six months and start making all kinds of demands. Character and hard work are key.”

*We celebrate Mr Appels’ round number, but he is not the current employee with the most years at the municipality! Sewerage foreman Jusiah Phillips and Protection Services senior clerk Michael Ruiters have both been here 43 years. We hope to have interviews with them in future publications.

 

This article was written by ATHANE SCHOLTZ for Munindaba, George Municipality’s internal newspaper, in 2018. The paper was started, compiled and edited by Athane as part of her duties as Senior Communications Officer for the municipality. The quarterly 8-pager was printed in colour on newspaper print and distributed to all employees across all divisions.

Athane wrote a series of articles on the municipality’s longest serving staff members for internal channels. If relevantly newsworthy, some stories were turned into press releases.