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Stepping onto the set of Wyfie in Montague Gardens, Cape Town, is like stepping onto any typical street in Stellenbosch, with every shop and restaurant a familiar landmark of the famous South African student town. From the fictional The Ketchup Cafe to Dusties, it's a snapshot of student haunts where revelry, heartbreak and beer have seeped into the walls.
The Afrikaans Showmax series is part telenovela and part prestige TV as it follows the highs and lows of four students navigating university life in the female residence Pantera. The drama is mostly narrated by Shay, a mixed-race girl trying to discover her identity within rebellion outside of her friendship with lifelong bestie, Amanda, who is determined to become a Pantera legend despite the toxic aspects of res life. Their bubble grows in the reject section of the res - 'Die Grot' (The Cave) - with the studious yet naive Kyla and the raucous flake Mia, a rich girl with a secretive past. Under the fluorescent lights of The Ketchup Cafe, I had an energetic roundtable discussion with the four actors breathing life into these 'Grot Otters' (Cave Otters) and how much they think the show mirrors the lives of real South African students.
"Wyfie reflects my experience at university almost 100%," says Mienke Ehlers (Dinge van 'n Kind, Magda Louw), who plays Mia. "I studied at the University of Stellenbosch, and I know the writers are from all groups of the country - some went to Varsity College, and some went to universities, some even studied online, but they did an absolutely brilliant job representing campuses, traditions and heritage. It's very exciting for people to see those institutions, not necessarily being exploited, which is very important to say, but explaining and shining a light on certain events and experiences of young people."
