Empty hand, open heart

Werner and Denzil teach the Hillsiders to help each other this Mandela Day, with a kick and a slap.

- CRAIG FALCK

Is the world ready for the Madiba chop? It’s not as crazy as it sounds. This Mandela Day on Monday 18 July in honour of the late President Nelson Mandela, Werner Visage (Zak Hendrikz) has a special gift for the Hillsiders: Self-defence classes.

Ever since Werner came to Hillside in November 2021, Zak has been impressed by his character’s commitment to helping people with a giving hand and heart. “The first person Werner met was Zee (Ray Neo Buso). He’d been beaten up and Werner tried to help him with self-defence,” says Zak. “When he lived on the farm, Werner faced a gang of home invaders, and he now works for DeWet’s (Dirk Stoltz) security firm. He also has a blue belt in karate, so Werner is the perfect person to teach self-defence,” adds the actor. And how better to unite people than with the skills and confidence to protect one another?

HONOUR THE LEADER

Zak says that this storyline is about hope. “President Mandela inspired the world. What Werner is trying to do is cultivate that same belief in people, to get them feeling good about themselves and also to feel safe on the streets. So instead of having a braai for Mandela Day, Werner  wants to do something constructive and a self-defence class will help people in so many ways,” says Zak, adding, “Community is the cornerstone of 7de Laan.”