SOUTH African writer Verna Vels, the creator of the children’s TV character ‘Liewe Heksie’, has died, JacarandaFM reported today.
Vels, 81, who was battling with cancer, died in her sleep in her Johannesburg home on Thursday night.
She was involved in the creation of Afrikaans children’s programmes ‘Kraaines’ and ‘Wielie Wielie Walie’; and she was also the voice behind the character ‘Bennie Boekwurm’.
At the time of her retirement in 1993, she was the woman who held the highest executive position in the South African television industry, as programme director of TV1, Afrikaans.
South African children grew up with Liewe Heksie, a rather incompetent and forgetful witch, who lived with her friends the elves in Bloomeland
The Liewe Heksie series started off as radio stories, followed by books and stories on vinyl record.
Liewe Heksie made a television debut in 1978 as an Afrikaans language children’s television programme, directed by well-known children’s program writer and director Louise Smit.
A second series of Liewe Heksie followed in 1981, for a total of 52 television programs.
