Popular Binnelanders Actor Ben Kruger Passes Away at 64

Popular Afrikaans actor Ben Kruger sadly passed away yesterday at the age of 64, from Covid-19 related complications. The actor was best known as ‘Oom Okkie’ to fans of kykNET soapie, Binnelanders.

Tributes have poured in from heartbroken South Africans, led by Karen Meiring, M-Net Director: kykNET channel, who said on Wednesday: “Today we keep the family of Ben Kruger and Binnelanders in our minds as we process the enormous shocking news of his passing. Ben was much loved and this is a great loss to our industry.”

Kruger died at his Pretoria home, after being diagnosed with Covid-19.

The veteran actor, writer and producer not only made his way into South Africans’ hearts as Okkie Ferreira on the weekday Afrikaans series Binnelanders, but also as a teacher (Christo de Wet) in Skooldae. Kruger also had a role in ‘Mandela and De Klerk’ (1997) where he played Mandela’s former prison guard and subsequent friend, James Gregory; as well as starring in ‘Zero Tolerance’, ‘Silent Witness’ and ‘7de Laan’ amongst others.

SA journalist Graeme Raubenheimer voiced the sentiments of many when he tweeted: “Ben Kruger’s portrayal of Okkie was QUINTESSENTIAL of the great fatherly type of Afrikaans character. I often thought: ‘Wow, that’s really how Afrikaans Ooms ARE!'”

Binnelanders is available to stream on Showmax (for overseas subscribers too). 

"Ons hou vandag die familie van Ben Kruger en Binnelanders in ons gedagtes terwyl ons die enorme skok nuus van sy afsterwe verwerk. Ben was 'n baie geliefde mens en hierdie is 'n groot verlies vir ons bedryf.” Karen Meiring M-Net Direkteur: kykNET kanale 🖤 💙 pic.twitter.com/IJ00K1lYCg

— kykNET TV (@kykNETtv) May 26, 2021

Veteran actor Ben Kruger known as Okkie in @BinnelandersTV on @kykNETtv (@DStv 144) dies from Covid. He was 64:https://t.co/2g7YSXu9v6 pic.twitter.com/xBgO604OTW

— TVwithThinus (@TVwithThinus) May 26, 2021