South Africa is getting its own dose of awkward office humour as Die Kantoor, the local adaptation of the global hit The Office, premieres on kykNET on 18 January and Showmax on 20 January.
More than 20 years after Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant introduced the world to the bleak brilliance of The Office, the mockumentary format is coming home with a distinctly South African flavour.
The original UK version is still ranked by MetaCritic as the best-reviewed comedy series of all time, while the US adaptation picked up five Emmys and became the most-streamed show in the world during the Covid lockdowns.
Now, as the 14th international adaptation, Die Kantoor shifts the action to Deluxe Processed Meats, a polony distribution company, where self-styled visionary Flip welcomes a documentary crew to chronicle his rise to greatness – and his questionable leadership skills.
WATCH THE TRAILER:
Meet Flip: The Rassie Erasmus of Polony
Leading the cast is 2025 Fleur du Cap and Woordfees winner Albert Pretorius (Niggies; Nêrens, Noord-Kaap), in his biggest TV role yet.
Flip is a man who sees himself as the Rassie Erasmus of polony, convinced the cameras are capturing his own version of Chasing the Sun. Inspired equally by Erasmus and Leon Schuster, he mixes grand motivational speeches with candid-camera pranks – while his long-suffering staff simply try to survive the workday without losing their minds.
“He’s grappling with what it means to be a man – an Afrikaans man – but a lot of the qualities he aspires to are archaic,” Pretorius explains. “That’s where the comedy lies, because he tries so hard just to be liked. Isn’t that what cringe is? People trying their best by being the absolute worst.”
Pretorius admits the pressure of stepping into such an iconic role was real. The character previously earned both Gervais and Steve Carell Golden Globes for their performances as David Brent and Michael Scott.
“It’s a scary one; this is one of the dream roles. Very few people ever get to play a part this big.”
Not UK, Not US – Something Uniquely South African
While Die Kantoor draws from the DNA of both versions, Pretorius insists the local series has found its own voice.
“We have our own sense of humour, so ours is different from both. It’s not quite the UK cringe or as over-the-top as the American humour. It’s something else again.”
And the ensemble nature of the show is key. Although Flip dominates the screen, the background reactions – raised eyebrows, side-eyes and silent judgement – are where much of the comedy lives.
“They had to stay at their desks even when they weren’t in a scene because the cameras could catch them at any moment,” says Pretorius. “It really made it feel like an office.”
A Strong Local Cast
The cast is packed with familiar South African faces, including:
- Schalk Bezuidenhout (Kanarie, Hotel)
- Lida Botha (Die Kwiksilvers)
- Carl Beukes (Jozi, The Shakedown)
- Ilse Oppelt (Oh Schuks I’m Gatvol, Fishy Fêshuns)
- Daniah de Villiers (Mia and the White Lion)
- Mehboob Bawa (Bhai’s Cafe)
- Sipumziwe Lucwaba, former KFM presenter
- Gert du Plessis, in his screen debut
The series is produced by Rapid Blue, part of BBC Studios, with Bennie Fourie (Hotel) serving as head writer and director. BBC Studios is handling global sales.
When and Where to Watch
- kykNET will preview the first episode at 8pm on Sunday, 18 January
- Showmax launches with a double-episode premiere on Tuesday, 20 January, followed by weekly episodes on both platforms
For fans needing a refresher before Die Kantoor lands, the complete US series of The Office (Seasons 1–9) and its spinoff The Paper are available to stream on Showmax.
With its mix of local humour, uncomfortable truths and very familiar office dynamics, Die Kantoor is set to bring the cringe – and the laughs – straight to South African screens.
