Staal Burger

Staal Burger ("Steel Burger") is the name of the leading character in a radio action series, as well as the series itself and a subsequent film, all written by Fanus Rautenbach (1928-2011).

The radio series

The Staal Burger series recounts the activities of a super secret agent, "Staal Burger", a rich playboy and action hero, with an eye for a pretty girl and fast cars.

Broadcast by the Afrikaans radio service of the South African Broadcasting Corporation during the the 1960s. The main characters were "Staal Burger" (played by Daan Retief), "Willem" (Sarel Breed) and "Dada" (Miems de Bruyn).

The Staal Burger series acquired an enormous following among listeners.

Publication

The text of one episode, Staal Burger in die warm water ("Staal Burger in hot water"), was published in 1966 by Voortrekkerpers, in a compilation of short stories and articles by various authors, also bearing the title Staal Burger in die warm water. The compilation also contains a one act farce by Joan Retief, called 'n Sonneblom vir Padda-lief (lit. "A sunflower for frog dear").

The film

In 1969 an 87-minute Afrikaans comedy film called Staal Burger was produced by Constantia Films (Bill Troskie) and distributed by Mimosa Film Productions/Ster-Kinekor Entertainment. It was based on the original radio story by Fanus Rautenbach and directed by Daan Retief, with a cast that inclduded: Daan Retief (as Staal Burger), Mike Heine (as Koos), L'Orentz Schultz (as Zak), Sarel Breedt (as Willem), Miems de Bruyn (as Dada), Tromp Terre'Blanche (as Bossie), Willie Steyn (as Mossie), Jan Briel, P.W. Marais, Whitey Meyer, June Neethling, Mary-Anne Berold, Dalene Daneel, Tiny de Lange, Heleen Wessels, Ankia Lotter, Alewyn Lee, Essie Esterhuyzen, Eugene Erasmus, Josh du Toit, Bob Riley, H.P. Hamman. Nic Swanepoel, Fanus Rautenbach (as Fanie), Johan du Plooy (as Dikkes).