Skollie

Skollie (plural skollies) is an Afrikaans term of abuse for layabouts, criminals and gangsters.

Origins and meaning

Similar in meaning to the word tsotsi (found in South African townships and general usage), the Afrikaans term was really coined by the white and so-called coloured Afrikaans-speaking community and was often used as a term of abuse for black and coloured individuals, and by extension also for lazy, ne'er do well whites.

The term was later adopted by English-speaking South Africans as well.

Skollies in literature, theatre and film

The term occurs in many plays, novels and films, also used as the name for a criminal character, a quintessential example being the much loved jailbird character called "Skollie" (played by George Ballot) in the ground-breaking TV series Vyfster (1982).

Skollie the film (1984) by Hennie Human

Skollie[1] (1984) is an Afrikaans film written by Hennie Human and directed by Ivan Hall. It was the first film spin-off from the series Vyfster.

The leading cast consists of George Ballot, James Borthwick, Elmarie Kruger, Michael Brunner, Marius Du Plooy, Patrick Mynhardt, Emgee Pretorius, Paul Slabolepszy and Tromp Terre'blanche, with additional performances by Paul Bosman, Gretha Brazelle, Jocelyn Broderick, Anton Dekker, Thys Du Plooy, Libé Ferreira, Bobbette Fouche, Errol Hart, Pagel Kruger, Sam Marais, Louis Minnaar, Tom Mphatsoe (as Thomas Mphatsoe), Bo Petersen, Nic Potgieter, Tjaart Potgieter, Nico Sachse, Cyrilene Slabbert, André Stolz, Gigi Strydom, Eghard van der Hoven, Yvonne van der Walt and Rudi Van Graan.

Produced by Lesley Mannell, and Sias Odendaal, with music by Lloyd Ross, cinematography by Desmond Burmeister, editing by Dee Liebenberg assisted by Jo Rosas, sets by Andrew Whitlock, costume design by Moira Anne Meyer (as Moira Meyer), make up by Annabella Blanche, sound by Conrad Kuhne (as Conrad Kühne) and Henry Prentice, special effects Hennie Muller and Dawie van Heerden, continuity Melody Emmett, production liaison David Lawton (as Dave Lawton), marketing Hennie Smit and production management Gavin Sweeney.

Skollies a stage play by Leon Kruger.

A comedy first performed at the 2011 Woordfees, directed by Kruger, with Stian Bam and Brendon Daniels.

See Skollies

Sources

https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vyfster

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2036437/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm

2011 Woordfees programme

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/noem_my_skollie_call_me_thief_2016/

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