Fundraiser KONSERT VIR HENNIE to Take Place at the Atterbury Theatre

The much loved actor and singer, Hennie Smit, well known as Bertie in EGOLI and now Dêda in MY BOETIE SE SUSSIE SE OU, is making very good progress in the Wilgers Hospital's intensive care unit. He contracted double pneumonia two months ago, after which many complications set in. He was immediately transferred to the intensive care unit where he has spent the last eight weeks fighting for his of his life.

Frans Swart, CEO of Lefra Productions, Smit's good friend and his director on MY BOETIE SE SUSSIE SE OU, visited him in Hospital on Saturday morning:"I was pleasantly surprised because, for the first time in eight weeks, Hennie was able to sit in a chair. He is obviously still very weak, but the treat was that he could eat all of his breakfast - for the first time in eight weeks! And he laughed so much because he said the sister had bribed him and promised him he could watch the rugby if he finished eating his all his food."

Swart said that although there is still some way to go, he was positive that Hennie will recover completely: "The old Hennie is back! He is starting to order all the sisters around. I know Hennie is on the road to recovery."

Swart had to take over the role of Dêda from Smit for the performances of on MY BOETIE SE SUSSIE SE OU at the State Theatre, Windhoek and at Aardklop. But Smit announced from his hospital bed that he would be back as Dêda for the Hartenbos leg of the tour from 18 - 20 December.

Smit also said that he would like to thank everyone who prayed for him from the bottom of his heart. He had tears in his eyes as he spoke about it, and immediately singled out singer Arina de Witt, who has supported him completely for the past eight weeks. Smit sends heartfelt thanks and love to the whole of South Africa for all the love and support he has for the past eight weeks experienced.

De Witt and Swart decided to organise and stage a tribute concert for Hennie at the Atterbury Theatre in Pretoria at the end of the month. "We want to celebrate Hennie's life, but in the process we also want to raise funds for him. Although Hennie has a very good medical aid, he could not work for the last two months, which means that he had no income," said Swart, who added that he and De Witt are incredibly grateful for the top performers who immediately agreed to perform for Smit's benefit. "It's amazing that so many of our besk known artists immediately agreed to help Hennie! We are very grateful for that, because we realize that Hennie has had an incredible influence on many artists' lives through the years!"

Artists who are appearing at KONSERT VIR HENNIE are truly the cream of the crop of the South African entertainment industry: Laurika Rauch, Sonja Herholdt, André Schwartz, Arina de Witt, Francois and Elizabeth Fourie, Brümilda van Rensburg, the cast of MY BOETIE SE SUSSIE SE OU, Hannes van Wyk, Rian van Heerden, Julie Strydom and many more.

De Witt says it she considers it a special honour to organise this this concert for Smit. "Everyone sees Hennie as their friend because he just has the ability to pull everyone towards him. We have truly been inundated with messages from people around the country seeing if there was anything they could do to help - particularly because he has given them so much pleasure. Here is the opportunity to help. Attend the concert!"

KONSERT VIR HENNIE takes place on 30 November 30 at 16:00. Bookings can be made at Computicket (08619158000) Groups of ten or more can organise discounted rates directly through Lefra Productions on 011 815 3000. Anybody wanting to make a cash contribution, this can be paid directly into Smit's back account: HA Smit, Nedbank Cheque Account, Branch Code: 151105, Account Number: 151 102 5808. Please send a notice of your payment to Lefra Productions by email or fax (011 362 5233). For those uncomfortable making direct payments, contact Lefra Productions by email or telephone (011 815 3000) for complete information and hard copy forms.