Hilarious and relatable: Watch 'Die Kantoor' - SA's version of 'The Office'

It was more than 20 years ago that the world was introduced to the groundbreaking mocumentary The Office, created for UK audiences by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.

It went on to become one of the most watched TV shows ever, with global iterations also racking up accolades, including of course the hugely successful US version starring Steve Carell, Mindy Kaling and John Krasinski.

And now South Africa has produced the 14th international version, which is set, fittingly in the workplace of polony specialists Deluxe Processed Meats.

Die Kantoor, currently streaming on Showmax, features a star ensemble cast including SAFTA winner Schalk Bezuidenhout, screen star Lida Botha and 2025 Fleur du Cap winner Albert Pretorius as cringy office boss Flip Bosman, aka 'Bossman'.

In conversation with Sara-Jayne Makwala King, Pretorius acknowledges that he had big shoes to fill, walking in the footsteps of Gervais' David Brent and Carell's Michael Scott.

"I never thought they'd do it here and if they did, they'd get some big comedian for the role, so it's a kind of 'pinch me' moment... There's a lot of anxiety and expectations and mostly for The Office fans - I don't want to let them down because I was going to get compared to David Brent and Michael Scott regardless."

Each country that brings forth a version of the iconic show of course introduces its own national foibles, with a line that can't really be crossed but should be straddled.

Pretorius says the characters of Emma and Joubert serve as the conscience of Die Kantoor.

"There are very sensitive topics... but whenever someone says something inappropriate these two will always give a look to the camera so we're very aware of what's happening. And as South Africans we like to laugh at our cultures, and each other's cultures and differences. If you watch a Leon Schuster movie for instance, there's some really bad stuff in there but you catch yourself laughing while thinking 'I'm not supposed to laugh at this'."

"I think Flip is on that line of 'this is not funny but it is', 'he shouldn't say it but he did', so you're always flirting with that line but I think we flirted with it well enough not to actually go over it."

Many people have told him the show is relatable, with the characters reminding them of colleagues in their own offices, Pretorius says.

"Yes, there are stereotypes, but they're stereotypes for a reason like the boss that's an idiot or the couple that's flirting with each other."

Catch Die Kantoor on Showmax, where it launched on 20 January.

Watch the trailer below:

To listen to Albert Pretorius in conversation with Sara-Jayne Makwala King on CapeTalk's Weekend Breakfast, click on the audio link below: