Newekarakters is besprekingspunte; met ander woorde, ons bespreek hulle.

Newekarakters means secondary characters or supporting characters.

It is a compound noun:

• newe- = side / secondary
• karakters = characters

Afrikaans often forms long compound words by joining parts together, so instead of writing something like secondary characters as two words, Afrikaans commonly makes one word: newekarakters.

In Afrikaans, is is used for both singular and plural.

So:

• Die karakter is interessant = The character is interesting
• Die karakters is interessant = The characters are interesting

Unlike English, Afrikaans does not change the verb to be from is to are.

Besprekingspunte means points of discussion, discussion points, or topics for discussion.

It is also a compound noun:

• bespreking = discussion
• punte = points

So Newekarakters is besprekingspunte means that secondary characters are things or topics we discuss.

The semicolon connects two closely related statements:

• Newekarakters is besprekingspunte
• met ander woorde, ons bespreek hulle

The second part restates or clarifies the first one. In English, this is similar to:

• Secondary characters are discussion points; in other words, we discuss them.

A comma or dash might also sometimes appear in similar contexts, but the semicolon works well here because the second clause explains the first.

Met ander woorde means in other words.

Word by word:

• met = with
• ander = other
• woorde = words

So literally it means with other words, but the natural English equivalent is in other words.

It is a very common expression used to rephrase or explain something.

This is normal main-clause word order in Afrikaans:

• ons = subject
• bespreek = verb
• hulle = object

So:

• ons bespreek hulle = we discuss them

Afrikaans main clauses usually follow subject–verb–object order, just like English.

Here hulle means them.

Afrikaans often uses hulle for both:

• they
• them

The function depends on the sentence.

Examples:

• Hulle lees. = They are reading.
• Ons sien hulle. = We see them.

So in ons bespreek hulle, hulle is the object, so it means them.

Yes.

• bespreek = discuss
• bespreking = discussion

This is a common pattern:

• verb: bespreek
• noun: bespreking

So the sentence uses both the idea of discussion and the verb to discuss:

• besprekingspunte = discussion points
• ons bespreek hulle = we discuss them

Yes, it can sound somewhat abstract or formal.

Literally, it says Secondary characters are discussion points. That is understandable, but depending on context, a speaker might also say something more direct, such as:

• Ons bespreek newekarakters. = We discuss secondary characters.
• Newekarakters is iets wat ons bespreek. = Secondary characters are something that we discuss.

The original sentence is still grammatical; it just expresses the idea in a more explanatory or analytical way.

Afrikaans, like English, does not always need an article when speaking generally.

Compare:

• Katte is slim. = Cats are smart.
• Newekarakters is besprekingspunte. = Secondary characters are discussion points.

If you added die, it would sound more specific:

• Die newekarakters = the secondary characters

Without die, the meaning is more general.

Yes. Depending on context, bespreek can also mean book or reserve.

For example:

• Ons bespreek die onderwerp. = We discuss the topic.
• Ek bespreek 'n kamer. = I book a room.

In your sentence, the meaning is clearly discuss, because the context is about besprekingspunte and talking about characters.