Admit it – we’re overwhelmed with content, and with the amount of streaming options out there, it can be hard to figure out where to start. Well, thankfully the answer to this is pretty easy – just start with the winner. Whether you ask the SAFTAs, The National Film and TV Awards South Africa, or The Behind the Scenes Awards, Showmax remains the best place to stream South African content.
Showmax Takes The Streaming Crown
This past Saturday at the National Film and TV Awards South Africa, Showmax took home the award for Best Television/Streaming Network. If that’s not enough, the streaming platform’s content won 14 awards – the most of any streamer. Awards included:
- The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip–South Africa; Best Reality Series
- Lethabo LeJoy; Best Female TV Personality.
- The Mommy Club; Best Non-Scripted TV Series
- Chasing the Sun: Best Documentary
- Diepe Waters: Best Afrikaans TV Series
- Bonko Khoza; Red Ink; Best Actor
- Lorcia Cooper; Red Ink: Best Supporting Actress
- Nambitha Ben-Mazwi; Empini; Best Actress
- S’dumo Mtshali; My Brother’s Keeper; Best Actor in a TV Series
- Zikhona Sodlaka; Gqeberha The Empire: Best Actress
- Deli Malinga; Umkhokha: The Curse; Outstanding Performance
- Vuyo Dabula; The Butcher’s Soul; Best Supporting Actor
- Sannah Mchunu; Gomora; Best Supporting Actress
- Katlego Lebogang; Spinners; Best Newcomer
Showmax Stays Winning
On the same night, at The Behind The Scenes Awards, the Showmax Original teen drama Youngins won Best South African Streaming Series, while Mzansi Magic’s polygamy show Mnakwethu won Most Entertaining Reality TV Show.
Over the past few months, Showmax has cemented its positioning as the best place to stream South African content. Titles on Showmax won 37 Golden Horns from 142 nominations in 2024 – the most of any streamer. This included Mzansi Magic’s Shaka iLembe , the most awarded title overall, which set a new record for the most Drama category wins ever, and the Showmax Original Outlaws came joint second overall and dominated the Telenovela category. Similarly, at the 2024 Silberskrum Film and TV Awards, the Showmax Original crime drama Koek was the most awarded series.
Other award highlights include:
- The Showmax Original Spinners beating the Emmy-winning final season of Succession to be named Best Foreign Series at the 29th Shanghai TV Festival’s Magnolia Awards
- The Showmax Original Catch Me A Killer becoming the first South African series at Series Mania in France and winning Best Production Design at the British Film Designers Guild Awards
- Showmax winning Representation of LGBTQIA+ awards for both Wyfie (Scripted Series) and Beaulah: Queens van die Kaap (Non-Scripted Series) at MIP Africa’s Inclusive Lens awards
This is just the latest in a steady string of accolades for Showmax since the African streamer relaunched on the Peacock platform in February 2024 in partnership with Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Sky.
Living The Reality With Showmax
We can always count on Showmax for incredible original content, but I always turn to them because they perfectly cater to my guilty pleasure – reality TV. From brand-new, never-before-seen reality series to the latest seasons of fan-favourites and award-winning local shows, there’s so much to keep reality fans like me entertained this month.
With that, here are the 8 best reality series to watch on the award-winning streaming platform this November:
Queens Court S2
In this season of Queens Court, celebrity queens LisaRaye, K Michelle and London “Deelishis” Charles embark on a journey to find their forever partners. Even with success, fame and fortune, the one area they have not ruled is matters of the heart. In this era of self-discovery, these queens are opening their hearts to find their kings among 22 confident, successful men.
Hollywood power couple Holly Robinson Peete and Rodney Peete return to guide the new queens as they let go of the past, embrace new connections, and look for their happily ever after.
Themba: My Inked World S2
The Ghost is back! Former Big Brother Mzansi Housemate Themba Broly is letting the public back into his life in Season 2 of Themba: My Inked Life. For Themba, this season is all about redemption, trying to be a better and more present parent, fulfilling his career goals, making things right with family, and reconnecting with his real friends.
Many things have unfolded in Themba’s life since Season 1, and a lot has changed. Firstly, Themba has a lot of fixing to do, and he is the first to admit it. And first on the list is Big Brother Mzansi S3 winner Mpho Wabadimo, Themba’s former girlfriend (and baby-mama). He has a lot of apologising to do to make up for past transgressions that left Mpho heartbroken and acting as a single mother to their son. Will this revive their relationship, or is that door closed for good?
Season 2 will also see Themba trying to revive his dream of going into business and getting his music career to take off.
The Real Housewives of Dubai S2 | Binge from Friday, 15 November
Season 2 of The Real Housewives of Dubai (RHODubai) returns us to the glamorous, ultra-rich world of Sara Al Madani, Caroline Brooks, Lesa Milan, Caroline Stanbury and Kenyan-born, Somali and Ethiopian supermodel and entrepreneur, Chanel Ayan.
Sadly, the show has been cancelled, but Real Housewives fans are still in for a treat.
RHODubai’s second season kicks off with Caroline Stanbury’s marriage to former Real Madrid soccer player Sergio Carrallo taking strain amid home renovations, while Sara is ready to put her past behind her. Caroline Brooks brought her friend, singer Taleen Marie, to Lesa’s Good Weather Girls brunch … which could fill the gap left by Nina Ali’s departure.
Kwa Njomane S2 | Binge from Monday, 25 November on Showmax
Kwa Njomane S2 was the most-watched reality series on Mzansi Wethu in June 2024, according to The Broadcast Research Council of South Africa. Additionally, it’s also winner of Best Reality Show at the 2024 Simon Mabhunu Sabela Awards.
Kwa Njomane follows the lives of the Mhlongo family, led by the strong matriarch Smangele, alongside her children and sister, who have long faced stigma from their community due to their unconventional way of life. The show explores deep themes of LGBTQI+ identity, the journey of finding love, and the quest for self-discovery – all while navigating the complexities of family dynamics and societal expectations.
Izingane Zes’thembu S2 | Binge from Wednesday, 27 November on Showmax
Nominated as Most Entertaining Reality TV Show at the Behind The Scenes Awards in November, Izingane Zes’thembu was Mzansi Magic’s most-watched reality series in June 2024, according to The Broadcast Research Council of South Africa.
A spinoff from Uthando neS’thembu, the reality series follows businessman Musa Mseleku’s children as they navigate life within a polygamous family. News24 calls the series “explosive.”
In Season 2, the Mseleku eldest children continue their journey of transitioning into young adults and forging stronger bonds. Mpumelelo, the second eldest, continues to juggle his baby mamas Vuyokazi and Tirelo, but is he mimicking his dad’s life without the right resources, or is he just “delulu”?
Mpilo is turning 21, and can’t play dumb anymore, while Lwandle unveils his true character as he refuses to be in anyone’s shadow and sets out to find love. Abongwe continues to be adamant that they all need to be closer, but her time in Johannesburg has rebuilt her confidence in who she is, and it’s time her family tags along.
Ubuthe Uzobuya | New episodes on Tuesdays on Showmax
From the creative minds behind Shebeen Queens and The Bala Family, Ubuthe Uzobuya delves into the lives of couples who were torn apart when one partner abruptly disappeared without explanation. Hosted by actor Tshepo Maseko, the Showmax Original explores the heart-wrenching stories of those who were once deeply in love, only to be left in uncertainty.
“Ubuthe Uzobuya is profoundly emotional, and I’m grateful it isn’t trashy,” says Tshepo. “It feels genuine. It’s created with dignity, which I truly appreciate. I especially love that the participants must be married. This adds an important layer to the show. It serves as a form of therapy and is incredibly necessary. The nation needs this kind of dialogue.”
The Mommy Club: Sugar & Spice | All episodes now streaming on Showmax
Produced by POP24, The Mommy Club: Sugar & Spice offers an exclusive, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the glamorous lives of mothers from Durban’s Indian community, showcasing women who seem to have it all. The series delves into the intricate relationships between these dynamic mothers and their colourful extended families, revealing the delicate balance they strike between managing personal empires and raising the next generation.
Hosted by Shahan Ramkissoon, the fiery reunion left viewers on the edge of their seats, especially after the explosive moment when Neetasha Singh Bugwandin suddenly walked off set. Her dramatic exit opened a floodgate of tension, exposing cracks in the relationships of women who were once inseparable.
The conversation dug deep into the reasons behind their fractured friendship, exploring the root of their fallout and whether reconciliation was still possible.
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