Author: Katlego Marungwana

Johannesburg, Tuesday, 24 December 2024 – S3 and Cardova Productions congratulates Amy Moses and Josua Joubert for winning the competition in the finale of the My Design Rules.

My Design Rules gave the opportunity of a lifetime to the four pairs of up-and-coming designers. Their task was to transform a heritage building at Sea point in Cape Town, both modernizing and enhancing the design while still maintaining the heritage and soul of the location. The heritage building is a 95-year-old establishment which consists of four apartments. 

The winning duo, that represented Team Air will share R300 000 that they won, sponsored by Capitec Bank.

Team  Water, Tia Henderson and Zwelibanzi Nzuza were awarded the Viewer’s choice prize money of R100 000 from Capitec Bank to be shared between them.

For the past 12 weeks the duos have completely reimagined and redesigned four apartments in order to impress the judges and be crowned the winners of the first season of the My Design Rules. Amy and Josua made history as the first ever winners of the My Design Rules competition.

Josua Joubert commented that “Winning My Design Rules feels absolutely surreal! This journey has been a whirlwind of creativity, challenges, and growth. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to showcase my passion for design and push boundaries alongside amazing talent. A huge thank you to my teammate Amy Moses, the judges, and everyone who supported us throughout this competition. This is just the beginning, and I’m excited to continue creating spaces that inspire and tell a story!”

Amy Moses adds “Winning this challenge has been an incredible experience, and I’m deeply grateful to be part of such a remarkable journey on My Design Rules season 1. It’s been both thrilling and rewarding to push creative boundaries and going up against phenomenal young designers from across South Africa only to be named the winner is truly humbling. This win reaffirms my passion for design and the impact thoughtful spaces can have. Josh and I played to our strengths and talents, and just by the skin of our teeth, we managed to snatch that first place”.

For media enquiries and interview opportunities please contact: –

Caroline Phalakatshela

Publicity Specialist – Video Entertainment

072 382 2032/ phalakatshelamc@sabc.co.za

Johannesburg, Saturday, 21 December 2024 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is deeply saddened by the passing of the renowned actress, Michelle Botes.

Ms. Botes was a household name, celebrated for her unforgettable portrayal of the iconic villain Cherel de Villiers-Haines in the SABC3 soapie Isidingo. Her exceptional talent brought the character to life, captivating audiences across the nation and leaving an indelible mark on South African television.

Beyond Isidingo, Ms. Botes showcased her remarkable range in other SABC productions, including Family Secrets on SABC1, where she played Dawn Pretorius, as well as Konings and Onder Draai Die Onder Rond on SABC2. Her work reflected her dedication, versatility, and commitment to her craft.

The SABC extends its deepest condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time. Michelle Botes’ contributions to the arts will forever be remembered, and her legacy will continue to inspire.

May her soul rest in eternal peace.

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Media enquiries:

Caroline Phalakatshela

Publicity Specialist – Video Entertainment

072 382 2032

Johannesburg, Wednesday 19 December 2024 – S3’s interior design and renovation reality series My Design Rules comes to an end with the season finale broadcasting this Sunday, 22 December 2024 at 19:00.  

My Design Rules brings the opportunity of a lifetime to the four pairs of up-and-coming designers. Their task was to transform a heritage building at Sea point in Cape Town, both modernizing and enhancing the design while still maintaining the heritage and soul of the location. This 95-year-old building consists of four apartments. 

The design duo whose apartment stands out to the expert panel of Judges as most the improved value will be awarded with a life changing prize of R300 000 courtesy of Capitec Business.

However, the judges are not the only people whose opinions matter –  S3 viewers also had the opportunity to cast their own votes for which apartment they think is best. The apartment that captures the hearts of most viewers will be awarded with the Viewer’s choice award of R100 000 from Capitec Business.

The first task saw eight talented duos that were hand selected from many applicants. The challenge was simple but by no means was it easy. Each duo was tasked with designing a Bathroom space in only three days at Ceramic Tile Market. If that was not difficult enough, their designs would also have to impress the judges enough for them to stand out with the only the Top 4 designs moving on to the next round.

The Top Four Duos are:-

1. Hannah Morgan and Keaton Messina who represented Team Fire
2. Amy Moses and Josua Joubert who represented Team Air
3. Siphe and Baphelele Nxasana who represented Team Earth
4. Tia Henderson and Zwelibanzi Nzuza who represented Team Water

Bradley van den Berg, Cardova Executive Producer says “Congratulations to all four design duos on their journey on My Design Rules. They have transformed four apartments into design masterpieces made possible by the show partners – Capitec, Buco and their suppliers, CTM, Private Property, Samsung, EasyLife Kitchens, Caesarstone, Jacobs and Restonic. We wish them well for the finale and their future endeavours.”

Open Up with My Design Rules season finale this Sunday at 19:00 to see which duo will come out on top, only on S3.

For media enquiries and interview opportunities please contact: –

Caroline Phalakatshela

Publicity Specialist – Video Entertainment

072 382 2032/ phalakatshelamc@sabc.co.za

Johannesburg – Wednesday, 11 December 2024 – S3 is pleased to join forces with the 2024 Drakensberg Extravaganza and Heritage Experience on Saturday, 14 December 2024, at Woodstock Dam Picnic Site, Bergville, in KwaZulu-Natal.

Hosted by Ukhozi FM’s Selbeyonce, Mroza and Njinji, The Drakensberg Extravaganza and Heritage Experience will be broadcast on the channel on Saturday, 21 December 2024, at 14:00.

S3 viewers can look forward to a local entertainment line-up of artists that includes Blaq Diamond, Kings of the Weekend (DJ Sphectacula and DJ Naves), Mnqobi, Mthandeni SK and many more well-known heavyweights.

The Drakensberg Extravaganza and Heritage Experience launched in 2017. Before creating the initiative, the province realized the challenges of poverty, unemployment, and inequality facing the province.

The project aims to ignite rural inclusive growth and contribute towards the socio-economic development of the KwaZulu-Natal Province while developing human capital and responsible citizenship.

Sipho Ndaba, Director & Coordinator – Drakensberg Extravaganza & Heritage Experience says, “I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to S3 and the SABC stable for allowing us to broadcast some of the best moments from the 11 festival offerings in the Drakensberg Extravaganza with the Music Experience taking place on Saturday, 14 December 2024. We are excited to expose the World Heritage Site in this area on the international platform S3 and extend to SABC+.”

For more information, interview opportunities and publicity images, contact the S3 Publicity.

Do the most and catch the Drakensberg Extravaganza and Heritage Experience on Saturday, 21 December 2024, at 14:00, only on S3. 

Johannesburg, 30 November 2024 – S3 is excited to introduce a variety of festive cooking specials this December, featuring renowned celebrity chefs, Chef Mmule Setati, Lorna Maseko, Chef Mogau and Nigella.

The festive offering will be broadcast on Mondays at 6pm, from 2 December until 30 December 2024, offering tips for Christmas menus and décor to the viewers.

The channel kicks off with Feasting with the tribe on 2 December 2024, a special cooking show showcasing Chef Mmule Setati’s holiday menus and recipes. This is the chance to break bread with closest people, an opportunity to unwind with loved ones, indulge in delicious food and for people to expand their palate by trying different meals from across the continent.

Also added to the S3 festive menu is Celebrate With Lorna – The Christmas Special on Mondays 9 and 16 December where award-winning international Celebrity Chef, Lorna Maseko takes viewers on a food and décor journey whilst being empowered on how to host the perfect Christmas of festive season event – the South African style. In this special, Lorna will plan a Christmas party, she will call on a friend, a top Joburg event planner, to assist on the décor side. The two friends collaborate and put together the perfect events with Lorna taking charge of the culinary side and her friend, that of the décor. The viewers will follow the journey from conception to completion, filmed reality style with diary comments from Lorna and her friend. On the food side, aspects like; menu creation, shopping, cooking and presentation will be woven in with the decor aspects of; décor conception, mood board creation, DIY cost saving tips and kids crafting – culminating into a feast.

The Lazy Christmas with Mogau will be broadcast on Monday 23 December 2024 and offers a heartwarming glimpse into a family’s intimate dinner celebration. Over the course of 46 minutes, viewers witness the preparation and enjoyment of a festive meal, with each family member contributing to their unique skills. From the mother’s traditional delicacy to the father’s braai mastery and the sister’s elegant table setting, the episode beautifully illustrates the concept of a supportive community. As they share laughter, stories of gratitude, the family’s bond deepens, creating a memorable and heartfelt experience.

We close off the month with Nigella’s Amsterdam Christmas on 30 December 2024. Nigella visits the city known for its extensive canals to bring a distinctively Dutch flavour to Christmas. Against a backdrop of beautiful Christmas markets and festive lights draped throughout the city, Nigella brings her 25-year love affair with Amsterdam to the screen. She shares some of her favourite Dutch recipes that mark the season, including liquor ice, Dutch Indonesian street food reflecting Holland’s multicultural history and a special cocktail inspired by her visit to the city.

For more information, interview opportunities and publicity images please contact the S3 Publicity.

Don’t miss S3’s festive offering this December, on Mondays at 18:00.

For media enquiries

Caroline Phalakatshela

Publicity Specialist – Video Entertainment 072 382 2032/ phalakatshelamc@sabc.co.za

More exciting news: Beloved Mzansi stars will put their hearts on a plate next in S3’s all-new Celebrity MasterChef, starting 30 November.

A culinary superstar is born: 20-year-old Bridget Mangwandi won the coveted title of MasterChef South Africa and the R1 million prize money in the massively popular cooking competition’s electrifying Season 5 finale. By scooping the sought-after trophy, Bridget became the youngest winner in the franchise’s history and Mzansi’s first black female MasterChef.

With her near-perfect dishes in the ultimate head-to-head round, Bridget beat another outstanding young chef, Nabila Shamshum (23), a school secretary from Johannesburg, after Durban-born Chanel Brink (34), was named the second runner-up.

Although Nabila, who tasted victory in the quarter and semi-finals, also served the best dish in the round that saw Chanel’s elimination, Bridget soared to the top when receiving moral support from her biggest fan, her mother.

Bridget’s mom and Nabila’s parents joined the season’s previously ousted contestants on the MasterChef South Africa gantry to witness the season’s pivotal cook-off.

During the showdown, in which the Top 2 had to whip up a million-rand-worthy two-course meal showcasing African excellence and expressing their evolution from home cook to chef extraordinaire, Bridget drew inspiration from her mother’s favourite recipe, Apricot chicken. But instead of using chicken, Bridget ambitiously replaced the chicken with kingklip and employed all the learnings and tricks of the trade she accumulated throughout her journey on the show.

In addition to the Apricot kingklip with kale risotto, cauliflower puree, coconut cream, and chives, Bridget set out to display her newly acquired technical skills, plating precision talent and imagination by creating an Italian meringue with choux pastry inside short-crust pastry and an Amarula filling.

The judges enjoyed Bridget’s dessert, but the sublime plating and beautifully flavoured, imaginative and well-cooked kingklip sealed the deal in Bridget’s favour.

For Bridget, her MasterChef trophy symbolises possibility, resilience, inspiration and excellence: “This win is a victory not only for me but for every young black girl who dreams of extraordinary feats. I hope this inspires the next generation to believe the world is their oyster, as I always tell myself.”

Even though MasterChef South Africa Season 5 has concluded with Bridget’s sensation triumph, the MasterChef magic continues into 2025 on our television screens. The new star-studded six-part spin-off Celebrity MasterChef starts on S3 on Saturday, 30 November, at 20:30, with rebroadcasts on SABC 2 on Sundays at 18:30 and S3 on Wednesdays at 18:00.

In Celebrity MasterChef, proudly sponsored by Pick n Pay, twelve beloved Mzansi cuisine-crazy personalities who can all cook up a storm will face the heat in the MasterChef kitchen. While judges Justine Drake, Zola Nene and Chef Katlego Mlambo will again scrutinise all the celebrities’ culinary creations, the spin-off will be served with delicious format twists.

For starters, the Celebrity MasterChef champion will share the R1 million prize pot with a charity of their choice. Furthermore, the twelve high-flyers will be divided into groups of three to put their hearts on their plates in the series’ first four episodes. The winner of each of these “heats” will then proceed to the semi-final, whereafter two will face off in the finale.

Besides each episode’s do-or-die elimination cook-off, there will also be an appetiser task where the best dish will be attached to a surprise prize for the charity the celeb represents.

Among the 12 celebrated stars who will prepare scrumptious meals and memorable moments are celebrities well-known for their passion for cooking, such as singer-songwriter Holly Rey, Afrikaans actor Armand Aucamp, popular Expresso presenter Graeme Richards, pharmacist-turned-social-media sensation Sinoyolo Sifo, and legendary television personality Prim Reddy. 

But there might also be some surprise foodies, including Miss SA runner-up and Miss Supranational South Africa 2023 Ayanda Thabethe, style icon Seth Shezi, Bafana Bafana midfielderReneilwe ‘Yeye’ Letsholonyane, actor Bohang Moeko, rock musician and poet Danie du Toit, fashion trendsetter Mzukisi Mbane and radio and television star Dineo Ranaka.

MasterChef South Africa Season 5 and Celebrity MasterChef are produced by Homebrew Films for Primedia Studios.

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