Category: Media Office

ON THE LOCAL VERSION OF WIFE SWAP ON S3

Johannesburg, 3 September 2024 – S3 is excited to add the local version of the reality series Wife Swap to the channel offering. A 10-part Wife Swap South Africa will be broadcast on Mondays at 18:00, debuting on the 9th of September 2024.

In the series, two families from different backgrounds, with contrasting lifestyles and values, agree to swap wives in a heartfelt and eye-opening social experiment for one week. Wife Swap explores the joys, challenges, and transformative experiences that arise when wives step into each other’s shoes, all while fostering understanding, empathy, and personal growth.  

Every episode of Wife Swap begins by introducing each family and getting an idea of how their households run.  The spouses then leave for their new homes. After a brief snoop around the house, the spouses meet their temporary families.  Aided only by an instruction manual left by their predecessor, the spouse must spend the first half of their time living according to the rules of the house, often prompting the question: ‘How do people live like this?’ Cameras follow the two spouses as they adapt to parenting, socialising and running the household according to the other spouse’s rulebook. Then, the swapped spouse gets to run the household as they see fit for the second half of their stay. What follows is a fun, heartfelt, and eye-opening experiment that changes lives and reveals what goes on behind closed doors. 

At the end of each episode, the spouses are reunited with their partners and hold a round-table discussion where they unpack their experiences and talk about what they learnt in their time. Wife Swap explores the joys, challenges, and transformative experiences that arise when wives step into each other’s shoes, all while fostering understanding, empathy, and personal growth. 

Meet the Wives

Bridget Sarah Pettenburger

Bridget is 52 and works with her husband, Hans, in their Debt Therapy Business.

Lucretia Abels

Lucrecia is 36 years old and makes a living by driving neighbourhood children to school and selling clothes on TikTok.

Nkabati Mamorobela Shezi

Nkabati is a 34-year-old Sales Engineer, married to Siphelele, and they have three children.

Nosicelo Mokobi

Nosicelo is married to Moloko and has three children. Nosicelo is a Saleswoman at an Automobile company.

Leandre Theys

37-year-old Leandre is an attorney and is in the process of setting up her practice. She is married to Daniel, and they have two children.

Nthabiseng Patricia Malumedhza

Nthabiseng is 38 years old and is an Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigator. She is married to Zacharia, and they have three children.

Agnes Makane Mkhuzangwe

Agnes is a teacher. She is married to Lehlohonolo, and they have three children.

Kedibone Morodi

Kedibone is 43 years old. She is a Revenue Consultant. Kedibone is married to Daniel, and they have two children.

Wendy Sibongile Zulu

Wendy is a Service Specialist at Momentum. She is married to Simphiwe Zulu, who is an IT Specialist. They have two children.

Olerato Matsietsi

Olerato is a YouTube Influencer, is 33 years old, and married to Lisema with three children.

Genuine Aphane

Genuine is a 37-year-old teacher who owns a school. She is married to Respect, a Bolt Driver and Clerk at O.R Tambo Airport.

Amogelang Mahlape

Amogelang is a Radio Content Producer, and her husband Koketso is a Creative Lead at Nedbank. They have two children.

Itumeleng Manaka

Itu is a Health and Safety Manager, married to David, a Business Consultant.

Jeanette Sikhothe

Jeanette is a Customer Care Location Manager. Jeanette is married to Sandile, an IT Specialist, and they have three children.

Lezette Megan Solomons

Lizette is a Wellness and Fitness business owner. Her husband, Roger, is a Publicist. They have one child.

Noxolisa Ndyalivani

Noxolisa is an Entrepreneur married to Vukile, a Logistics Manager, and they have three children.

Nozipho Nyengule

Nozipho is 32 years old, and she is a Credit Manager. Her husband, Siya, works as a Salesman. They have two Children.

Mpho Mkwanazi

Mpho is a 40-year-old stay-at-home mom and wine influencer. Her husband, Sibusiso, is a Freelance Journalist, and they have two children.

Lerato Joy Ndhlovu

Lerato is a housewife married to Bongani, and they have two children.

Nontobeko Skosana

A 43-year-old Administrator has two children.

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

Don’t miss Wife Swap South Africa on Mondays at 18:00, only on S3.

For media enquiries:

Caroline Phalakatshela

Publicity Specialist – Video Entertainment

072 382 2032/ phalakatshelamc@sabc.co.za

An emotional Mia le Roux from Cape Town in the Western Cape was crowned Miss South Africa 2024 at the spectacular 66^th pageant finale held at the SunBet Arena at Time Square in Pretoria on Saturday night.

The 28-year-old – who was the first differently-abled finalist in the history of the Miss South Africa pageant – worked full-time as a marketing manager for a start up company prior to entering the competition. She is also studying a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing part time at Unisa.

Runner-up was Soweto’s Nompumelelo Maduna.

An overwhelmed Le Roux said she was delighted to wear the Mowana (“Tree of Life”) crown from Nungu Diamonds.

She received R1 million in cash in a prize and sponsorship package that includes the use of a serviced apartment at the lavish Brookfield at Royal in Kensington, developed by Tricolt, for the year of her reign with homeware and accessories by Woolworths Home and gorgeous furniture by Schönn. She will also get to drive a Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupé for the next 12 months.

In her acceptance speech Le Roux said : “With a humble and grateful heart, I accept the incredible responsibility of being your Miss South Africa 2024. It is an honour that fills me with immense pride and gratitude, and I am deeply touched by the trust and confidence that South Africa has placed in me. 

“As a little girl I never would have thought that someone like me could become Miss South Africa. It is extremely powerful what this could mean to other little girls – that even if you have something that makes you different, you still can achieve your dreams with determination and hard work. 

“At the tender age of two, I was blessed by my community with the gift of a cochlear implant. Family, friends and strangers rallied to raise funds for this operation – a life-changing opportunity that allowed me to hear. It was also the start of a long journey to listen to sound and connect with the world through speech, a journey that also has taught me to never give up. It took two years of speech therapy and continued repetition of words before I looked up to the sky one day and said my first four words: ‘Kyk daar, wit wolke – look there, white clouds.’

“Today, it is my turn to be your community, to be a voice for those who, like me, have experienced the challenges of being different and feeling excluded. I am here to serve as your representative, to champion the causes that matter to South Africans and to create a space where everyone can shine in their unique, beautiful way.

“The Miss South Africa Organisation has provided me with a powerful platform to advocate for change and to inspire others. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity and I am committed to using it to address the issues that affect our communities by working with the government, corporate South Africa and anyone who is able and willing to play their part. South Africans face many challenges, from financial exclusion and lack of access to resources, to the struggles faced by those who are differently abled. These are not just issues; they are opportunities for us all to come together and build a more inclusive and supportive society.”

Stephanie Weil, CEO of the Miss South Africa Organisation extended her congratulations to the new queen, saying: “Mia embodies the Miss South Africa Organisation’s ethos that if you can dream it, you can achieve it. She also embraces and personifies the organisation’s four pillars – duty, championship, empowerment and beauty, so I can think of no-one more fitting to wear the crown and we can’t wait to see what she achieves during her reign.

“Congratulations too, to Nompumelelo as well as the other finalists who gave it their all and made the final decision so difficult for the judges. We had such strong group of women all vying for the crown this year, which is a testament to the importance and value that the Miss South Africa title has come to stand for throughout the country.”

The Miss South Africa 2024 pageant finale was broadcast live on S3 and streamed for an international audience on the Miss South Africa app.

The all-female judging line-up included Rolene Strauss (winner of Miss South Africa and Miss World 2014); actress, presenter, voice artist, model, author and entrepreneur Leandie du Randt; former Miss South Africa Jo-Ann Strauss; Queen of Soweto Lerato Kganyago and actress, musician, multimedia personality and model Thembi Seete.

Bonang Matheba was once again the pageant’s host while entertainment was provided by Jesse Clegg, Kamo Mphela, Lebo Mashile, Zoë Modiga and sign language activist Andiswa Gebashe.

Some of the country’s top designers dressed the finalists in a fabulous fashion-forward finale including Anel Botha, Gert-Johan Coetzee, Londeka Buthelezi-Ndaba and Lydia Mbayo.

Fittingly for Women’s Month, almost all of those involved in the event were women. For the third year in a row, Black Swan Media Executive Producer, Relebogile Mabotja, produced the live show while directing duties was again undertaken by international Technical Director, Nadia White.

Download the Miss South Africa app for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play store.

Miss South Africa is presented by Weil Entertainment in association with Sun International.

S3 is the official broadcast partner.

Johannesburg, 9 August 2024 – S3 is excited to be the official broadcaster of the prestigious Miss South Africa Pageant on Saturday 10 August 2024, taking place at the SunBet Arena, Time Square in Pretoria. The broadcast will kick off with the Red Carpet at 17:30, and the main event from 18:00 till 20:30.   

This dazzling affair will be hosted by businesswoman, multi-award-winning radio and television host r and style icon Bonang Matheba.

TV personalities Jo-Ann Strauss and Dr Fezile Mkhize will host the official red-carpet ceremony for the highly anticipated Miss South Africa 2024 finale.

Choosing the new queen will be judges Rolene Strauss (winner of Miss South Africa and Miss World 2014); actress, presenter, voice artist, model, author and entrepreneur Leandie du Randt; former Miss South Africa Jo-Ann Strauss; Queen of Soweto Lerato Kganyago and actress, musician, multimedia personality and model Thembi Seete.

This year’s Top 10 contestants, who have already been introduced to viewers on reality TV show Crown Chasers, are Kebalepile Ramafoko, Kirsten Khan, Layla Zoubair, Lebohang Khoza, Mia le Roux, Nompumelelo Maduna, Onalenna Constantin, Ontshiametse Tlhopane, Palesa Lombard and Taahira Katz.

The Miss South Africa Top 10 are (in alphabetical order):

• Kebalepile Ramafoko (25), is from Emalahleni, Mpumalanga. She has a BA in Psychology and Languages and is currently pursuing her Honours Degree. She is also a skills development facilitator and is passionate about sports and youth empowerment. She strives to create equal opportunities for all, believing that sports can transform lives and build stronger communities. She describes herself as a determined, welcoming and fun-loving individual who enjoys making people laugh and showing up for others.

• Kirsten Khan (26), from Roodepoort, Gauteng, is a model and has completed her studies for a diploma in architectural draughting from Damelin College. She describes herself as a compassionate, open minded and resilient person who handles herself and others with grace. She is passionate about mental health and believes the youth should be given the opportunity to be seen, heard and to pursue their dreams.

• Layla Zoubair (29) is from Kempton Park in Gauteng and is an outgoing and outspoken individual who thrives on challenges and exploring. She says she constantly seeks to push her boundaries and discover new things, driven by her inquisitive nature. Her curiosity fuels her passion for learning and growth, making every day an opportunity for new experiences and personal development. Whether trying new activities or engaging in meaningful conversations, she embraces life’s adventures wholeheartedly.

• Lebohang Khoza (27) comes from Maritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, and is an educator of the performing arts. She is a choreographer and actor and has a BA degree in Performing Arts from the University of KwaZulu Natal. She is passionate and open minded and would love to elevate the spaces of education by introducing the element of performing arts therapy.

• Mia le Roux (28) was born in Sasolburg, Free State and raised in Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape. She is a marketing manager, model and part-time B Com Marketing student. She was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at the age of one and says her community rallied behind her to give her the gift of hearing; inspiring her desire to make a positive impact and break barriers. She describes herself as resilient, dedicated, graceful and kind.

• Nompumelelo Maduna (28), from Rockville in Soweto, is a marketer by profession, pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Johannesburg. She is also a saxophonist in the making. She describes herself as a soul that is generous, goal driven, hardworking and kind. “One day I want to perform in an orchestra in honour of my father who loved music,” she says. Maduna was in the Miss South Africa Top 3 in 2019.

• Onalenna Constantin (26), from Potchefstroom in North West, has many talents. She is a model, a law student, entrepreneur and content creator. She wants to inspire through her story that epitomises resilience and grace. She describes herself as an unwavering woman. She would love to meet policy makers regarding the dire need for social workers in every school to ensure social justice for women and children.

• Ontshiametse Tlhopane is a 23-year-old aspiring model from Protea Glen, Soweto. She has qualifications in criminology inspired by her curiosity about why crime is committed. She is also the founder of #SafeHere, an organisation she plans to use to positively impact the lives of children. Friendly, kind and empathetic are words used to describe her character. She believes that everyone deserves opportunities and resources to pursue greatness.

• Palesa Lombard (25) is from Waverley in Johannesburg and says that she has always been a dynamic, high-achieving individual. She is a final year medical student interested in neurological pathologies. She speaks fluent English and French, while having a comprehensive understanding of Afrikaans, isiZulu and Sesotho. She loves to balance her creative, artistic abilities with her deep interests in science, achieved through biomedical science studies, creating artwork and being a part-time professional model.

• Taahira Katz (25) is from Nancefield in Soweto and has a degree in Social Science. She has travelled the world as an international model and has a passion for learning and engaging in new experiences. She would like to work with an organisation that focuses on the crisis around mental health.

Entertainment on the night will be provided by Jesse Clegg, Kamo Mphela, Lebo Mashile, Zoë Modiga and sign language activist Andiswa Gebashe.

The top 10 contestants will be dressed by some of the country’s top fashion designers in a fantastic fashion-forward Miss South Africa 2024 finale. They are Anel Botha, Gert-Johan Coetzee, Londeka Buthelezi-Ndaba and Lydia Mbayo.

S3 wishes the top 10 contestants all the best.  

Don’t miss the Miss South Africa this Saturday at 18:00, only on S3

For media enquiries

Caroline Phalakatshela

Publicity Specialist – Video Entertainment

072 382 2032/ phalakatshelamc@sabc.co.za

Businesswoman, multi-award-winning radio and television host, Zero Malaria global ambassador and style icon Bonang Matheba, is set to once again, captivate South African television viewers with a brand-new reality show titled B’dazzled by Bonang.

This six-part series, with 46 minute episodes, is a co-production between Bonang Matheba Entertainment, with executive producer, Matheba, and Cake Media, with executive producer, David Phume. The exciting new show will premiere on Monday, July 29, at 18h00 on S3, offering the viewers intimate moments where they access a side of Bonang that she has not shared before.

With a 20-year track record in the entertainment industry, her very own luxury beverage, a Foundation, and numerous brand collaborations with local and international high-profile brands including L’Oréal Paris, Steve Madden and many more, viewers will be treated to an exclusive and intimate look into Matheba’s flourishing career and her life as an entrepreneur.

Originally launched on YouTube in 2011, attracting over one million followers, this revamped on-screen version of B’dazzled by Bonang, is set to be bigger and bolder, bringing viewers closer to Queen B – one of Africa’s most sought-after and highly influential entertainment personalities and social media darling. In this behind-the-scenes style show, she will be sharing invaluable entertainment and lifestyle business insights and knowledge, coupled with her signature humorous unapologetic approach to life.

“After so many years in the industry, I’m excited to share a side of me that is not often seen – the business behind my various brands and how they are working to better society. B’dazzled by Bonang is an exhilarating combination of the daily trials and tribulations that come with running my businesses, with a dose of the dazzle and glamour that my audiences have come to know and love.” said Matheba.

“We know Bonang is a ratings generator and we have seen this on S3 and other SABC platforms before. This new series is one that we have intentionally acquired to garner higher ratings, it is part of our second quarter milestone against our strategy of increased entertainment of global standard and is meant to reinforce our brand position. Bonang exudes the same brand values of fiercely achieving your goals, owning your personal narrative and living an accomplished life that S3 champions in all our audiences. We hope audiences will be reinspired to keep pursuing their goals and build an impactful life.” said Sane Zondi, Head of Channel: S3.

ENDS

About Bonang Matheba

Known for her impeccable work ethic, determination, and generosity, South African businesswoman, multi-award-winning radio and television host, Zero Malaria global ambassador and style icon Bonang Matheba, affectionately referred to by fans as Queen B, is one of Africa’s most sought-after and highly influential entertainment personalities and social media darling with over 8.58M combined social media followers. Bonang was always destined for greatness, with her big break coming when she landed a role as a presenter on SABC 1’s premium music show Live Amp in 2007. In 2013, she made history as the first international ambassador for the cosmetics brand Revlon, outside of the US. In 2014, she went on to host the show Front Row on South Africa’s biggest commercial radio station, Metro FM. 2019 was a remarkable year for Bonang as she was recognised for her inspiration, and influence at the Global Social Awards held in Prague, Czech Republic – bagging the coveted Best Inspiration and Influence award. In the same year, she also won African Influencer of the Year at the E! People’s Choice Awards held in Los Angeles, California.

To top the year off, she launched her luxury beverage brand, the House of BNG, introducing a range of Brut and Brut Rosé Méthode Cap Classiques (MCCs), later expanding the range with a Prestige Reserve, and recently introducing a non-alcoholic Nectar Rosé.
Bonang’s screen presence includes three seasons of her reality show Being Bonang on 1 Magic DSTV Channel 103, the award-winning documentary Public Figure (in which she starred and co-produced), her own episode in Activate, a six-part National Geographic documentary series about global efforts to eradicate poverty by 2030, and in 2020, Bonang took viewers along on her global adventures, in SABC 1’s 2-part Special A Very Bonang Year. In the same year, Bonang was named one of Forbes’ 50 Most Powerful Women in Africa and graced the cover of the Forbes Women Africa March issue. She has also had the honour of hosting several Miss South Africa pageants, and appearing as a judge on Miss South Africa reality series, S3’s Crown Chasers. In 2024, she hosted the Time100 Impact Awards, a spin-off of Time magazine’s Time100 Most Influential People list in Kigali, Rwanda. Bonang also proudly heads up the Bonang Matheba Bursary Fund, aiming to put 300 girls through tertiary education by 2025.

About S3

S3 is a revamped channel servicing the independent thinker and the progressive South African millennial. We want our viewers to open up to new lands, new content, new ideas and new ways of being. Through this new positioning, S3 invites viewers to take in all the new programming on offer to open up to a dialogue with your public broadcasting channel. Ultimately, our vision is to foster the spirit of curiosity and spearhead a generation of free thinkers. S3 is opening itself up to new viewers. These viewers, who fall under the millennial umbrella, are more socially conscious and environmentally aware than their predecessors. They are progressive and open-minded, and S3 will champion their frame of min

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

Don’t miss B’dazzled by Bonang every Monday at 18:00 from the 29^th of July 2024, only on S3.

The sizzling fifth season of MasterChef South Africa moves into the show’s new home on S3  on Saturday, 13 July at 19:30, with repeat broadcasts on SABC2 on Sundays at 18:30 and another chance to catch up on all the reality show cooking action on S3 on Wednesdays at 18:00.

MasterChef South Africa Season 5 features 20 amateur chefs from across Mzansi with diverse backgrounds and different food dreams.

Among these cooks are seven strong contenders, ready to slice and dice, bake and butter up the judges with their delicious meals:

TEBOGO

If 29-year-old Tebogo looks familiar, you probably recognise this handsome professional model with the speckle-sprinkled face from various advertising campaigns for superbrands. However, life hasn’t always been on the glitzy side for this inspirational go-getter. Tebogo, or Tebz as he is often called, was raised in Hillbrow by a single-parent mother, and when times were tough, living in shelters was their last resort. Instead of allowing his difficult upbringing to define his future or getting sucked into the wrong crowd, Tebz determinedly decided to rise above his circumstances. As an intern at an inner-city NGO, the joy of a cup of coffee inspired him to become a barista. One of his many achievements was opening a bustling coffee shop called Hillbrewed Café at the age of 23. The disciplined MasterChef South Africa Season 5 contestant is a martial arts champion. He was the middleweight South African Kickboxing Association title holder in 2016 and 2017.

“I can chop pretty fast and accurately,” Tebz describes his superpower in the kitchen, “and can taste a dish before starting it.” Now, he is, of course, “tasting” the R1m prize money the winner of MasterChef South Africa Season 5 winner will scoop up. If he goes to the top, he plans to use the winnings towards owning a restaurant.

NASH

Tinashe “Nash” Zambila (39) from Jozi’s affluent northern suburbs is bound to win viewers’ hearts with his inimitable dry sense of humour and charismatic personality. The devoted dad of an 8-year-old boy fell in love with food by watching celebrity chefs like Rick Stein and Ainsley Harriott strutting their culinary stuff on television. However, his all-time small-screen hero is the late Anthony Bourdain, whose travelogues introduced Nash to the cultures and cuisines of people across the globe.

Nash recalls a light-bulb moment when it dawned on him that he might never be able to visit the exotic destinations in Anthony’s shows but that experimenting in the kitchen could still be the passport granting him access to foreign palates. “So, I would start playing around with ingredients, making a royal mess,” Nash quips.”

Through his private home-cooking adventures, Nash can now whip up unique sauces – his self-proclaimed speciality. His other food fortes are Asian dishes and stylish, refined steakhouse food.

As expected from someone from the advertising world, Nash is a big thinker who continues brainstorming ideas about possible new ventures after winning MasterChef South Africa. On his vision board are a chicken wing bar, a cooking channel, bespoke pop-ups showcasing up-and-coming chefs, a chilli farm where he bottles his own chilli sauce and sustainable feeding scheme initiatives.

LUCAS

Lucas Roothman (33) from Stellenbosch coaches rugby at school and university levels and recruits players for a rugby academy. His alma mater is Paarl Roos Gimnasium, the high school famous for producing more Springboks than any other school in the country. When Lucas, a former U/19 Western Province Union player himself, is not soaking up the sun outdoors, passing the ball to potential future sports stars, or rubbing shoulders with big-name Boks, you’ll find him in the kitchen.

For Lucas, the link between his coaching and cooking is creativity. “In my day job, I think on my feet to bring the best out of people, and in the kitchen, it’s great fun to make the most of quality ingredients,” he explains. Whilst applying his imagination to create scrumptious dishes, Lucas loves listening to Italian Bistro-style music.

Lucas’s food-making training ground was in his hometown, Worchester, where his mom supplied various coffee shops, including the one she ran, with her baked goods. He would be at her side, mixing, cracking, watching and, of course, tasting.  

Before entering MasterChef South Africa Season 5, Lucas’s partner and family were the lucky ones enjoying his delicious meals. If he wins the show, we’ll be fortunate to taste what they are raving about when he kicks off his dream Bistro restaurant with the prize money.

CHANEL

Calm and composed 34-year-old Chanel Brink’s love language is food – whether she spoils her colleagues with unique treats, conjures up delectable meals for her husband and family or shares classic recipes with a distinct South African twist on social media.

During Lockdown, Chanel, born in Durban and now residing in Greenstone Hills, Johannesburg, became an online foodie content creator. Little did she know how her easy-to-make comfort food and simple techniques would hit a sweet spot on Instagram. Cookingwithchanel_sa now has over 180,000 followers!

Chanel’s food flair and culinary prowess are part of her DNA. This magic-making, self-taught cook comes from a generation of food fanatics. Her father is a qualified chef, and her mother worked at a deli. As a pre-schooler, she found her mom’s weekly baking more entertaining than watching cartoons. Soon, little Chanel would mix the ingredients and break the eggs. “Even just adding in the sugar gave me such joy,” Chanel recalls, “not to forget the thrill of seeing my first bran muffins coming out of the oven at the age of nine.”

Her ability to perform under pressure, instilled by her day job, working as an Internal Sales consultant at a construction company and her ability to multi-task might stand Chanel in good stead in the MasterChef South Africa Season 5 kitchen.

ELLA BELLA

Effervescent Ella Bella Constantinides-Leite (39) holds a Master’s degree in Dramatic Arts and Education from the University of the Witwatersrand, is of Greek descent, married the Portuguese love of her life and chose beautiful Sesotho and isiZulu names for her two children.

This colourful home cook from Bedfordview is also a dynamic environmentalist who teaches in all corners of the country as part of the Miss Earth South Africa programme, educating children about biodiversity and preserving our national heritage. As such, she initiates projects ranging from planting trees and creating sustainable vegetable gardens to recycling, cleaning rivers and beaches, and feeding people in different communities weekly.

With these bits of Ella Bella’s background, it makes perfect sense that she describes herself as the kitchen queen of leftovers. “My food style is Mediterranean with a splash of South African fusion, “she adds, “and I have mastered sneaking veggies into all kinds of experimental dishes for the good of my family.”

It brings her immense joy to host large dinner parties targeting the diverse taste buds of the mix of cultures and ages of her multitude of friends and PortuGreek relatives. 

Food is indeed a gift in Ella Bella’s eyes, and if she wins the competition, you might just see Ella Bella food trucks on their way to the empty bellies in many communities.        

NALEDI

Naledi Matshitse (43) from Muldersdrift is a stay-at-home mom who juggles various jobs: homemaker, family chef, family medic, family driver, sports coach and cheerleader. Despite her BAdmin Honours degree in Industrial psychology, Naledi prefers not to miss a moment of her kids growing up. As a bonus, they can have fun together in her favourite room in the house – the kitchen!  

Naledi has an insatiable passion for cooking. It all started when she became her mother’s sous chef when she was ten years old. As the first-born, she would prep dinner before her mom arrived from work, and during Easter and Christmas, they would tackle elaborate dishes from a pile of cut-out recipes.

These days, amateur chef Naledi recreates gourmet food that impresses her at restaurants or on television cooking shows.

However, Naledi remains proud of her African heritage, and her MasterChef wardrobe will showcase that. She packed quite a few garments in her supersized suitcase because she’s adamant about reaching the final episode. 

Naledi tenaciously wants to taste victory again on a reality show, as she did on Season 8 of Ultimate Braaimaster. “It was one of the most adventurous, fun things I have ever done,” she says about the show. “But Master Chef South Africa is my gourmet dream come true. I am so excited to tap into my fine dining persona finally.”

REFE

Refe Dimbaza is a smart, bubbly, thirty-something “small-town girl” from Thaba Nchu with an Honours Degree in Accounting from the University of the Free State who’s living in Centurion these days. Her two graduation ceremonies count among the most significant moments in her life – all because of a person very close to her heart witnessing these milestone events. The proud supporter in the auditorium was her beloved late grandmother.

This gogo also infused Refe with a passion for food. Early on Sunday mornings, Refe would be at her side grafting to ensure fresh baked goods were on the table to enjoy with their tea when they returned from church. Refe decided to enter MasterChef South Africa to honour her granny’s legacy and take her own food-making skills to the next level. What makes becoming a MasterChef contestant even more special for Refe is remembering how they used to enjoy watching the show together.

Although Refe doesn’t want to reveal all the kitchen secrets, she hopes they will land her the title of MasterChef and the six-figure sum of money that comes with it. However, she’s willing to whet our appetite with these words: “My cooking style is ‘traditional with an unexpected modern twist’, and load-shedding has taught me a few surprising fast tricks.”   

To find out more about MasterChef South Africa Season 5 and its contestants, jump onto the show’s social media pages and join the conversation by using #MasterChefSA

Instagram: @sa_masterchef

Facebook: MasterChef SA

Twitter: @sa_masterchef

TikTok: @masterchef.sa

In July, local television will become more appetising than ever before. MasterChef South Africa Season 5, based on the world’s best and most popular cooking reality show, launches in its new home on S3 on Saturday, 13 July at 19:30. 

That’s when 20 uber-passionate home cooks from different backgrounds and with various food-making fortes – from baking and basting to seafood and curries – will step into MasterChef South Africa’s state-of-the-art and pressure-cooker kitchen.

These competitive amateur chefs all have the same goal: Impressing the three fair yet highly critical judges and dodging the chopping board to be named the country’s MasterChef. The winner of MasterChef South Africa Season 5 will also scoop up a tasty R1 million in prize money.

Throughout the competition, the show’s new “superior chefs in the making” are tasked to whip up delicious dishes fit for a king. It all boils down to their ability to tickle the taste buds with a perfect mix of flavours and serving a feast for the eye on a plate.

During the show’s stressful invention tests, their foodmaking flair is challenged when they must create a dish around a specific theme from scratch. Sometimes, there are also mystery box challenges, limiting them to a mixed bag of ingredients and occasionally, world-renowned local chefs visit the MasterChef kitchen. Following a masterclass illustrating the ins and outs of one of their signature dishes, the contestants have to recreate the masterpieces, whereafter, the guest judge joins the resident judges to evaluate the meals.

Judge Katlego Mlambo, who joined Season 4 judges, food connoisseurs Zola Nene and Justine Drake, raves about the Season 5 competitors but notes that the drama behind the pots and pans often gets spicy.

“The contestants are only as good as their last plate, and anything can happen. It’s a constant race against the clock, and one flop or sub-standard presentation could cost them their MasterChef apron,” Katlego explains.

Zola and Justine share Katlego’s sentiment.

Justine adds, “The competency of this season’s home cooks is much higher than in the previous season. Zola concurs, “I was surprised by their clear understanding of advanced cooking techniques and knife skills. These people can cook. The question is, who will continue to improve their know-how and rise to the top?”

MasterChef South Africa Season 5 also embraces local indigenous products stocked in the spectacular set’s Pick n Pay pantry.

“The contestants are spoilt for choice with the best local and international products,” Katlego says.  

While the edgy set includes the first-ever half-moon gantry, the Pick n Pay pantry’s design matches those of current stores, focusing on line rhythm but also allowing curves to soften the space. The shelves carry everything needed to cook a MasterChef-worthy meal, from fresh produce to grocery basics like eggs, coconut milk, spices, pasta and more.

Double-door fridges stock all types of dairy and cheese, charcuterie, red meat and chicken, while a freezer section contains ice cream, frozen berries, and seafood, including prawns and mussels. Also included are products from the Pick n Pay Innovations range and the healthy food Live Well range. One of the most noteworthy areas in the pantry is the packaging-free section, which carries everything from nuts and goji berries to bulgur wheat, with the primary aim being to help minimise waste as contestants can take the exact quantity they require. 

Katlego comments, “Every time I walk into the Pick n Pay pantry, I’m blown away. It’s a chef’s dream come true.”

Furthermore, the kitchen is equipped with products from @home, Beko (appliances), Durbanville Hills Winery, Edison Stone (Wüsthoff knives), Setamono Hibachi (grills), Chef Gear (aprons and chef jackets), My Butcher’s Block, Mervyn Gers (bespoke crockery). Among the other sponsors are LED Lighting SA and YOCO.

Besides the MasterChef South Africa Season 5 premiere episodes on S3 on Saturdays at 19:30, there will be a rebroadcast on S3 on Sundays at 18:30 and SABC 2 on Wednesdays at 18:00.

The 20 MasterChef South Africa Season 5 contestants will be announced soon.

Be part of the MasterChef social media conversation using the hashtag #masterchefsa.

Instagram: @sa_masterchef

Facebook: MasterChef SA

Twitter: @sa_masterchef

TikTok: @masterchef.sa

Johannesburg, 19 June 2024 – S3 announces the return of the prestigious Miss South Africa pageant that will broadcast live on the channel on the 10th of August 2024 at 20:00, preceded by the red carpet at 19:30.

For the second time in a row, Crown Chasers will lead the viewers to the main event, placing Miss South Africa contestants in real-life scenarios for the next six weeks. The weekly challenges are based on the four pillars of Miss South Africa – duty, championship, empowerment and beauty, introducing a challenge winner after every episode.

As a lead-up to the main event, the channel launches this year’s Miss South Africa reality show, Crown Chasers will start on Saturday, 29 June 2024, at 20:30, to be hosted by the reigning Miss South Africa, Natasha Joubert.

“I am delighted that my first opportunity to host a television show is with Crown Chasers. I have always wanted to step into the hosting and presenting space – one day I would love to be a sports presenter – so my goal has always been to get experience in the television field. Although hosting has not always been easy and has been challenging at times, I am growing more confident as filming progresses, and I am becoming more comfortable. This is something I am going to pursue after my reign ends in August.” – Natasha Joubert.

In addition, at the end of each thrilling episode, the judges will vote off one of the contestants, with those remaining going through to participate in the live grand finale at the SunBet Arena at Time Square in Pretoria in August.

Leandie Du  Randt returns as a resident judge, with media personality Lerato Kganyago as a co-judge. The two will be joined by a celebrity guest judge every week.

Du Randt is delighted to return to the series: “It is such an honour. I love this reality show because it gives those taking part the opportunity to see what will be expected of them if they are crowned Miss South Africa. The challenges and tests they will go through during the show is a true test of what will be expected of them.”

Her excitement is matched by new judge Kganyago: “It feels amazing and surreal to be a resident judge for Crown Chasers. It is like coming full circle for me, having taken part in pageants myself. Being part of a show that celebrates and empowers women is something I hold very close to my heart. I’m thrilled and humbled to help guide these incredible contestants on their journey. I hope to positively contribute to the show with my experience as someone who’s been in their shoes. I understand the pressures and the dreams these women have. I will offer support, honest feedback and a lot of heart. My goal is to help the contestants to find their true potential and shine as their authentic selves,” she says.

“Last year, S3 introduced Crown Chasers, a lead into the Miss South Africa pageant to the channel offering, which saw the channel reaching the 1 million viewers mark, a commendable achievement. We look forward to better achievements this year and have a few surprises in store for the S3 audiences with the new season. S3 wishes all the Miss SA hopefuls good luck with their journey, and can not wait to see who reaches the finals”. – S3 Channel Head: Sane Zondi.

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

Channel your inner strength with Crown Chasers on Saturdays at 20:30,  The live broadcast of Miss South Africa 2024 is on the 10th  of August at 20:00, kicking off with the Red Carpet at 19:30. The Miss SA Crown Chasers and the Miss SA main event will also be available on SABC Plus. SABC+ is available for download from Apple and Android App Stores.

For media enquiries

Caroline Phalakatshela

Publicity Specialist – Video Entertainment

072 382 2032/ phalakatshelamc@sabc.co.za

Johannesburg, 5 June 2024 – In an ongoing partnership between S3 and BBC, the channel announces the titles set to broadcast from the 6th of June 2024.  

The shows form part of the new offering from a hand-picked selection of award-winning dramas, factual entertainment and documentaries.  

S3 viewers can look forward to more intense drama in Critical, featuring award-winning actor and screenwriter Lennie James starring alongside Catherine Walker, Sheri Sadd, Peter Sullivan and Kimberley Nixon in this thirteen-part series set in a gleaming new Major Trauma Centre that only deals with the most serious cases. Critical will broadcast on Mondays to Wednesdays at 21:00 from the 11th of June 2024.

Lennie James is Glen Boyle, a trauma surgeon with a background in combat medicine called by Fiona Lomas, a middle-level emergency doctor, to a beautiful modern hospital to save its ultra high-tech but malfunctioning trauma unit.  Critical is an emotional roller-coaster ride as an emergency medical team battles through the vital first hour of care to save lives that hang in the balance. Glen and Fiona are challenged across the series to weld a disparate bunch of personalities into a crack life-saving team against the opposition of senior doctor Clive Archerfield. Their task is hugely complicated. Glen and Fiona are on the verge of marriage to a senior obstetrician in the hospital and have a dark and secret romantic past.

On Thursdays at 21:00, the channel continues with its BBC Prime documentaries, Men For Sale: Life Of A Male Escort on the 6th, following an exposé on the unseen world of male escorts, where wealthy single women pay younger men for companionship and sexual relations. Meet the young men vying for the attention of well-off women online. It is a competitive arena where women promise to lavish their male escorts with expensive gifts and lots of money in return for intercourse, dates and devotion. Some of the men seem to be in control of the power dynamic. Others are just desperate to pay their bills. How binding are the contracts these young men sign; what happens if an escort cheats on his ‘sugar mummy,’ is there any room for romance?

This World: Frat Boys on Thursday the 13th looks into America’s college fraternities that are notorious for hard drinking and hard partying but also being accused of fostering a culture of brutality and sexual assault. During one term at the University of Central Florida, the programme follows the life of a group of frat boys as they embark on the pledging process when recruits have to prove themselves before they can become fraternity brothers. Most are joining because fraternities provide access to an influential network of alumnus throughout the US. But each year, students die or get injured in barbaric initiation rituals, known as hazing, and some argue that the fraternity system allows sexual assaults to occur during drunken campus parties.

On the 20th of June, the documentary The Abercrombie Guys: The Dark Side Of Cool investigates allegations of exploitation and abuse at the top of one of America’s big fashion brands. Former CEO Mike Jeffries transformed Abercrombie and Fitch from a failing retail chain to a multi-billion-dollar empire and the epitome of cool. Now, after months of painstaking investigation, Panorama speaks to men on being recruited into a dark world, created to satisfy the sexual fantasies of Jeffries and his British partner Matthew Smith. Silenced for years by the fear of breaking non-disclosure agreements, these men describe feeling exploited and traumatised by their experiences. One high-profile American lawyer has called for prosecutors to investigate.

Nigeria’s Female Suicide Bombers explores one of the world’s deadliest terrorist groups, Boko Haram. Its shocking tactics include the mass kidnapping of schoolgirls and the use of female suicide bombers. In North East Nigeria, Stacey Dooley meets a woman kidnapped by Boko Haram at the age of 13 and forced to marry three times before being sent on a bombing mission. Astonishingly, she escaped to tell her painful story. Another believed in Boko Haram’s ideology and volunteered for a suicide-bombing mission. Fate intervened, and she survived. Now separated from Boko Haram, she is trying to re-integrate into a society of people she was once willing to kill.

The second block of  BBC Primetime every Thursday at 22:00 will close off with award-winning filmmaker Louis Theroux’s series of investigative features.

In Louis Theroux: Selling Sex on the 6th of June, Louis Theroux interviews women legally providing sexual services in exchange for money. Louis looks at how they use technology to share photos, make bookings and vet potential clients – making the exchange more accessible and, some argue, safer than the illegal alternatives. Many still believe selling sex is exploitative and damaging. Others feel it can be a valid, empowering choice. In this film, Louis explores whether selling sexual act can ever be a healthy way to make money.

Louis Theroux: Life On The Edge takes viewers through 25 years of documentary-making with this candid and fascinating retrospective. The documentary will revisit the best and strangest moments in Louis Theroux’s celebrated TV career. Utilising his own home movie footage and news archives, Louis also tracks past contributors to find out whether their lives have settled down – or spiralled off in even more surprising directions. And for the very first time, Louis puts himself in the spotlight. With his trademark wit, the famous filmmaker discusses the unique challenges of documentary making and the invaluable lessons he’s learned about human psychology.

S3 viewers will embark on a trip of a lifetime, as the BBC’s acclaimed Natural History Unit takes us on a spectacular polar expedition into a breathtaking landscape most humans will never experience in Frozen Planet on Sundays at 18:30 from the 9^th of June 2024. Ambitious and epic in scale, this landmark series is the ultimate portrait of the great wildernesses of the Arctic and Antarctic before they change forever. Narrated by world renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough, Frozen Planet has taken new technology to the most extreme and remote parts of our planet, capturing groundbreaking imagery as camera teams go deep under the ice into a magical world of giants, plunge into the heart of an erupting polar volcano and fly to the South Pole across the Antarctic ice cap. Get closer than ever before to the lives of charismatic animal characters and witness extraordinary examples of survival against the odds.

Channel your inner detective with the new BBC Primetime content block on S3 weekdays.

For media enquiries

Caroline Phalakatshela

Publicity Specialist – Video Entertainment

072 382 2032/ phalakatshemamcsabc.co.za  

Leading lady Jessica Nkosi is well-known for holding audiences in the palm of her hand, playing tenacious telenovela characters – whether it’s the regal Qondi in Isibaya or The Queen’s ruthless crime world royal, Thando. For her latest television stint, however, the multiple award-winning actress and presenter picked a fun character designed to have kids – and adults with a sweet tooth – scream with joy.

Jessica was indeed the A-list celebrity pretending to be The Masked Singer, South Africa’s cute supercool Ice Cream.

In the latest edition of Mzansi’s craziest guessing game and singing contest, Owl, Ice Cream, Bue Crane, Boombox and Gold belted it out for a spot in the next round, the Top 8. Meanwhile, the show’s detective panel – J’Something, Sithelo Shozi, Somizi Mhlongo and Skhumba Hlophe – brought in an extra pair of eyes to help them identify the culprits behind the masks. These piercing peepers belonged to the country’s top investigative journalist, Devi Sankaree Govender, who gained first-hand experience in Masked Singer deception tricks as Season 1’s Watermelon.

Yet, if it were up to Devi, Ice Cream would remain a cold case. Instead, supersleuths Sithelo and Somizi detected that Jessica was the one melting hearts from inside the supersized soft-serve cone. Devi and J’Something guessed that Ice Cream was Thando Thabethe, while Skhumba mentioned comedian Tumi Morake. 

In fact, Ice Cream brought Sithelo a double scoop of delight this week. Not only was Sithelo the first detective to put forward Jessica’s name, but Ice Cream entertained the audience with “Forever”, the song DJ Sithelo wrote and performed with Skye Wanda in 2019. “That’s my girl!” Sithelo shouted while Ice Cream bopped to her energetic tune.

From Ice Cream’s obscure clue package leading to her performance, the detectives could only gauge that Ice Cream was possibly an actress who could play many parts but that she was probably also a mother whose most fulfilling role was looking after her children. That’s why Devi initially thought Ice Cream might be Cindy Mahlangu from Scandal.

At this stage, body language expert Somizi was still hovering between Linda Mtoba and Jessica, as he was convinced that Ice Cream’s dance moves originated in KZN.

But then, an additional Ice Cream set of clues, presented in Cognito by the frozen dessert’s manager, left the detectives with a brain freeze. Ice Cream’s manager pointed out that her favourite time of the year is Christmas when she goes all out with the celebrations. Furthermore, they heard that Ice Cream might be in high demand in her career, but her family is the softest part of her heart.

Once all five masked singers set the stage alight, it was the studio audience’s turn to vote for their favourite. With that, Blue Crane spread her beautiful wings to the next round alongside precious Gold. Then, the detective panel huddled to decide which of the remaining three costumed characters they would save. They granted Owl the opportunity to hoot for another day, leaving Boombox and Ice Cream in the danger zone.

Eventually, Ice Cream had to pop out of her costume, but first, the detectives had one more chance to lock in their final guesses.

Still slightly confused, they delved deep into their notes from all of Ice Cream’s heart-melting performances and the clues she dripped along the way.

Of course, Sithelo put all the pieces of the delicious puzzle together. In a previous episode, Ice Cream let slip that she has received many accolades, including a prize at the horses. She also hailed from the valley of the Thousand Hills and was a doting mother. For Sithelo, all these clues screamed one name: Jessica Nkosi.

Somizi was on the same Jessica page, but Devi joined J’Someehing in deducting that Ice Cream was Thando Thabethe. Devi changed her mind following the hints of Ice Cream’s Christmas celebrations. Still, Skhumba stuck to Tumi Morake, the name he had written down several times during the competition.

Once Ice-Cream was unmasked, KZN girl Sithelo confessed: “I could feel her. I could feel Durban.”

Jessica thanked a defeated J’Something, who never came close to guessing that she was Ice Cream, for praising the tone of her voice and couldn’t wait for her kids to find out that she was on The Masked Singer South Africa. “My daughter was obsessed with the show’s first season, and she’ll be so surprised that Ice Cream was her mommy.”

Jessica’s daughter and fans will see her on television again soon. On Saturday, she will be the celebrity in the hot seat playing for charity on Deal or No Deal South Africa.

Proudly sponsored by AndolexÒ, The Masked Singer South Africa is screened on S3 on Saturdays at 18:30. The rebroadcasts are on SABC 1 on Thursdays at 21:00 and S3 on Fridays at 18:00.