Sunday, March 15, 2026

Cancelled shows win at NFVF's embarrassingly bad 19th South African Film and Television Awards (full winners list)


by Thinus Ferreira

The National Film and Video Foundation's belatedly held 19th South African Film and Television Awards, awkwardly awarded prizes to a litany of cancelled shows.

As an inept, mistake-riddled and badly done show which ran over by almost an hour on Saturday night as a live broadcast, the 19th SAFTAs, again produced by Black Swan Media, ironically held up a mirror of a troubled industry in crisis.

The director and TV, film and stage producer Bobby Heaney, involved with the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) academy, as well as actor Magic Hlatshwayo, both received long-overdue Lifetime Achievement awards.

Multiple category winners were complete no-shows on stage at the 19th SAFTAs without any explanation.

Category wins went to channels like kykNET and Mzansi Magic on MultiChoice's DStv, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video's last local production in South Africa, the SABC, as well as e.tv.

Cancelled shows, from Youngins as a Showmax Original, to Scandal! and Kelders van Geheime on e.tv, and iThonga and Genesis on Mzansi Magic, collectively won several awards, leading to cringe-worthy recipients who had to thank their channels that cancelled them. 

The award-winning writer, director and producer Karen Jeyes from Both World Pictures, who accepted an award for the Amazon MGM Studios comedy series The Morning After, said: "Thanks Amazon Prime. Please come back and make more TV in this country".

Interestingly, Cara Roberts appeared on the SAFTAs stage twice on Saturday to accept awards on behalf of both her parents: First her dad Ian Roberts who was a no-show after winning for Best Actor in a feature film for A Kind of Madness.

She returned to stage to accept the posthumous win of her late mom, Michelle Botes, who clinched the award for Best supporting actress in a TV drama for the first season of Netflix South Africa's Afrikaanse drama series Tuiskoms.


Best supporting actress in a TV drama
Michelle Botes (Tuiskoms)
Production House: Infinity Films

Best achievement in sound - documentary
Pangolin: Kulu's Journey
Practitioners: Barry Donnelly, Corne Van Niekerk & Jabu Msomi
Production House: Water Creature Media

Best achievement in editing - documentary
Chasing the Sun 2
Practitioner: Christiaan Scheepers
Production House: T+W

Best achievement in cinematography - documentary
Pangolin: Kulu's Journey
Practitioners: Steven Dover, Warren Smart & Gareth Thomas
Production House: Water Creature Media

Best achievement in directing - documentary
Zef: The Story of Die Antwoord
Practitioner: Jon Day
Production House: Orange Films

Best documentary short
Mathonga Elizwe (Spirits of the Land)
Production House: Uhuru Productions

Best made for TV documentary or documentary series
School Ties
Production House: Idea Candy

Best documentary feature
Zef: The Story of Die Antwoord
Production House: Orange Films

Best children's programme
Behind the Rainbow
Production House: Storytown Productions

Best educational programme
Ingono Yomsamo
Production House: Barleader TV

Best factual programme
Confessions of an Assassin: Why I killed Chris Hani - An Annika Larsen Special Report
Production House: e.tv

Best competition reality show
Plaasjapie (Seisoen 2)
Production House: Afrokaans

Best structured soapie reality show
Young, Famous and African S2
Production House: Urban Brew Studios & APOP Media

Best structured or docu-reality show
Umkhonto Ogwazekhaya
Production House: Devandile Media

Best youth programme
On The Base Roundtable
Production House: VIS Studios

Best online content
Four Walls
Production House: Weldun Media

Best lifestyle programme
Elders: Ligtoringroete
Production House: Bonanza Films

Best current affairs programme
Carte Blanche
Production House: Combined Artistic Productions

Best made-for-TV movie
Mr Easy Loo
Production House: Black Brain Pictures

Best international format
Deal or No Deal Celebrity
Production House: HBC Broadcast Solution

Best entertainment programme
Yash'ingoma season 3
Production House: Skepe Entertainment and Urban Brew Studios

Best variety show
Unfollowed Season 2
Production House: Goat

Best achievement in make-up and hairstyling - TV comedy
How to Ruin Love season 1
Practitioner: Bongi Mlotshwa
Production House: Burnt Onion Productions

Best achievement in wardrobe - TV comedy
The Morning After
Practitioner: Mariechen Vosloo
Production House: Both Worlds Pictures

Best achievement in sound - TV comedy
How to Ruin Love season 1
Practitioner: Guy Steer
Production House: Burnt Onion Productions

Best achievement in art direction - TV comedy
The Morning After
Practitioner: Kate Van Der Merwe
Production House: Both Worlds Pictures

Best achievement in editing - TV comedy
The Morning After
Practitioners: Björn Johansen & Gordon Midgley
Production House: Both Worlds Pictures

Best achievement in scriptwriting - TV comedy
Magda Louw
Practitioner: Desire Gardner
Production House: Homebrew Films

Best achievement in cinematography - TV comedy
Mabaso Family Reunion
Practitioner: Gaopalelwe Kabe
Production House: Black Brain Pictures

Best achievement in directing - TV comedy
Magda Louw
Practitioner: Johan Nel
Production House: Homebrew Films

Best achievement in make-up and hairstyling - TV drama
Reyka season 2
Practitioner: Theola Booyens
Production House: Quizzical Pictures

Best achievement in wardrobe - TV drama
Niggies
Practitioner: Mariechen Vosloo
Production House: Wolflight Films

Best achievement in art direction - TV drama
Catch Me A Killer
Practitioner: Warren Gray
Production House: Local Motion Pictures

Best achievement in special effects (SFX) in hair and make-up - TV
White Lies
Practitioner: Natasha du Toit
Production House: Quizzical Pictures

Best achievement in sound - TV drama
White Lies
Practitioners: David Oosthuizen, Declyn Strydom
Production House: Quizzical Pictures

Best achievement in original music/score - TV drama
Niggies
Practitioner: Pierre Henri Wicomb
Production House: Wolflight Films

Best achievement in an original song - TV drama
White Lies
Practitioners: Edward George King, Charl-Johan Lingenfelder
Production House: Quizzical Pictures

Best achievement in editing - TV drama
GO!
Practitioner: Jeremy Briers
Production House: Ten30 Pictures

Best achievement in visual effects (VFX) – TV
Soon comes night
Practitioner: Shaun Hillary
Production House: Ochre Media

Best achievement in cinematography - TV drama
Reyka season 2
Practitioner: Tom Marais
Production House: Quizzical Pictures

Best achievement in scriptwriting - TV drama
Law, Love & Betrayal (LLB)
Practitioners: Alex Xolo, Lwazi Mvusi, Dorette Nel, Chisanga Kabinga & Oratile Mogoje
Production House: Ramathesele Media and Communications

Best achievement in directing - TV drama
Catch Me A Killer
Practitioners: Rene van Rooyen, Brett Michael Innes
Production House: Local Motion Pictures

Best achievement in make-up and hairstyling - TV soap/telenovela
Skemergrond
Practitioners: Waldemar van Rensburg
Production House: Penguin Films

Best achievement in wardrobe - TV soap/telenovela
Genesis season 1
Practitioners: Sylvia Gegana
Production House: Singavision Productions

Best achievement in art direction - TV soap/telenovela
Suidooster
Practitioner: Beatrix van Zyl
Production House: Suidooster Films

Best achievement in editing - telenovela
Youngins
Practitioners: SC Nhlumayo, Natalie Varoy, Siwelile Mbanjwa, Lubabalo Mayaba, Nandi Mehlomakulu, Nonhlanhla Nxumalo
Production House: Tshedza Pictures

Best achievement in original music/score - telenovela
Youngins
Practitioner: Brendan Jury
Production House: Tshedza Pictures

Best achievement in an original song - telenovela
Kelders van Geheime
Practitioner: Loki Rothman
Production House: KFilms

Best achievement in sound - TV soap/telenovela
Blood Legacy
Practitioner: Lubabalo Bozo
Production House: Gambit Films

Best achievement in scriptwriting - telenovela
Inimba
Practitioners: Siphosethu Tshapu, Kirsten Adams, Sacha-ann Stokes, Nombulelo Mcwerah, Khanyisa Jali, Vanishia Kisten, Sinethemba Keleku, Mpolokeng Hope Bogatsu, Sibusiso Kumalo
Production House: The Milton Empire

Best achievement in cinematography – telenovela
Blood Legacy
Practitioner: Sunel Haasbroek
Production House: Gambit Films

Best achievement in directing - telenovela
Suidooster
Practitioner: Pieter Francois Retief Scholtz
Production House: Suidooster Films

Best achievement in directing - TV soap
Scandal!
Practitioners: Sithembiso Mathenjwa, Antony Coleman, Philasande Malunga, Sphamandla Ngcobo, Christo Davids, Mamohato Askew
Production House: Ochre Media

Best achievement in make-up and hairstyling - Feature film
The Fix
Practitioner: Nicola Roodt
Production House: Crave Pictures

Best achievement in costume design - Feature film
Just Now Jeffrey
Practitioner: Danielle Knox
Production House: Bioscope Films

Best achievement in production design - Feature Film
Just Now Jeffrey
Practitioner: Kerry von Lillienfeld
Production House: Bioscope Films

Best achievement in special effects (SFX) in hair and make-up - Feature Film
The Fix
Practitioners: Nicola Roodt, Clinton Aiden Smith
Production House: Crave Pictures

Best achievement in sound design - Feature film
The Fix
Practitioners: David Oosthuizen, Geoffrey Kock
Production House: Crave Pictures

Best achievement in editing - Feature film
Death of a Whistleblower
Practitioner: Eva Du Preez
Production House: Known Associates Entertainment

Best achievement in original music/score - Feature film
A Kind of Madness
Practitioner: Loki Rothman
Production House: Wolflight Films

Best achievement in an original song - Feature film
Sabbatical
Practitioners: Bokani Dyer, Siyabonga Mthembu
Production House: Diprente

Best achievement in visual effects (VFX) – Feature film
The Fix
Practitioner: Kelsey Egan, George Webster, Sam Alessandri, Charles Tait, Andre Steyn, Lee Gemmell, Phillip Keong, Randall Makhanya, Tristan Brown, Mike Louw
Production House: Crave Pictures

Best achievement in cinematography - Feature film
Death of a Whistleblower
Practitioner: Devin Toselli
Production House: Known Associates Entertainment

Best achievement in scriptwriting - Feature film
A Kind of Madness
Practitioner: Christiaan Olwagen, Wessel Pretorius
Production House: Wolflight Films

Best student film
Leapt Niches
Institution: The Animation School

Best animation
Jungle Beat 2 The Past
Production House: Sunrise Animation Studios

Best supporting actress in a TV soap
Vele Manenje (Skeem Saam)
Production House: Peu

Best supporting actor in a TV soap
Litlhonolofatso Litlhakanyane (Scandal!)
Production House: Ochre Media

Best supporting actress in a telenovela
Zenande Mfenyana (Inimba)
Production House: The Milton Empire

Best supporting actor in a telenovela
Anele Matoti (Gqeberha - The Empire)
Production House: Tshedza Pictures

Best actress in a TV soap
Londeka Sishi (Scandal!)
Production House: Ochre Media

Best actor in a TV soap
Aubrey Poo (Generations: The Legacy)
Production House: MMSV Productions

Best actress in a telenovela
Nelisiwe Sibiya (iThonga)
Production House: Tshedza Pictures

Best actor in a telenovela 
Bonko Khoza (iThonga)
Production House: Tshedza Pictures

Best TV soap
Scandal!
Production House: Ochre Media

Best telenovela
Youngins
Production House: Tshedza Pictures

Best supporting actress in a TV drama
Michelle Botes (Tuiskoms)
Production House: Infinity Films

Best supporting actor in a TV drama
Jabulani Mthembu (Catch Me A Killer)
Production House: Local Motion Pictures

Best actress in a TV drama
Gail Mabalane (Unseen - season 2)
Production House: Gambit Films

Best actor in a TV drama
Frank Opperman (Nêrens, Noord-Kaap season 2)
Production House: Nagvlug Films

Best TV drama
Reyka season 2
Production House: Quizzical Pictures

Best supporting actress in a TV comedy
Shoki Mmola (How to Ruin Love season 1)
Production House: Burnt Onion Productions

Best supporting actor in a TV comedy
Tobie Cronjé (Pronk Primêr)
Production House: Sonvelt Media

Best actress in a TV comedy
Desire Gardner (Magda Louw season 2)
Production House: Homebrew Films

Best actor in a TV comedy
Hannes van Wyk (Magda Louw season 2)
Production House: homebrew films

Best TV comedy
The Morning After
Production House: Both Worlds Pictures

Best short film
Why The Cattle Wait
Production House: Zarafa Pictures, Yellowbone Entertainment

Best supporting actress in a feature film
June van Merch (Die Kwiksilwers)
Production House: Sanktuary Films

Best supporting actor in a feature film
Neels van Jaarsveld (Snake)
Production House: Known Associates Entertainment

Best actress in a feature film
Sandra Prinsloo (A Kind of Madness)
Production House: Wolflight Films

Best actor in a feature film
Ian Roberts (A Kind of Madness)
Production House: Wolflight Films

Best achievement in directing - Feature film
Death of a Whistleblower
Practitioner: Ian Gabriel
Production House: Known Associates Entertainment

Best feature film
Death of a Whistleblower
Production House: Known Associates Entertainment

Best natural history and environmental programme
Day of the Dragon
Production House: Earth Touch

Best TV presenter (public vote)
Fezile Mkhize (Top Travel)
Production House: Cardova Productions

Most popular TV soap/telenovela (public vote)
Inimba
Production House: The Milton Empire

Lifetime Achievement awards
Bobby Heaney
Magic Hlatshwayo