Veteran actor Don Mlangeni Nawa dead at 65

by Thinus Ferreira

The South African actor Don Mlangeni Nawa, most famously known for his role as Bra Zeb (Zebedee) Matabane in SABC3's Isidingo, has died. He was 65.

Don Mlangeni Nawa's cause of death is not yet known.

"He was the heart of our family - a loving father, brother and friend," his family said in a statement on Wednesday morning.

"To the world he was a gifted and respected actor whose presence lit up every stage and screen he graced. His legacy lives on in the lives he touched, the stories he told and the love he gave so freely."

Don Mlangeni Nawa was born in Boksburg in 1959. He initially made his acting career debut in theatre but transitioned to film and television.

Between 1986 and 1993 Don Mlangeni appeared in the iconic South African comedy series S'gudi S'naysi on the SABC's TV2 channel in the role of Laqhasa, then credited as Don Eric Mlangeni.

In the Zuli miniseries Ubambo Lwani he appeared as David in 1989, and followed that up with the character of Zakhe in 1992's TV series Hlala Kwabafleyo and 1995's Cycle Simenon.

In 1998, he made his debut in what was to become his most iconic role however - that of Zeb Matabane in the South African public broadcaster's new multicultural weekday soap, Isidingo, on SABC3.

He stayed with this role for 16 years until he exited in 2014 following a dispute with the production company behind the scenes.

He continued with roles in Mzansi Magic's (DStv 161) The Throne in 2018, and returned to the SABC and Isidingo's short-lived replacement, The Estate, on SABC3 in the role of Shadrack Mokobane between 2021 and 2023.

Don Mlangeni Nawa's other TV roles included SABC1's Uzalo as Dhlomo during its first two seasons between 2015 and 2017 and which he initially said would be his last TV role.

But he continued. He appeared in Mzansi Magic's The River as Thato, Diliza in Rockville, as well as appearing as Mfundisi in Abomama, as John in M-Net's (DStv 101) Legacy, Zandisile in the second season of SABC1's Makoti and as Jacob in Paramount Africa's Pound 4 Pound on BET (DStv 129).

In the Netflix South Africa local drama series Soon Comes Night in 2024 Don Mlangeni Nawa appeared as Mandla Shabane, in SABC2's Stokvel he portrayed the character of Laquashe, and in e.tv's uMbali he was Cyril Qongqo.

In Mzansi Magic's first season of Shaka iLembe Don Mlangeni Nawa was King Langa in 2024, and in the channel's drama series The Republic he played Bhambatha.

In the film Losing Lerato of 2019 he appeared as a SWAT commander.

The South African public broadcaster said in a statement the SABC "has learnt with shock of the passing of veteran actor Don Mlangeni Nawa" and "sends its heartfelt condolences to his family, colleagues and friends".

South Africa's government minister of arts, culture and sport, Gayton McKenzie, in a statement on Wednesday at 15:40, said "Don Mlangeni was more than just an actor; he was a cultural icon, storyteller and a mirror through which we saw our own struggles, joys, and triumphs".

"A husband and father of five, he was a man of immense talent who started humbly in theatre before rising to national fame."

"I grew up watching a true giant of our television screens, the great Don Mlangeni Nawa. He was a legend in the industry."

"His story is one of perseverance, passion and purpose. He didn't just act, he inspired. He didn't just perform, he transformed. South Africa has lost more than an actor. We've lost a piece of our cultural soul."

"Rest in peace, Don Mlangeni Nawa. You've played your part, and you played it to perfection."

Lawyer backs off from frivolous MultiChoice Nigeria lawsuit after taking DStv to court over Nigeria price hike

by Thinus Ferreira

The Nigerian lawyer Festus Sanmi Onifade has realised you can't sue a company for increasing its prices and has now backtracked on his frivolous lawsuit against MultiChoice Nigeria after taking the pay-TV company to court, alleging "unfair price hikes".

Festus Sanmi Onifade has suddenly withdrawn his court case against MultiChoice Nigeria in the Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria.

Festus Sanmi Onifade gave no reasons for backtracking on his lawsuit against MultiChoice Nigeria on 1 March 2025. A court notice posted, only states, "Take notice that the claimant hereby wholly discontinues this suit against the defendants".

MultiChoice Nigeria hiked its subscription fees for Nigeria's DStv customers by a whopping 22% from March - the second massive price hike for the West African country in a year.

That led to Festus Sanmi Onifade running to court to make a lawsuit against MultiChoice Nigeria that as a private commercial company, in a so-called free economy country, simply increased its prices given Nigeria's massive inflation, ongoing naira currency devaluation, and worsening economy.

In addition, Nigeria's consumer protection agency, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), also dragged MultiChoice Nigeria and CEO John Ugbe to court over its latest DStv price hike.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Nigeria hikes DStv subscription fees for the second time in a year by over 22% from March 2025

ALSO READ: Nigeria's consumer protection agency drags MultiChoice Nigeria and CEO John Ugbe to court for defying order not to implement 22% DStv price hike

Homebrew Films and SABC3's MasterChef SA wins Best Cooking Show award in SA Restaurant Awards' new TV category

by Thinus Ferreira

Homebrew Films and Primedia's MasterChef SA, produced for the South African public broadcaster's SABC3, has won Best Cooking Show at the South African Restaurant Awards - the first time this prize category has been introduced.

The fifth season of MasterChef South Africa, filmed at Atlantic Studios in Cape Town and with Pick n Pay as the headline sponsor, switched from M-Net (DStv 101) to SABC3, making the localised reality competition format show available to a broader South African TV audience.

The MasterChef SA 5th season winner was Bridget Mangwandi - the youngest-ever winner and the first black woman to claim the trophy.

"This extraordinary show has changed my life – and those of the other contestants who excelled at representing our country’s different cultures and cuisines. All the exposure on the national broadcaster has been a treasured launch pad for our culinary dreams and careers."

"Thank you to Lala Tuku and her team at the SABC for showcasing our talent, the producers and sponsors, and the millions of fans who rooted for us – when we competed in the MasterChef Kitchen and now voted for us to receive SARA's Best Cooking Show award. We are honoured and grateful."

National Geographic goes Star Trek holodeck with sunken Titanic for digitally recreated underwater archaeology

by Thinus Ferreira

For the 113th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic on 14 April 2025, National Geographic (DStv 181) on Sunday 13 April 2025 at 21:00 is going full-on "holodeck" to showcase the sunken ship like it looks now on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

"Must-watch" is completely overused in a world where everything on television is slapped as a "must-watch" but the 90-minute Titanic: The Digital Resurrection on Monday 14 April on National Geographic is truly a must-watch TV special.

Using underwater scanning technology, including 715 000 digitally captured images, Titanic: The Digital Resurrection brings the Titanic as it looks now, at the bottom of the sea, to "dry land" so to speak, so experts can stand next to its sunken, rusted, life-sized remains.

 

According to National Geographic, in 2022, filmmaker Anthony Geffen and his team followed deep-sea mapping company Magellan as they undertook the largest underwater 3D scanning project of its kind: Mapping the Titanic wreck on the seafloor of the North Atlantic.

Over three weeks they captured 16 terabytes of data - including 715 000 still images and 4K footage as they scanned the Titanic in detail.

In Titanic: The Digital Resurrection, a team of leading historians, engineers, and forensic experts, including Titanic analyst Parks Stephenson, metallurgist Jennifer Hooper, and master mariner Captain Chris Hearn, look at, and discuss the Titanic's final moments in 1912.

According to National Geographic, "Stephenson, Hooper and Hearn dissect the wreckage up close on a full-scale, colossal LED volume stage, walking around the ship in its final resting place".

"From the boiler room where engineers worked valiantly to keep the lights on until the bitter end to the first-class cabins where the ship ripped in two, the scan brings them face-to-face with where the tragedy unfolded."

Viewers of the TV special will see the team discovering a steam valve in the open position, validating eyewitness accounts that the ship's engineers remained at their posts in boiler room two for over two hours after impact, keeping the electricity on and allowing wireless distress signals to be sent.

Sifting through the hull fragments scattered across the wreck site, the team reconstructs them like a puzzle, providing a startling glimpse into the Titanic's final moments.

Further analysis of the digital scans adds to the evidence exonerating First Officer Murdoch, long accused of abandoning his post. 

The position of a lifeboat davit, seen in new hi-res detail, suggests his crew was preparing a launch moments before the starboard side was engulfed, corroborating Second Officer Charles Lightoller's testimony that Murdoch was swept away by the sea.

 

Titanic: The Digital Resurrection examines the massive debris field in detail, rich with hundreds of personal artifacts, including pocket watches, purses, gold coins, hair combs, shoes and a shark's tooth charm.

Scans also reveal the wreck's alarming deterioration, with iconic areas of the wreck already collapsing.

Titanic: The Digital Resurrection is produced by Atlantic Productions with Anthony Geffen as producer, Lina Zilinskaite as senior producer and Fergus Colville as director. Simon Raikes and Chad Cohen are the executive producers for National Geographic.

VIA adds bilingual Goeiemôre, Good Morning as 4-day live breakfast show from 14 April

by Thinus Ferreira

Media24's Afrikaans lifestyle TV channel VIA (DStv 147) is adding a new morning show in English and Afrikaans, Goeiemôre, Good Morning from Monday 14 April.

Goeiemôre, Good Morning, produced by CoolerBox Brothers with Barry Pretorius as executive producer and director George van Rooyen, will run with four episodes per week from Mondays to Thursdays from 6:30 to 7:30, and will repeat 10:00 to 11:30, and again in the afternoons at 14:00. 

As a bilingual breakfast show, Goeiemôre, Good Morning is joining a very crowded TV market.

The timeslot is already over-subscribed with other shows like perennial timeslot ratings leader Morning Live (SABC2), Expresso (SABC3), The Morning Show (e.tv), Die Groot Ontbyt (kykNET), The South African Morning (eNCA) and AM Report (Newzroom Africa).

Goeiemôre, Good Morning will cover entertainment, lifestyle, world events, sports highlights and entrepreneurship with presenters Rozanne McKenzie, Elsa Esterhuizen and kykNET's former Kwêla presenter Pieter Koen who left for the United States with his family but has returned after just a few months. Thys van Zyl will give financial tips.

George van Rooyen says "I have worked with Rozanne and Pieter before and know them as extremely hard workers with great personalities, and Elsa will round off our trio perfectly. This dynamic team is ready to make a lasting impression."

Elsa Esterhuizen says "Goeiemôre, Good Morning is an interesting and fresh take on a South African breakfast show – especially because both Afrikaans and English viewers will be able to join us in the mornings".

"I remember immediately wanting to be a part of it when the team approached me and told me that their idea was similar to the concept of my favourite television series, The Morning Show." 

She references the Apple TV+ drama series with Jennifer Aniston, not e.tv's breakfast show.

"It's also a first for VIA and I'm therefore looking forward to building on this exciting and fresh concept and being part of its development in collaboration with a phenomenal, dynamic team."

Barry Pretorius says the show's "approach, concept and content are from the outset totally focused on our people, who they really are, what they love and the absolute inclusivity of Afrikaans".

"As our language celebrates its centenary this year, this breakfast programme is a clear beacon that Afrikaans will continue to exist inclusively."

Pieter Koen who is back in South Africa four months after emigrating to the United States, says the presenters' team "bring our unique style and personality to the programme and we hope that viewers will find it appealing".

ARB orders MultiChoice to pull misleading DStv upsell advertisement

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice has been ordered to stop a misleading advert in which the pay-TV operator claimed that DStv subscribers could pay R100 to upsize their packages - although DStv subscribers with contracts actually don't qualify and just month-to-month customers.

The Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) that a MultiChoice ad is likely to mislead DStv consumers, that MultiChoice breached a clause in the advertising code of conduct, and ordered MultiChoice to withdraw or amend the its advertising with immediate effect.

A DStv contract customer complained about MultiChoice's upsell advert, who responded to the advert and paid R100, "only to find out like myself that we do not qualify".

"The advert is not transparent enough to explain that those that are under contract or price-lock do not qualify for the promotion" the complainant told the ARB. "Not even once in the advert do they mention that people will be duped and make an immediate payment and not qualify".

MultiChoice denied that the advert was misleading and told the ARB that the "campaign is aimed at exposing lower package subscribers to higher packages by making an upgrade to higher packages, cheaper, for a limited period".

MultiChoice claimed that a consumer "who is in an ongoing relationship with the advertiser would be expected not to limit themselves to the wording of the advertisement but to examine further whether the terms of the ongoing relationship are applicable to the offer or whether the terms and conditions of the offer do include or exclude them".

According to MultiChoice "the subscriber who is on a fixed-term contract for the DStv Compact package pays a monthly subscription fee of R399 a month. The DStv Premium package on contract is R899 per month."

"The difference between applicable fees on these two packages is R500, yet the offer requires the consumer to pay only R100 to upgrade from R399 to R899 package instead of R500."

MultiChoice stated that "A reasonable consumer in the position of the complainant would be expected to consult both the terms and conditions for the offer, as well as terms and conditions for their current package to confirm whether they are eligible to participate".

"Furthermore, the contract packages are already discounted and therefore as a rule and practice they are excluded from the special offers that provide further discounts," MultiChoice said.

The ARB noted that MultiChoice's advertisement "does not make any distinction between the different types of the Access subscribers and the Directorate believes that it is not far-fetched for the complainant to have understood that the wording applies to their subscription as well."

"The Directorate also notes that the unlimited claim 'Add R100 extra to your Access subscription and upsize to Compact' does not clarify that it is only for month-to-month subscribers."

"It is a long-standing principle that one cannot, in the terms and conditions, correct a misleading impression already created in the advertising. In other words, if an advertisement states 'Available to all Access decoder customers' the T&Cs can't then say 'except all the ones on a fixed-term subscription."

MultiChoice and France's Canal+ expect to clear regulatory hurdles in the way of Canal+'s aggressive takeover in October

Thinus Ferreira

The MultiChoice Group and Canal+ SA on Tuesday said the companies are on track to clear all conditions in October 2025 of the French company's aggressive takeover deal of the South African pay-TV operator.

MultiChoice and Canal+ have pushed later their so-called "long stop date" from 8 April to 8 October.

In February MultiChoice and Canal+ revealed that they have devised a new structure to get MultiChoice South Africa to pass various regulatory hurdles preventing majority foreign ownership of a local South African media company.

MultiChoice will be restructured so that the current holder of the broadcasting licence in South Africa and the part that contracts with South African subscribers - MultiChoice (Pty) Ltd or LicenceCo - will be carved out of the MultiChoice Group and will be ringfenced as a seemingly independent entity.

The rest of MultiChoice's video entertainment assets will remain part of the MultiChoice Group which doesn't have a licence but supplies content. 

LicenceCo will therefore continue to hold the subscription broadcasting licence in South Africa, and it will continue to contract with MultiChoice’s South African subscribers.

Canal+ and MultiChoice must secure approvals for the mega-takeover deal from Icasa, the Takeover Regulation Panel, South Africa's Competition Tribunal, shareholders, the Financial Surveillance Department and adhere to other requirements like black-economic empowerment (BEE) and with Canal+ not have voting rights of more than 20% as mandated by the Electronic Communications Act.

ALSO READ: In its aggressive takeover bid Canal+ will carve and spin out MultiChoice's broadcast licence in South Africa and DStv subscibers as 'Licence Co' as MultiChoice Group keeps video assets

SABC News TV channel adjusts schedule with serial channel hopper Thembekile Mrototo co-anchoring The Full View prime time

by Thinus Ferreira

The SABC News (DStv 404) TV news channel adjusted its schedule from 1 April 2025 with channel hopper anchor Thembekile Mrototo now once again back at the public broadcaster to co-anchor The Full View prime-time block between 18:00 and 21:00.

On 1 April, and asked again after that, the SABC was asked in a media query about the SABC News changes for information about the channel's line-up changes. No information on anything from SABC News as a TV channel was forthcoming a week later when this report was published.

On Sundays, Thulasizwe Simelane anchors The Week Ahead on SABC News between 12:00 and 15:00. He is also the face of Week in Review on Saturdays between 12:00 and 15:00.

Morning Live, simulcast on SABC2 and SABC News, remains on weekdays between 6:00 and 9:00, co-anchored by Leanne Manas and Sakina Kamwendo.

Ayanda Nyathi anchors The Agenda block between 9:00 and 12:00 on weekdays.

After the implosion of Paula Slier and Trevor Bester's Newshound company that did the short-lived News1 streaming channel for Sentech's Freevision Play and had plans to also do a Brics Global TV News (BGTN), Juliet Newell who was an anchor there, is now on SABC News anchoring On Point on weekdays between 12:00 and 15:00.

Unathi Batyashe anchors the SA Today block on SABC News between 15:00 and 18:00.

The Full View block between 18:00 and 19:00 is now co-anchored by Bongiwe Zwane and the serial channel hopper Thembekile Mrototo who keeps revolving, leaving and returning between eNCA (DStv 403), SABC News, Newzroom Afrika (DStv 405) and who is now once again back at SABC News for another stint.

Clement Manyathela anchors Face the Nation on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 20:00 and 21:00.

Mfundo Mabalane and Mpho Sithole are the co-anchors of The Late Edition block on weekdays on SABC News between 21:00 and 23:00.

The SABC3 English TV news bulletin, Prime News at 20:00, is suddenly co-anchored by Becky Motumo and Paulette Kaise. There's been no information to the media about this from the SABC or SABC3.

MultiChoice Namibia grows local content slate with further series, film and documentary commissions as Ombura-project enters second phase

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Namibia is growing its local content slate under the project's "Ombura-named umbrella with further new series, film and documentary commissions.

So far, 19 films, a lifestyle series and a documentary have been produced for DStv, GOtv and MultiChoice's streamer Showmax. 

In September 2024, MultiChoice Namibia also started and held its first MultiChoice Film Festival in Namibia to showcase new local content and to provide local filmmakers a place to meet, interact and have conversations.

The Ombura-project which is entering its second phase, is part of MultiChoice Namibia's effort to expand its slate of local content and Namibian stories.

The lifestyle coming series Op Pad Met My Potjie which was seen recently on kykNET (DStv 144) with presenter Joalette de Villiers travelling throughout Namibia, has been renewed for a second season.

Bora Box which will premiere on Channel O, is a new music request show showcasing Namibian music and artists.

Crossover Hearts is a new romantic film directed by MultiChoice Talent Factory alum Lucia Kim Hamunghete which follows a young couple from different cultures battling prejudices and family expectations.

Desert Film's The Long Road details the life of a struggling factory worker who has been abandoned by his pregnant wife and attempts to redeem himself, while Oppiplaas is a romantic drama about a city girl launching a social media business and who then reluctantly takes on a struggling farmer as a client.

The Afrikaans environmental magazine show Groen Namibië has been renewed for another season on kykNET.

Then there is also the feature film My F*k, Marelize, also produced by kykNET Films and inspired by a viral video from Namibia, which will be shown on kykNET.

Another documentary will also be produced.

"This year, we continue our commitment to hyperlocal storytelling with productions that reflect the culture, language, and realities of our audiences," says Rogert Gertze, MultiChoice Namibia managing director.

"Beyond storytelling, we are actively investing in the future of African film and television by training, funding, and supporting the next generation of local talent because when Africa tells its own stories, the world listens."

Esther Beukes, Namibian Film Commission chairperson, says "On behalf of the Namibia Film Commission, a huge thank you to MultiChoice Namibia, and this phenomenal team. Your investment in our industry isn't just about making TV, it's about making history."

ALSO READ: Inside MultiChoice's push to expand Namibia's kykNET content

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Namibia to host inaugural MultiChoice Film Festival 2024 with panel sessions and content screenings