by Thinus Ferreira
It's more than fitting: TVwithThinus can reveal that the former Miss South Africa and former Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi is joining as a new Top Billing presenter when the magazine show returns from 30 April to SABC3.
Top Billing, produced by Cardova Productions, will return on Thursday 30 April to SABC3 at 19:00 with new weekly episodes, with a repeat on SABC3 on Sundays at 19:00, and another repeat on SABC1 on Tuesdays at 21:30.
The SABC ended Top Billing in October 2019 after 27 years on air but the show has thankfully, finally, been revived after a six-year absence.
Besides a group of former Top Billing presenters who are back on screen as part of the aspirational TV series - including Basetsana Kumalo, Michael Mol, Jonathan Boynton-Lee, Ryle DeMorny, Fezile Mkhize and others - a few new presenters will also join, including Zozibini Tunzi.
The former Miss South Africa and Miss Universe 2019 is a perfect fit for the return of the glamorous lifestyle magazine show and is destined to become "the new Bonang", following in the steps of Bonang Matheba who joined as a Top Billing presenter in 2012.
Zozibini Tunzi is perfectly suited and has a custom-made pedigree through experience as well as a sought-after profile for the iconic "walk and talk" Top Billing format - both she and the show will jointly elevate each other with her addition as a Top Billing presenter, representing "the best of the good life".
Zozibini Tunzi's role as a Top Billing presenter will fit Top Billing like a fine white beauty pageant glove, and in turn the show will add to her allure, soft power and influence as a media personality.
With her natural glamour and grace and her history-making reign as Miss Universe 2019 and Miss South Africa 2019, Zozibini Tunzi brings a global level of sophistication and poise that perfectly matches and will add to Top Billing's inspirational and aspirational, high-end aesthetic for South African viewers.
With a Bachelor of Technology in public relations management, she also has the professional foundation for the communication, hosting and interviewing demands of the programme.
She also has a long-standing brand connection already with Top Billing: Her history with the show runs deep with Top Billing that famously toured her luxury Sandton apartment during her Miss SA reign, and she even auditioned for the Top Billing Presenter Search earlier in her career.
Furthermore, Zozibini Tundi as a model and a black model and a black female model is the epitome of empowerment and female empowerment in South Africa.
Joining as a Top Billing presenter perfectly aligns with Top Billing's "modern evolution" of the show for SABC3, focusing on authenticity and empowerment alongside traditional luxury.
Not only will Zozi interview and hobnob with the rich and famous - she herself is who viewers want to see and "be" with.
Besides covering high-profile people and events, she has zeitgeist cache and public interest power as a current "it-girl", underscored by things like the interest in her personal milestones, like her wedding in March 2025 to Luthando Bolowana, which underscores the exact type of cultural "magic" that she represents and will add to Top Billing.
"We are incredibly excited to bring Top
Billing back to South African screens," says Patience Stevens, managing director at Cardova Productions and executive producer of Top Billing.
"This show has always been about celebrating what's possible. Bringing
it back now, at a time when inspiring local stories matter more than
ever, feels incredibly special. We're honouring the legacy while
creating something that feels fresh, relevant and deeply connected to
today's audience."
Bradley Van Den Berg, chief operating officer at Cardova Productions and executive producer of Top Billing, says "Top Billing has always stood
for excellence, aspiration and storytelling at the highest level".
"This
new chapter is about evolving that legacy for a modern audience, keeping
the heart of what made the show iconic, while introducing a sharper,
more dynamic take on the good life that resonates with South Africans
today."
Dichaba
Phalatse, SABC video entertainment marketing manager, says "The return of Top Billing marks a defining moment for SABC3 as we continue to
position the channel as a home of iconic South African storytelling,
reimagined for today's audience".
"This is not just about a comeback - it's a cultural rest where legacy meets a new generation of viewers who are
shaping what aspiration looks like now. Top Billing remains a powerful
expression of possibility, and we are excited to bring that energy back in a
way that feels unapologetically South African."
UPDATE Tuesday 21 April 2026 09:00:
Also joining as new presenters are Bryoni Govender, the Miss South Africa 2023 runner-up, the actor Arno Greeff, as well as Sine Mpulu as this new season's dedicated social media presenter.
"We are incredibly excited to bring Top Billing
back with this dynamic mix of returning favourites and fresh new
talent," says Patience Stevens, in a statement.
"Each presenter
brings their own unique energy and perspective. Together, they will
continue Top Billing's proud legacy of celebrating the very best of our
country while delivering the aspirational, feel-good content viewers
have missed and new audiences are eager to discover."
Bradley Van den Berg says "Bringing together a mix of iconic Top Billing presenters and exciting new talent was a very intentional decision".
"This season is about honouring the legacy that audiences know and love, while evolving the show to reflect the energy, diversity and ambition of modern South Africa. Each presenter brings a unique perspective, and together they create a dynamic storytelling experience that feels both familiar and refreshingly new."
