SABC revives Top Billing with Cardova produced lifestyle magazine show back from March 2026 with former faces, adding a shorts format, looking at doing TikTok presenter search

Thinus Ferreira

The iconic weekly South African lifestyle magazine show Top Billing will return to SABC3 from March 2026 with several of the former famous presenters, six years after it was cancelled in October 2019. 

Returning within a social saturated TV era, Top Billing also plans to do a TikTok Top Billing Presenter Search to find new presenters and will interact and engage viewers by adding a Top Billing shorts format as a second-screen experience.

Talking about experiences, besides the weekly TV show, Top Billing also plans to branch out into finely-curated "Top Billing Experiences" where viewers, fans and VIP guests will be able to physically get together in unique locales and settings, together with the presenters, around certain experiences and curated lifestyle celebrations with sponsors.

The Top Billing announcement was made on Tuesday evening at the Chefs Warehouse restaurant at the Tintswalo Atlantic hotel near Chapmanspeak in Cape Town, where an exclusive gathering of 90 people, including several former Top Billing presenters, feasted on a specially curated 7-course dinner, in true "Top Billing"-style.

The SABC issued no press release about the Top Billing revival.

Also in attendance at the event were Patience Stevens and Batsetsana Kumalo, the original executive producers who steered Top Billing under the Tswelopele Productions banner, and who will once again run the show, this time as a Cardova Productions show, together with Bradley BalsamoVan Den Berg.

Top Billing will kick off with a special Top Billing reunion episode on Thursday 27 November on SABC3 with several of the former presenters back to do a special episode, after which the regular season will start from March 2026 on the channel.

In attendance on Tuesday night were various producers, influencers, SABC executives, Patience Stevens and Basetsana Kumalo, along with the SABC's head of local productions Lala Tuku.

Former Top Billing presenters also attended, including like Michael Mol, Janez Vermeiren, Jonathan Boyton-Lee, Fezile Mkhize, Ryle de Mornay, and Harmony Katulondi.

Presenter Search On 3 gives on-air TV jobs on SABC3 to all 6 of the final contenders.

The outcome of SABC3's latest season of Presenter Search On 3 hit a 6 on Thursday night with the concluding 13th episode, with all six of the remaining contenders who were asked to join and appear across various of the channel's lifestyle and entertainment shows.

Instead of one person asked to join SABC3's flagship lifestyle magazine show, Top Billing, the judges chose three, with one winner for morning show Expresso and afternoon talker Afternoon Express, and one consolation prize for the 6th person asked to become a field presenter.

Interestingly the winners all range between just 27 and 29 years of age.

In the final episode of the show produced by Cardova Productions and filmed on Reunion island, the judges Patience Stevens, DJ Fresh, Jeannie D and Sbusiso Kumalo announced that there won't just be three winners.

Medical doctor Fezile Mkhize (27), model Harmony Matulondi (28), and "the fastest man on sand" and lifeguard Ryle de Morny (29), will all be joining Top Billing. They will be making their first appearance on Top Billing on Saturday 4 August at 18:00.

"Speaking French will allow me to add to an international flare to Top Billing. My diverse background, upbringing and curious nature will also bring an interesting perspective to the segments," said HarmonyMatulondi.

"I'm going to bring a fresh new energy to this show. I hope to share as much love as possible and take my viewer on awesome journeys with me as we discover and showcase moments, events and areas in a unique, raw and genuinely real way," said Ryle de Morny.

"I plan to maintain the high standard it's always been known for with a huge dose of whimsy, energy and most importantly heart," said Fezile Mkhize.

The entrepreneur and brand analyst Thabiso Makhubela (28) will be relocating to Cape Town and will be joining the SABC3 morning show Expresso, making his first appearance on Monday 6 August.

"I love Expresso and I can't wait to bring my refreshing, upbeat energy to the show," said Thabiso Makhubela. 

"The show is extremely important because people are waking up and the tone on the show sets the audience's mood for the entire day. I am like the power bank for the people and I don't take that responsibility lightly."

Actress Palesa Tembe (27) will be joining the afternoon talk show Afternoon Express and will be making her first on-air appearance on Monday 6 August at 16:30.

"I'm going to bring some spunk to afternoon TV. I'm excited to bring a younger energy to the show and add to the already positive atmosphere the show delivers on a daily basis," said Palesa Tembe.

The judges awarded actress Mosa Kaiser (27) a consolation prize and asked her to become a field reporter for Expresso.

"I am really happy about my new gig with Expresso. It promises to be a lot of fun and I am excited to bring my unique style and spunk to these inserts. I am so proud of myself and I am excited for the journey that lies ahead," said Mosa Kaiser.