Meet the Khumalos from Urban Vision Productions set as a new South Africa film release on Netflix SA in 2025 with Khanyi Mbau

by Thinus Ferreira

Netflix South Africa will release a new film in 2025, Meet the Khumalos, produced by Urban Vision Productions and starring Khanyi Mbau, Ayanda Borotho and Jesse Suntele in a story where a woman's "perfect world" is disrupted when her high school rival moves in next door.

Meet the Khumalos is directed and produced by Jayan Moodley and written by Gillian Breslin and Wendy Gumede.

Meet the Khumalos is an adaptation of 2017's Meet the Kandasamys which was written and directed by Jayan Moodley and became the highest-grossing South African film at the box office that year.

The cast of Meet the Khumalos also includes Khosi Ngema, Connie Chiume, Bonga Dlamini and Siyabonga Shibe. 

In the film, Grace Khumalo's "perfect world" is disrupted when her high school rival, Bongi Sithole, moves in next door. Both mothers are horrified to discover that their children are secretly dating and join forces to break up the young lovers.

Netflix announced Meet the Khumalos as well as its other new upcoming South African content at the end of last month as part of a preview of its global content offering for 2025.

Netflix commissions Happiness Ever After as a sequel to 2016's Happiness is a Four-Letter Word, Thabang Moleya back as director for 're-imagined' romantic film set 5 years after original.

by Thinus Ferreira

Netflix has commissioned a sequel film entitled Happiness Ever After to the South African 2016-film, Happiness is a Four-Letter Word that will tell a "re-imagined" romantic story set 5 years after the first film.

Happiness is a Four-letter Word is made its debut in 2016, directed by Thabang Moleya and written by Busisiwe Ntintili and based on the novel of the same name by Nozizwe Cynthia Jele, of 3 friends trying to find their happiness while maintaining images of success and acceptability in South Africa.

Thabang Moleya will once again lens the follow-up with Ayanda Halimana as the screenwriter of the film that will premiere on Netflix later in 2021. Production on Happiness Ever After will take place in Johannesburg.

According to Netflix, Happiness Ever After will serve as a sequel and will "encapsulate the "heart of the first film, by tying back to the important threats such as sisterhood and friendship. However, the story has been re-imagined with the inclusion of a new romantic arc as well that viewers can look forward to".

Bongiwe Selane from Happiness is a Four-Letter Word is attached as producer.

"The sequel lives independently from the book but obviously with some of the old characters returning to bring more drama and more sizzle in the sequel," says Khanyi Mbau".

Renate Stuurman says "We wanted to take audiences somewhere new. The story picks up 5 years later from where we left our characters and it is on all of us - the cast, the producers and the crew - to take out audiences somewhere new".

Masechaba Ndlovu replaces Khanyi Mbau as presenter of the second season of The Big Secret starting 27 March on BET; show looking for more South Africans to reveal darkest secrets.

Masechaba Ndlovu is replacing Khanyi Mbau as the presenter for the second season of The Big Secret on BET (DStv 129), with producers looking for further South Africans who want to reveal secrets that they are too scared to tell to families and friends.

The second season of The Big Secret will start on Wednesday 27 March at 21:30 on BET with South Africans revealing and confronting dark secrets raging from gambling addiction to secret pregnancies, and hidden genders.

"Our purpose behind BET in Africa is to empower our communities by showcasing content that resonates, entertains and reflects authentic storytelling," says Monde Twala, vice-president for Viacom International Media Networks Africa's (VIMN Africa) youth, music and BET.

"Season two of The Big Secret is set to thrill our audiences with candid and spicy conversations. As one of South Africa’s foremost news and entertainment anchors and outspoken radio personality, Masechaba Ndlovu will bring a sense of maturity and gravitas to the show," says Monde Twala.

"Masechaba has the ability and experienced to dive deeper and drive engagement.

Masechaba Ndlovu says "Too often we let ourselves be defined by our pasts, and the longer we keep those secrets from the people we love, the more power they have and the more crippling they become".

"I'm looking forward to bringing these things into the light and helping South Africans find peace with themselves and their families through the process."

People interested in being in the second season of The Big Secret can call 011 799 2200 or email BigSecret@betafrica.tv

South Africans asked to reveal their big secrets on TV in BET Africa's new reality series, The Big Secret with Khanyi Mbau.

South Africans will reveal their big secrets to friends and family members to see if it improves their lives - although it likely won't - in BET Africa's new 13-part reality series, The Big Secret that will be presenter by Khanyi Mbau.

Khanyi Mbau presenting The Scoop on SABC3 has been brought into the Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa) fold by VIMN boss Monde Twala who, while heading up e.tv gave Khanyi Mbau her talk show Katch It with Khanyi that was later cancelled.

The Big Secret will start on BET Africa (DStv 129) on Wednesday 18 October at 21:30.

In The Big Secret viewers will see people "reveal their darkest secrets in their search to free themselves from emotional burdens," says Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa).

People will make their shocking revelations to family, friends and lovers in a "gripping final reveal" in The Big Secret with the producers saying the aim is to help viewers to "find the courage and inspiration to begin their own personal journey towards unburdening themselves and reclaiming their lives".

"Secrets trap people and stop them from progressing with their lives," says Khanyi Mbau. "The show is a platform for guests participating to free themselves emotionally and finally choose to live the life they were destined to."

"The Big Secret aims to support participants to build, empower and inspire themselves."

"Khanyi Mbau has a wealth of experience in interacting with diverse people and communities from allwalks of life together with the challenges she has personally worked through in her own life," says Monde Twala, vice president for BET, youth and music at VIMN Africa.

"Her exposure to life and its challenges has shaped her sense of compassion, empathy, sensitivity and insightfulness."

"These are the important qualities which make her relatable and trustworthy to both the audience and candidates. The Big Secret is going to be empowering and captivating reality TV."

Greedy telebrities Minnie Dlamini, Khanyi Mbau, and Tbo Touch trash their names, brands, reputations for money in low-class Sanral e-tolls ads.

Telebrities Khanyi Mbau, Minnie Dlamini and Thabo Molefe known as Tbo Touch are willingly inflicting untold brand damage to their own names and brands by appearing in cringe-worthy and badly produced adverts for Sanral in which they are paid to tell other people how good Gauteng's e-tolls are.

It's not clear for how much money Khanyi Mbau of e.tv's Katch It with Khanyi, the fading Minnie Dlamini of SABC1, and Tbo Touch who is clearly out of touch, were each paid to sit for the ghastly "pay your Sanral e-tolls" commercials.

People are now wondering just how desperate and cash-strapped the three really are to willingly stoop to such disastrous lows damaging their careers and credibility with their respective audiences.

Even more shocking is how Minnie Dlamini, Khanyi Mbau and Thabo Molefe would willingly and for pay attach their names to something riddled in controversy like Sanral's derided e-tolls service.

While Khanyi Mbau, Minnie Dlamini and Tbo Touch foolishly extol the virtues of e-tolls and are putting their own names and brands on the line in tone-deaf commercials, viewers are flabbergasted at how the telebrities are willing to damage their own reputations just to take cash from Sanral.

It's unintentionally hilarious as all three sell-outs admit in their badly done commercials with ridiculous scripts, to how they hate(d) e-tolls. But now they want you to pay.

People are wondering whether Khanyi Mbau, Minnie Dlamini and Tbo Touch are suddenly saying they are now in favour of paying Sanral's despised e-tolls because they themselves are just being paid to say so, since none of them did it for free as "public service announcements" out of the goodness of their hearts.

The three greedy celebrities gushing about e-tolls are blasted for their participation by the South African public, with people laughing at the poorly produced videos devoid of any authenticity.

"It really is quite a joke. This is an odious tax you're trying to sell Sanral, not toothpaste and stuff," says Wayne Duvenhage, the chairperson of The Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa).

"No amount of spin or celeb endorsement will sell a rotten system."

Khanyi Mbau's successful talk show, Katch it with Khanyi, set to continue for a 2nd season on OpenView HD's eKasi+ from Orlando stadium.

Khanyi Mbau's successful new talk show Katch it with Khanyi starts a second season on eKasi+ (OVHD 105) on OpenView HD from Friday 18 July at 18:00.

Katch it with Khanyi moves to a new studio at the Orlando Stadium with a panoramic view over Soweto. The first season was filmed in Vilakazi Street.

Katch it with Khanyi has become "must catch" television as Khanyi Mbau, formerly the incessant subject for hungry tabloids looking for salacious stories, has managed to start a reinvention process that shows in her persona.

Khanyi Mbau has become a surprisingly good interviewer, listener and great conversation holder.

Perhaps from the pummeling from years of tabloid stories, Khanyi Mbau doesn't take things - and herself - so seriously.

Multiple TV industry insiders have remarked on how quickly she's able to disarm those she's about to interview and how she manages to make them feel relaxed and not threatened - the sign of a good talk show host enabling guests to really open up and share details in unguarded moments.

During its first season Katch it with Khanyi managed to attract big name personalities which is set to continue for the new second season - the debut episode will feature Nelson Mandela's grandson, Ndaba Mandela (30) who doesn't often talk to the media.

Alongside Ndaba Mandela in the second season premiere episode will be Kojo Bafoe, the editor of Destiny Man magazine.

Other guests in the second season include former TKZee member Tokollo Tshabalala, Nomzamo Mbatha, Pallance Dladla and Maps Maponyane.

"The talk show genre requires a strong, intuitive and colourful host," says Monde Twala, the group head for e.tv's channels division. "Engaging and probing people of different socialstandings is a mammoth task that our host, Khanyi Mbau, has come to master".

"A second season means the show has not only worked, but that it is a must watch in local programming," says Monde Twala of Katch it with Khanyi.

About the talk show's new studio location and move to Orlando Stadium says Keshni Rajoo, the manager for production and programming at e.tv that "it's not every day that a non-sport specific show is shot at a stadium".

Khanyi Mbau and Masechaba Lekalake both get their own talk shows on eKasi+, e.tv's new local content TV channel.

Khanyi Mbau and Masechaba Lekalake are both getting their own talk shows on eKasi+, e.tv's new local content TV channel sources are confirming to me.

eKasi+ is one of the four new TV channels including eToonz+, eMovies+ and eAfrica+ which e.tv will launch on Platco Digital's OpenView HD platform in October.

As I reported yesterday, e.tv is also commissioning a new weekly lifestyle magazine show for black 18 to 35 viewers for eKasi+ which will start on the TV channel in 2014.

I'm told that Masechaba Lekalake will be presenting a daily new talk show in the vein of SABC3's Three Talk with Noeleen for eKasi+.

Meanwhile Khanyi Mbau, previously a hot booking for the local TV talk show circuit as a guest, will now turn the tables and sit on the other side when she presents a weekly entertainment talk show on eKasi+ similar to Nicky Greenwall's Screen Time with Nicky Greenwall on e.tv.

Khanyi Mbau was roped in by e.tv for the recent reality show Reality Check, appeared in the eKasi and Mzansi Love series on e.tv and is now expanding her presence and relationship with the free-to-air broadcaster.

e.tv will officially announce the four new TV channels and their names, as well as some of the content next week.

Besides the talk shows e.tv's programming executives are planning a weekly music cooking show for eKasi+ similar to its current Cooking Gospel presented by Katlego Mlambo, as well as a weekly music show presented by Ntombi Mzolo.

eKasi+, similar to M-Net's Mzansi Magic channel and hoping to attract viewers away from SABC1, will be geared towards entertainment and lifestyle shows focusing on South Africa's black, aspirational and urbanised market.

e.tv Winter Upfront 2013: Reality Check for Khanyi Mbau and a tearful reality TV breakdown with Nonhle Thema and Babalwa Mneno.

A Reality Check in capital letters is on its way for on its way for socialite Khanyi Mbau and reality TV queens Nonhle Thema and Babalwa Mneno - and it won't be without tears.

As TV with Thinus reported laste week, Reality Check produced by Endemol South Africa and Rainbow Pepper for e.tv is coming to the free-to-air broadcaster from Saturday 6 July at 18:05 for 13 episodes in which cameras are trailing the twitter celebutant threesome for trauma inducing situations.

All  three already suffered emotional breakdowns - all caught on camera (of course) for Reality Check which  is taking the reality TV queens out of the comfort zone of their glamarama lives.

In the show the three usually sharp tongued celebutants - known for constantly causing social media buzz and living the blingey high life of South Africa's emergent glitter class, wept when they visited a charity feeding programme for hungry South Africans.

"All we did was just cry," Khanyi Mbau told me at e.tv's Winter Upfront 2013 when I sat down with the star who graciously talked about her new TV show. "We couldn't even talk. We spoke in tears."

"I consider myself a very strong person. I think I'm not emotional. I'm not run by emotions. But Tuesday last week we were sent to a health house where they feed the needy.And we all got emotional."

"It made me see the seriousness of how people suffer in this country, still. Some of us are fortunate. We call ourselves free but we're not free yet in this country," says Khanyi Mbau. "We haven't covered all ground yet when it comes to helping South Africans. People are suffering. It is terrible."

Khanyi Mbau says "it's an honour" to appear with Nonhle Thema and Babalwa Mneno in Reality Check. "They are two women who I respect. They've had enough bad and good publicity - unlike these new girls in the industry now who want to have a certain 'image' - a facade - to sell their business."

"Nonhle and Babalwa are about real life. They've been through all the badness and good," says Khanyi Mbau. "That's why I can work with them anytime because they know the game and they respect it."

Khanyi Mbau also has advice for fame seekers and wannabe reality TV stars. "If you really want to be a public interest property, you need to be passionate. You need to know the reasons you want to do this. You need to understand this business," she says.

"You need to love every aspect of it. And for every good there's bad and for every bad there's good. And it's 99 percent bad that you'll experience because the world is judgmental and unforgiving."

"If you've got passion it will drive you and you will be able to carry on forever and during difficult times. And you will love what you do and you won't do drugs and commit suicide - but if you're not it can kill you and you will die."

Khanyi Mbau says Reality Check will show "a side to me you've never seen. It gives a human aspect. People always ask, 'Why are you famous?' Well, you'll be able to answer for yourself once you've seen Reality Check in July."

Khanyi Mbau says "it took me four months to decide if I want to do this show because I was against the element of reality. I think as South Africans we haven't cracked the formula of shooting a proper reality show. We call it reality and then it looks like a documentary."

"And I still think South African society is conservative still, so if you have to party up a storm and pay a million rand for your bar bill you get in trouble. Someone will call you from 3rd Degree or Carte Blanche and they want to know why."

"When the producers and e.tv brought about the twist of why Reality Check will be different, it got me excited and it looked attractive. They said to me, 'We will give you a side which will humanise you.We're going to make you do stuff which you're not comfortable with. We're going to show you're soft side," says Khanyi Mbau.

e.tv Winter Upfront 2013: Khanyi! Derek! Only one Twala! No Nicky! e.tv's Winter programming upfront lures some e.tv stars.

e.tv's Winter Upfront 2013 in Cape Town where the free-to-air commercial TV channel unveiled its upcoming shows and programming plans to South Africa's TV critics, editors and writers covering television, and spoke to the press about it lured some of the channel's TV talent as well.

Khanyi Mbau who will soon be seen on the new e.tv reality show Reality Check dazzled and delighted. Khanyi Mbau remains extremely open and forthcoming and wonderful and remains a darling of the press behind-the-scenes for always being willing to talk and pose for a photo, and answer questions.

Derek van Dam, e.tv and the eNCA's main weather man also pitched. Just like Khanyi Mbau, he also knows and has a fundamentally solid understanding of the media - specifically the press - and is always willing to talk, willing to mingle and socialize and answer questions and be what a media and television personality should be: accessible and "present" at events.

Also spotted: the hilarious Shado Twala, judge of SA's Got Talent, the next new season which will get underway on e.tv soon as well.

Notably absent was Nicky Greenwall although a new season of her profile interview show The Close Up is starting on e.tv.

Also absent was Monde Twala, e.tv's head of channels who really should have been at the channel's Winter Upfront, although he did appear and spoke in e.tv's video sizzle reel showcasing upcoming programming slate, scheduling changes and talking about e.tv's local programming expansion.

e.tv's publicity division did apologise for Monde Twala's absence saying he's busy and can't make it but will try again next time.

Nonhle! Khanyi! Babalwa! South Africa's reality TV queens unite for Reality Check on e.tv - filled with tears, tantrums ... and twitter.

The reality TV queens with sharp tongues, Nonhle Thema, Babalwa Mneno and Khanyi Mbau are uniting for a new reality shown entitled Reality Check currently in production by Endemol South Africa and Rainbow Pepper and which will be starting on e.tv on Saturday 6 July at 18:05 for 13 episodes.

All three - known for their high lives and the decadence that came with it, as well as controversial social media catfights and pulling power which is an anxilliary buzz-making aspect e.tv hopes to cash in on - will appear in Reality Check to go out and do good deeds in society in circumstances the reality high-society ladies are not accustomed to. 

The result? Tears, fights lots of drama and aspects to all three's personalities the producers say has not before been seen on television, promising "an emotional roller-coaster journey" as the women embark on a quet to accomplish various life changing missions.

Viewers will set to see "that behind the image of glamour, fame and tantrums lies real ladies who are affected by South Africa's social issues. They are dedicated to making a difference and committed to doing their bit to contribute towards building a better South Africa," says e.tv about Reality Check.

"Reality Check has the intention to exemplify that there is more to life than lavish lifestyles," says Monde Twala, e.tv's head of channels. "Reality Check will showcase a different side of these ladies, a side that is devoid of the frivolity of usual reality shows which depict celebrities doing nothing but going about their day to day lives," says Monde Twala.

In each episode of Reality Check, each of the women will get an SMS outlining their "goodwill mission". They then meet at the scene and start the task.

"Endemol South Africa is proud to have partnered with Rainbow Pepper to produce Reality Check for e.tv," says Sivan Pillay, Endemol South Africa's managing director.

"This has been in development for a long time as we focused this entire series on ensuring that all three women, Khanyi Mbau, Babalwa Mneno and Nonhle Thema, were available for filming. We are delighted to have these three strong social media brands as the talent on Reality Check."

Khanyi Mbau's appearance in Tropika Island of Treasure 2 on e.tv is supposed to be a secret . . .

You're reading it here first. I'm waiting for ''official'' word (if they'll even respond) but Khanyi Mbau is or was in negotiations to put in an appearance in Tropika Island of Treasure 2.


The local socialite is supposed to flash and splash in Zanzibar in the (I won't use the word ''horrible'' yet) advertiser funded reality marketing sponsored product placement show (brought to you by e.tv! Brought to you by Tropika! Brought to you by 1time Airlines!) in October.

Khanyi's secret appearance is supposed to be a secret.

Oops.

Some Tropika anyone?