Moja Love show Sizok'thola shoots and kills 45-year-old Nigerian during filming of TV raid

by Thinus Ferreira

The Moja Love (DStv 157) TV channel's show Sizok'thola shot and killed a 45-year-old Nigerian man on Sunday during filming in the Windsor East suburb of Johannesburg.

Moja Love was asked for comment on Monday morning.

Moja Love's Nonzwakazi Cekete said the production company should be contacted.

Canal+'s MultiChoice was asked for comment on Monday morning, which will be added here when received.

Security guards involved with the controversial Sizok'thola, presented by Action SA Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate Xolani Khumalo, shot and killed the man during a raid.

Captain Tintswalo Sibeko, Gauteng SAPS spokesperson, says "A preliminary investigation showed that there was a production company filming in the area and that there were shots fired, allegedly by the production team's security".

"The said production team went to the police station when a group of people were starting to protest."

In late 2023, Moja Love said that the Siyaya-TV run channel would "pause production of Sizok'thola so that the channel can strengthen its procedures and authority to avoid any further unfortunate incidents or loss of lives".

That was after Moja Love ewas also engulfed in scandal through the same show and presenter after the death of an alleged drug dealer who died during the filming of an episode of Sizok'thola in Katlehong in July 2023.

ALSO READ: Moja Love cuts legal aid to murder-accused Xolani Khumalo as his foundation got ‘enriched by proceeds of crime’.

Calls for cancellation of Moja Love's abusive Isencane Lengane as viewers make BCCSA complaints over domestic violence while channel offers 'psychological support' to Thando

by Thinus Ferreira

Organisations and DStv subscribers are calling for the cancellation of the abusive reality show Isencane Lengane on Moja Love (DStv 157) with the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) that received complaints about the controversial programme.

Moja Love on Wednesday said it "continues to offer psychological support" to the one female participant, Thando, in the show.

Isencane Lengane follows the turbulent lives of the young Siyacela Dlamuka (22) and Thando Msomi (21) who got married as teenagers in KwaZulu-Natal at 16 and 15.

Isencane Lengane sparked outrage when Moja Love in 2023 broadcast an episode showing a violent domestic abuse incident. 

The show once again caused outrage with an April episode, showing extremely abusive behaviour on DStv when Siyacela was shown to threaten Thando with physical violence and said he would hit her with a sjambok, while verbally insulting her.

He told Thando he wants a second wife and will get a second wife without her consent.

The Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) told TVwithThinus on Wednesday that it had "received several complaints which we were able to refer to MultiChoice for a response".

The BCCSA said that the majority of complaints over Isencane Lengane however "did not fit our criteria".

MultiChoice told TVwithThinus in response to a media query "We understand the concerns regarding the content broadcast on third-party channel, Moja Love".

"MultiChoice does not condone violence in any form. As a broadcaster, we do not have editorial control over Moja Love's programming nor do we endorse any specific viewpoints they may present, we will ascertain that this matter is escalated to the channel."

On Wednesday, Moja Love said that the TV channel "has been inundated with media queries, including various views expressed on social media, relating to an episode of Isencane Lengane, currently on season 7, which broadcast on Sunday 20 April 2025".

"It is important to note that the show is a reality show which reflects, explores and raises awareness and contributes to the discourse on Gender Based Violence (GBV) and societal ills."

Nonzwakazi Cekete, Moja Love spokesperson, said that "Whilst the episode aired on Sunday 20 April 2025 is upsetting to some viewers, which the channel takes note of and does not take lightly, it does not incite or promote GBV".

"The opposite, however, is true in that the impugned episode explores misogyny and deep-rooted views of one of the main cast relating to polygamy albeit ill-advised. The channel has and continues to offer psychological support to Thando, affected members and has done so in the past and will continue to do so."

The non-profit organisation Women for Change slammed Moja Love and demands that MultiChoice and Moja Love cancel the series.

"For far too long, South Africans have witnessed the devastating impact of gender-based violence and domestic abuse in their communities. Yet the reality TV show on DStv's Moja Love, Isencane Lengane continues to exploit this reality for entertainment value, turning deeply troubling instances of emotional and verbal abuse into content for profit and clicks".

"This is not just irresponsible, it is dangerous."

"By broadcasting such abuse without adequate intervention and accountability, Moja Love is normalising and trivialising gender-based violence, sending the harmful message that abuse is acceptable if it brings in viewers."

"In a country where women and children are raped, beaten, and killed every day, this kind of programming is not only tone-deaf, it is a betrayal of every victim and survivor."

"The show depicts disturbing dynamics, including coercion, manipulation, degradation, and violence, all under the guise of 'reality TV'. What makes this even more horrific is the ongoing failure to protect the young woman featured in the series, who has visibly suffered repeated harm while the cameras continue to roll."

"Abuse is not entertainment. Trauma is not a storyline," says Women for Change. "This kind of exploitation cannot be justified under the guise of cultural representation or entertainment. The right to entertain must never come at the cost of someone's safety, dignity, or humanity".

The organisation demands that Moja Love "discontinue the Isencane Lengane due to its dangerous portrayal of abuse and toxic relationships".

"If Thando wants to leave her abusive marriage, Moja Love and relevant authorities must offer immediate emotional and legal support. The Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) must hold Moja Love accountable for violating ethical standards."

"Viewers and advertisers to stand against the exploitation of abuse and demand higher standards from the media they support. We remind South Africa that what we choose to watch, support, and allow to continue reflects the kind of society we are building."

"This is not just about a television show, this is about the systemic failure to protect women in South Africa, on and off screen."

The South African Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) organisation also slams Moja Love for Isencane Lengane for what it calls "dangerous" television.

"Media platforms have a moral and social responsibility to promote content that upholds the dignity, safety, and rights of individuals."

"Broadcasting acts of domestic abuse or violence in any form - whether under the guise of reality TV or entertainment - is a gross violation of this responsibility."

"It sends a dangerous message that violence can be exploited for public spectacle. Editorial standards and programming choices must be reviewed for any content that trivialises acts of gender-based violence and abuse against women."

Mola Love silent on another claim of show idea theft and channel boss asking for producer bribes - report.

by Thinus Ferreira

Moja Love (DStv 157) is silent and decided not to comment after yet another producer came forward to claim that the TV channel stole her show idea proposal and that the channel head also asked for bribes which kept increasing.

City Press reports that Nonkuthula Maseko-Malungane, known as Shlahlasedlozi, claims Moja Love stole her submitted programming proposal for what became the existing Fake Gobela, and that the channel head asked for a bribe of R15 000 and later R32 000 for her show to make it to air.

Nonkuthula Maseko-Malungane demands R10 million from Moja Love, alleging intellectual property (IP) theft.

Moja Love has been accused of stealing show ideas for programmes which ended up on the channel ranging from A Se Nna and Child Manyonyoba, to Family Swap, KuRuff, Lekunutu and others.

Nonkuthula Maseko-Malungane claims that the former Moja Love channel head Bokani Moyo demanded a bribe of R15 000 which she first had to pay in cash to have her show idea be considered by the channel. 

Later, Bokani Moyo allegedly demanded a R32 000 bribe to be paid. 

Nonkuthula Maseko-Malungane, who owns Shlahlasedlozi Media, sent Bokani Moyo her show idea of Abalaphi Bendabuko in late 2019 and had an in-office meeting with Bokani Moyo, and after that Whatsapp conversations. 

She claims her pitch became Fake Gobela. 

According to her, she was shocked when Moja Love then started promoting Fake Gobela which is identical to the show she pitched which is exposing fake traditional healers in South Africa.

Nonkuthula Maseko-Malungane told City Press that she saw"a post from a guy that Moja Love had stolen his show concept".

"A month later they advertised my show. I immediately called Bokani Moyo. She told me that the show was not mine and the legal team would get in touch with me to give me answers".

Nonkuthula Maseko-Malungane then contacted Moja Love's legal team after hearing nothing and they told her that they have no knowledge of her show.

Nonzwakazi Cekete, Moja Love spokesperson, promised she would respond to City Press' media query but didn't.

Moja Love cuts legal aid to murder-accused Xolani Khumalo as his foundation got ‘enriched by proceeds of crime’.

by Thinus Ferreira

After finally distancing itself on Friday from its now-notorious former vigilante justice TV presenter Xolani Khumalo who stands accused of murder and cutting off its legal aid to him, the South African tabloid television channel Moja Love (DStv 157) late on Friday night said Sizok'thola isn't cancelled but will get a new presenter while alluding that Khumalo's foundation with unknown beneficiaries allegedly benefitted from "the proceeds of crime".

After firing him, Moja Love will now no longer pay for legal support for Xolani Khumalo in his alleged torture and murder case. 

Sizok'thola is however not cancelled, with the show becoming the latest on Moja Love's schedule line-up which will be undergoing a presenter change following a real-life scandal, while the production gets retooled to "strengthen its procedures".

The latest controversy engulfing Moja Love stems from the death of an alleged drug dealer who died during the filming of an episode of Sizok'thola in Katlehong in July.

The Siyaya TV-run channel - notorious for tabloid local programming that constantly pushes the edge but that results in massive South African TV ratings - found viewership success with Sizok'thola fronted by Xolani Khumalo who became a television hero until the alleged TV torture and murder revelations shocked Moja Love executives and the viewing public. 

Xolani Khumalo is accused of murder and will appear in court in 2024 over allegations that he and a vigilante gang involved in the production of Sizok'thola tortured the man to death to elicit confessions of guilt for the show, that hunts alleged drug dealers and corrupt community citizens.

Xolani Khumalo couldn't be reached late on Friday night following Moja Love's statement but comment will be added here when received.

After saying on Friday afternoon that Moja Love had decided to dump Khumalo and will no longer work or support him - meaning that Moja Love will no longer be on his side in his upcoming murder case - Moja Love on Friday night said that it decided to split with the controversial presenter "after raising concerns and questioning him about his knowledge and involvement in the unlawful incidents that led to the possible contamination of crime scenes, failed prosecutions of known drug lords and unfortunate tragedies that followed the filming of certain episodes".

Moja Love spokesperson Nonzwakazi Cekete says the channel also demanded answers regarding the identities of the beneficiaries of his Xolani Khumalo Foundation which he launched off the back of

Sizok'thola's success "despite the blatant conflict of interest it created between him and the show".

"Moja Love has always been cautious to ensure that it abides by the strict letter of the law. To this end, the channel continues to work closely with the South African Police Service to ensure that no person enriches themselves from the proceeds of crimes which are perpetuated by greedy individuals masquerading as non-profit organisations."

Moja Love says it became clear that the channel's relationship with Xolani Khumalo "had permanently broken down when he could not provide the channel with satisfactory answers to its questions and

when further information, which the channel is not at liberty to disclose at this stage, came to light".

"The channel had been providing legal and financial support to Xolani Khumalo prior to the termination and it will continue to foster an environment of integrity, trust and respect," Moja Love says.

"Xolani Khumalo's claims that he was not formally informed of the termination are false and untruthful. He was duly informed by the channel's management but failed to respond. As a channel, we cannot turn a blind eye to reports of injuries or death during filming of any of our shows and we eagerly await the outcome of the legal case that is currently in court."

According to Moja Love, the channel "has decided not to comment any further on sensitive issues in order to have due respect to culture and to show respect to the families of those who may have been affected as we wait for the law to take its course."

"Moja Love remains steadfast in wanting to create content like Sizok'thola in order to rid our society of drug dealers roaming the streets and killing the future of our country," the TV channel says.

Moja Love says that Sizok'thola "has not been cancelled but has been paused so that the channel can strengthen its procedures and authority to avoid any further unfortunate incidents or loss of lives".

Fired Jub Jub takes Moja Love to court for R100 million after his R510 000 monthly payment ends and his debit orders bounce.

by Thinus Ferreira

After Siyaya TV axed Molemo Maarohanye known as Jub Jub over alleged unprofessional and offensive behaviour and ended his R510 000 monthly payment causing his debit orders to bounce, the controversial presenter is now taking Moja Love to court demanding almost R100 million.

Moja Love (DStv 157) effectively fired Jub Jub who has been the presenter of its tabloid trash cheaters reality show Uyajola 9/9 which has been a hit on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service, surging in the ratings to become the second-most-watched show on subscription television some months.

The City Press newspaper first reported about Moja Love's axing of Jub Jub after he allegedly damaged the brand of Moja Love and the image and relationship of Moja Love's biggest funder, the Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela tribal community when he allegedly caused the implosion and cancellation of the Moses Kotane Arts Festival in December 2022.

Moja Love decided to terminate their working relationship with Jub Jub, who this week went to court, demanding millions of rand from Moja Love.

On Monday Jub Jub filed an application in the Johannesburg High Court against Moja Love CEO Aubrey Tau and Siyaya TV after he had sent a letter of demand for his monthly payment of R510 000 from Moja Love.

"It is obligatory and in terms of the contract that my salary is deposited directly into my bank account on a monthly basis. To my surprise, I learnt that at the end of January to even up to 2 February 2023, I had not received my salary," the court filing states.

"All attempts to call the second respondent (Aubrey Tau) and the legal adviser of the channel never yielded any results."

"At his point in time, debit orders were being returned unpaid. I did not know the reasons for this conduct of the first respondent (Moja Love) through the second respondent." 

In addition, Jub Jub wants R2 million in damages from Moja Love for the "expected renewal" of his contract, arguing that Uyajola 9/9 is extremely popular and has high ratings on DStv, leading to the conclusion that the show would continue with him as presenter.

Jub Jub also alleges that his contract stipulated that he should be paid a performance bonus of at least R20 000, overdue for 2021 and 2022, amounting to R50 000 in total.

Furthermore, Jub Jub wants R72 million from Moja Love for using his song as the channel's soundtrack in Uthando Noxolo, the show he originally presented on Moja Love.

"I have not been compensated in a form of goodwill nor as royalties for my song, notwithstanding various agreements to do so on various occasions," Jub Jub claims.

Jub Jub further demands R10 million for the use of his image on Moja Love billboards across South Africa, and another R18 million from Moja Love from the belief that his contract would have been extended for another 5 years.

"I shall further seek relief for payment for being co-producer of the show, Uyajola 9/9. By virtue of the oral agreement between myself and the second respondent, such amount is due and payable immediately,” the filed court papers state.

Jub Jub couldn't be reached for comment.

Bokani Moyo, head of Moja Love channels, told TVwithThinus in response to a media query that "Jub Jub is an independent contractor and therefore cannot be dismissed as he is not a permanent employee of the channel".

"Moja Love is also not at liberty to discuss the contents of his contract as it is confidential and of a privileged nature."

TV RATINGS October 2022: e.tv's Scandal! keeps gunning for SABC1's Generations; WINNERS: SABC2's Morning Live, Moja Love's X-Repo, e.tv with Vin Diesel LOSERS: Mzansi Magic's Idols, SABC3's The Estate, SABC2's Muvhango.

by Thinus Ferreira

South Africa's prime-time ratings race has become a fierce two-horse competition between SABC1 and e.tv, with viewers kicking off their nightly viewing starting with e.tv's House of Zwide on e.tv at 19:00 followed by Scandal! at 19:30, then flipping the channel to SABC1's Generations at 20:00 and Uzalo at 20:30.

With prime-time ratings that steadily keep climbing, eMedia's e.tv free-to-air TV channel now has the second and fourth most-watched TV shows on South African television, with Scandal! in second place and 5 114  755 viewers in October - just 770 805 viewers away from Uzalo's 5 885 560 viewers in October as SABC1 and the country's most-watched TV programme.

Generations on SABC1 comes in third place with 4 643 191 viewers in October, but with just over 300 000 viewers difference, e.tv in fourth position with House of Zwide and its audience of 4 312 744, is now clearly gunning and trying to overtake Generations.

The TV share - the percentage of total TV sets switched on at any given moment and tuned to a specific TV channel - tells a remarkable story of how South African viewers are channel-flipping between SABC1 and e.tv to curate their own linear broadcast nightly viewing experience.

Between 19:00 and 20:00 more than 40% of all TV sets are switched to e.tv in South Africa, surging to 45% for Scandal!. Viewers then switch to SABC1 at 20:00 for the next hour to watch Generations and Uzalo, with the TV share of 43% climbing to 57% by 21:00.

Nothing else on South African television comes close to these four TV shows from SABC1 and e.tv in terms of ratings and audience share.

Zulu and Xhosa TV news shine

Skeem Saam on SABC1 lost viewers in October, luring 3.94 million, down from September's 4.17 million. While still commanding massive audiences, the Zulu TV news (down from 2.45 to 2.3 million) and the Xhosa TV news (down from 2.73 to 2.19 million) remain the two most watched TV news bulletins on South African television.

Illustrating the massive ongoing viewership decline problem that SABC2 has is that the Muvhango repeat at 08:30 in the mornings on SABC1 lures more viewers than original first-run episodes during prime time on SABC2. 

Muvhango on SABC1 grabbed 1.99 million viewers in the morning, compared to a depressing 1.579 million at 21:30 on SABC2 during prime time in October as SABC2's most-watched, but fading show.

Fooled by Love dropped from 1.879 to 1.621 million viewers in October, while The Executives fell from 1.621 to 1.588 million viewers.

Morning Live punching above its weight

The haemorrhage of SABC2's ratings continues with only Muvhango managing more than a million viewers and 10 out of the channel's top 20 shows now unable to draw more than half a million viewers.

The Afrikaans TV soap 7de Laan remained the second-most watched show on the channel during October, improving slightly from 859 016 to 908 895 viewers. Kgatelopele improved slightly from 725 658 to 771 078 viewers. The Afrikaans TV news bulletin was down from 631 325 viewers to 611 606 in October.

Morning Live remains a shining star for SABC2 - punching far above its weight in its early morning timeslot and further increasing its viewership by 94 683 in October from an already phenomenal 475 519 viewers in September to 570 202 viewers (16.5 share) in October. 

The Setswana TV news bulletin improved from 521 677 to 532 032 viewers in October while president Cyril Ramaphosa's live presidential address on 23 October had 449 769 viewers tuning in. Close to the same number - 443  929 watched an umpteenth repeat of Murder She Wrote in its 14:00-timeslot in the afternoons.

SABC3's The Estate more watched on repeat

The Premier League match between Manchester City and Southampton on 8 October was the top-scorer on SABC3 with 608 491 viewers, followed by Tropika Island of Treasure with 547 990 viewers and Katlego Maboe suddenly substituted as host.

The film Rise of the Planet of the Apes was third with 546 037 viewers, followed by the English TV news bulletin at 18:00 with 509 394 viewers. 

Viewers don't watch the ratings-challenged The Estate from Clive Morris Productions in prime time on SABC3, rather watching the 11:00 repeat in the mornings with 457 703 viewers and the Saturday omnibus that lured 445 046 viewers.

The American talk show The View had 296 121 viewers, drama series Tropical Heat had 288 162, and news show On Point lured 286 416 viewers.

Vin Diesel xxxx-cellent for e.tv

On e.tv Imbewu dropped from 2.67 to 2.25 million viewers, the cancelled Durban Gen remained even from 2.56 to 2.59 million viewers, while The Black Door shed over half a million viewers, plunging from 2.5 to 1.99 million viewers.

The e.tv news at 20:00 lost audience from 1.9 to 1.6 million viewers in October.

South African viewers are "weird" when it comes to watching e.tv movies - they will watch them again and again. 

On Saturday 15 October XXX: The Return of Xander Cage drew a strong 1.64 million viewers to the 20:00-timeslot. 

You think that's it - until e.tv also slotted a repeat for the next day, with Vin Diesel again drawing another jaw-dropping 1.3 million further viewers at 14:30 with little audience drop-off. It means the film lured close to 3 million viewers for e.tv with two combined airings.

Moja Love's X-Repo surges 

On DStv in October Mzansi Magic's (DStv 166) Gomora remained atop the ratings pecking order although MultiChoice again had a month dipping below a  million DStv subscribers, going from 1 014 085 viewers in September to 997 735 in October.

Moja Love's (DStv 157) Sunday night tabloid series Uyajola 9/9 gathered viewers, growing from 876 201 to 924 859 viewers in October. 

The Queen remained flat from 661 478 to 659 211 viewers, while Idols improved somewhat for its Top 7 contestants show from 542 049 to a still-low 686 199 DStv subscribers watching on 2 October.

The River on Mzansi Magic went from 608 277 to 564 451 viewers in October, while X-Repo on Moja Love surged from 492 333 to 647 213 viewers, becoming the 6th most-watched show on DStv in the month. 

The Real Housewives of Cape Town on Mzansi Magic picked up some viewers, improving from 396 719 to 531 981 in October.

Moja launches new digital news site Zimoja Lezinto in South Africa that promises credible news reporting 'on what's happening on our communities'.

by Thinus Ferreira

On Thursday 1 September, Moja TV Channels has launched a new digital news website, Zimoja Lezinto Lezinto with Nonzwakazi Cekete as editor.

The digital news site is an extension of the existing Moja Love and the Moja 9.9 TV channels which are provided to MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service.

The purpose of the Zimoja website is to "dig deep and report fairly on what is happening in our communities".

Aubrey Tau, CEO and founder, says "At Zimoja Lezinto we strive for credibility, authenticity and accountability. In a time where fake news continues to destroy the credibility of journalism, we, at Zimoja Lezinto, pride ourselves in delivering news that is balanced and fair and subscribes to the ethical guidelines of journalism and the legal frameworks of this country".

"We are going to mirror what is happening in our communities without fear or favour and at the forefront of what we do is delivering news that is truthful, facts that are verified and stories that are corroborated."

Nonzwakazi Cekete says the digital news site will "prioritise credibility in a time that fake news continues to be pandemic in our society".

"I am truly excited that after the hard work behind the scenes, Zimoja is launching and I am looking forward to experiencing the impact it will have in our society. At the heart of Zimoja is our communities - we are telling true stories that affect our people in the most honest, factual and truthful way, without fear or favour - this is the same spirit that Moja Love and Moja 9.9 carry."

The news site will aim to expose corruption, maladministration, and socio-economic inequalities in South Africa and how that affects South Africans.

South African television ratings in 2021: The winners and losers.

by Thinus Ferreira

We again saw a lot this year, and in 2021 a lot of that was on television, with millions of South Africans watching the same thing, at the same time, where linear TV broadcasting still triumphs over streaming services that are growing but from a very small base.

Given the impact of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa, as well as the public unrest and looting that took place in the country, 2021's biggest TV ratings winner was undoubtedly television news.

The TV swansong of veteran anchor Noxolo Grootboom on the night of 30 March drew a huge audience of 3.82 million to SABC1 for her final SABC News isiXhosa TV news bulletin at 19:00 on South African television.

The 3 823 686 viewers who tuned in represented a 33 share, meaning that 1 out of every 3 TV sets that were switched on during the timeslot, were tuned to watch her.

Although not entertainment content, every single televised presidential address and "family meeting" of president Cyril Ramaphosa in 2021 - from Covid lockdown announcements to speaking about the public looting and unrest in South Africa and his State of the Nation address - drew millions of viewers combined for each broadcast, as viewers watched him speak live on SABC, e.tv and the three TV news channels of eNCA (DStv 403), SABC News (DStv 404), and Newzroom Afrika (DStv 405).

Such was the huge and successful ratings that if Cyril Ramaphosa's speeches were a TV show it would definitely have been renewed for another season in 2022. 

In just July for instance, president Cyril Ramaphosa's televised address to the nation to announce that South Africa is moving to an adjusted Level 3 lockdown on 25 July propelled his speech to the most-watched "show" on SABC2 for the month.

It was also the 4th most-watched on all of South African television with 5.84 million viewers (15.09 AR / 44.8 share) who tuned in.

Just a few weeks earlier, millions of viewers were once again glued to SABC2 when Cyril Ramaphosa spoke on 12 July to address the public violence with 3.7 million viewers (9.57 AR / 28.4 share), and again when he made a speech on 16 July about the looting that drew 4.17 million viewers (10.78 AR / 32.4 share).

Add another 1.7 million viewers who watched president Cyril Ramaphosa and his speech on 12 July on e.tv, and another 3.19 million who watched his speech on e.tv on 11 July.

Public unrest lifts news ratings

Anxiety and fear around Covid and public unrest in South Africa lifted TV news ratings on South African television to new records - millions of viewers tuned to television to find out what was going on.

Combined, the Zulu TV news bulletin on SABC1 in 2021 remained the single most-watched piece of TV news content on all of South African television this year and kept surging in the ratings race as it added millions of viewers.

The Zulu TV news on SABC1 climbed to an astounding 4.6 million viewers (12.11 AR / 36.4 share) viewers in July as the 5th most-watched programme on South African television for the month with the 12 July broadcast recording the most viewers.

This was followed by the Xhosa TV news bulletin on SABC1 on 13 July with 4.49 million viewers (11.62 AR / 35.2 share) as the 6th most-watched programme on TV for the month. 

In this month, the Setswana TV news bulletin on SABC2 surged on 12 July to an absolutely incredible 2.6 million viewers (6.95 AR / 19.9 share) - up from 768 544 viewers in June.

The memorial service of the amaZulu King Goodwill Zwelithini in March snagged 712 222 viewers on SABC2 in March.

And good morning to all of those early risers: Despite so many challenges behind-the-scenes at the SABC, Morning Live on SABC2 in 2021 continued to pull more viewers early in the morning - in excess of 700 000 - than a lot of other TV shows get during prime time.

Newzroom excels

The unrest of 2021 lifted the 2-year old TV news channel Newzroom Afrika to higher prominence as one of the notable TV ratings winners of the year.

Newzroom Afrika dethroned eNCA for the first time this year as the most-watched TV news channel during a national crisis event during July's unrest and looting, as it experienced a surge of pay-TV viewers on Monday 12 July and pushing it to the top of TV news ratings in that month on MultiChoice's DStv.

Having poached SABC News and eNCA talent ranging from Vaylen Kirtley to Thembekile Mrototo this year, Newzfeed with Stephen Grootes on 12 July was the 22nd most-watched and highest-rated TV news show on DStv in July - the first time that Newzroom Afrika had such a ratings victory that counts as a new highwater-mark viewership success for the channel.

This was closely followed by Newzroom Afrika's Daytime Update block between 12:00 and 15:00 on the same day that lured 470 324 (1.22 AR / 6.9 share) viewers, giving the channel a second notch and bragging rights during that month's ratings ladder.

More Moja and Uzalo

The year gave e.tv reason to smile with its new primetime soap at 19:00, House of Zwide, that replaced the cancelled Rhythm City, which is a bona fide ratings success, luring in excess of 4 million viewers monthly.

On pay-TV, the tabloid content of Moja Love (DStv 157) continued to grip lower-tiered DStv subscribers during 2021 with the channel that kept rising in the ratings race, making Moja Love the biggest pay-TV channel ratings gainer in the year.

In some months Moja Love became the most-watched content on all of DStv, pushing Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) out of the top spots with its collection of sensationalist reality shows like Ujayola 9/9, Isencane Lengane, Giants of the City, Mamazala, No Excuse Pay Papgeld and Single and Mingle.

On free TV, the SABC1-trifecta of Uzalo, Generations and Skeem Saam kept the crown as the country's most-watched shows and entertainment programming with respectively around 8 million, 6.5 million and 5 million viewers.

Props to Anaconda: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid with e.tv that broadcast it for the umpteenth time in 2021 and still bit a whopping 3.5 million viewers.

Ratings losers and disappointments

The South African public broadcaster's "problem child", SABC3, became even more of a problem in 2021 as ratings keep tanking month after month all through the year even after a disastrous rebrand to "S3" that didn't do anything to stem the loss of viewers.

Over the last 5 years, SABC3 lost over 50% of its audience and shed some more in 2021.

From 1.525 million viewers that SABC3 had in January 2016 half a decade ago - already a small percentage from the channel's heydeys in the 2000s - ongoing viewership and TV rating erosion saw its viewership plummet to as low as 625 717 viewers (excluding a once-off soccer broadcast) by October.

The success of e.tv's House of Zwide pummelled S3's new soap The Estate in the same death-zone 19:00-timeslot that has been a ratings disaster for the channel - so much so that the SABC decided on repurposing-triage by putting reruns of The Estate on SABC1 during prime time as a windowing-experiment to try and funnel viewers to SABC3.

SABC3's attempt to introduce a new late afternoon talk show this year with Unpacked with Relebogile was also a dud, sliding from an already-low 340 000 viewers to just over 300 000 by August with none of the buzz that 3Talk with Noeleen and Real Talk with Anele once had.

With little exposure and buzz, South Africa's Ugly Betty-version of uBettina Wethu was a ratings disappointment in the 19:30-timeslot on SABC1, while Die Sentrum from Penguin Films that replaced the Friday episode of 7de Laan lured far less viewers and saw SABC2 end the timeslot-replacement experiment.

The shockingly sharp decline if Idols

The year's biggest ratings-shocker was M-Net and [SIC] Entertainment's long-running Idols on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) that suddenly plunged in viewership after scandal engulfed the choreographer-socialite Somizi Mhlongo who immediately exited the 17th season after serious allegations of physical abuse.

Idols started off season 17 with 1 018 607 viewers on Mzansi Magic in July as usual, as the 4th most-watched show on all of DStv for the month.

Instead of climbing and the usual ratings increase as interest would build, Idols suddenly plunged with DStv subscribers who were no longer interested in watching following the scandal as the show plunged to 10th place on DStv's most-watched list with 693 760 viewers at most in August.

It was further downhill from there for Idols with a season-low of just 683 814 viewers in October, far-off from where Idols used to rank during the live Sunday live spectacular broadcasts. So bad was the ratings that for the first time since Idols began on South African television, Mzansi Magic axed the post-finale press conference for the winner.

Once American Idol ratings started to tank in the United States it never recovered and it will be interesting to see what Idols does viewership wise in 2022 for its 18th season.

Moja Love suspends Molemo Maarohanyane known as Jub Jub after Amanda du Pont names and accuses him of repeated rape and emotional abuse and says she was forced to have an abortion.

by Thinus Ferreira

The management of Siyaya TV's Moja Love (DStv 157) channel has immediately suspended Molemo Maarohany, known as "Jub Jub" after the actor Amanda du Pont on Thursday evening directly named him and accused him of repeatedly raping her and said she was forced to get an abortion after the first time he had raped her.

Jub Jub - who was sentenced to 25 years in jail in 2012 for murder and attempted murder after he drove over children drunk near a school while drag racing - was released on parole in 2017 after which Moja Love picked him up as a TV presenter and resanitised the convicted criminal's entertainment career by having him front a lurid and highly exploitative reality show.

Jub Jub is the presenter of Moja Love's lowbrow and trashy tabloid cheaters series Uyajola 9/9 that has huge ratings on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service, making a lot of money for Moja Love and MultiChoice through its mix of scandalous and sensationalized doorstop-content.

On Thursday evening in an Instagram video, Amanda du Pont named Jub Jub as an abuser and accused him of repeatedly raping her, attempted murder, as well as emotional abuse, and revealed that she had to have an abortion after he had allegedly raped her the first time.

Presenter Masechaba Khumalo earlier also accused Jub Jub of rape.

In her Instagram video, Amanda du Pont said that for two years Jub Jub "raped and physically and emotionally abused" her. 

"Probably what I did wrong is brush this under the carpet and not say anything for so long," said Amanda du Pont who said that "the only thing I did wrong was to keep quiet. But that ends here".

Amanda du Pont revealed that she had an abortion after Jub Jub allegedly raped her the first time and said that "there was no way I would have a child that was forcefully given to me".

"First of all Molemo, you raped me. I was raped for two years solidly. Please don't make it sound like it was a relationship. I was absolutely afraid to leave, afraid of the power your mother had."

Molemo Maarohany's mother is the criminal Jackie Maarohanye, known as Mama Jackie, the evil "Angel of Soweto" who stole money for years from people like Oprah Winfrey and who got jailed for child trafficking.

Amanda du Pont's video follows after Jub Jub had a lewd discussion about women in an interview that he did on apparently some type of low-class "shock-jock" type podcast that M-Net rebroadcast as a simulcast on its struggling Channel O channel on DStv.

"Jub Jub, real name Molemo Maarohanyane, conducted an interview on Podcast and Chill with MacG, which aired on Channel O on 1 December 2021, in his personal capacity," says Moja Love that noted that Moja Love has suspended Jub Jub over allegations of gender-based violence levelled against him.

"Moja Love and Moja 9.9 were not part of the editorial of that interview and are not associated with the content thereof."

"Moja Love and Moja 9.9 do not condone any gender-based violence, in any way and under any circumstances. The Moja Channels have decided to suspend Jub Jub."

"Further queries regarding the interview between MacG and Jub Jub can be directed to Sbu Mpungose, MultiChoice senior manager: PR and brand engagement customer group management," says Moja Love.

MultiChoice Showcase 2021: 18 must-know info-blasts from this year's media event.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice shifted its bi-annual media showcase events for South Africa's press to the end of the year (and did just one this year) with the MultiChoice Showcase 2021 showcase that took place yesterday afternoon as a virtual presentation and dropping various info-blasts throughout the presentation.

Like an Easter egg hunt, the media usually scour for nuggets of information dropped by various MultiChoice executives and shown in sizzle reels, with yesterday that was no different - although MultiChoice shared less information in totality than in any previous years of the showcase. 

Here are 18 things I picked up that you'd want to know:

1. Survivor season 41 on M-Net

M-Net (DStv 101) will show season 41 of America's Survivor in January 2022. 

Season 41 will usher in a new era which will be marked by a lack of a theme, harkening back to the early days of the series. The show will simply be known as Survivor 41. "Those ideas served us very well for 20 years, but now it’s time for something new," says host and producer Jeff Probst. 

M-Net will also show the 8th season of Survivor Australia Brains v Brawn" which will start on M-Net straight after the current 7th season.

2. Survivor SA renewed for a 9th season in 2022

"Return of the Outcasts" will be the "subtitle" of the 9th season of the local South African version that M-Net has now renewed for a 9th season filming in January 2022 and broadcasting in July.

Insiders couldn't wait to tell me earlier this week that Survivor SA was renewed and M-Net refused to respond to media queries about it, until the logo was flashed and "S9" at the MultiChoice Showcase 2021.

The castaways are chosen from previous players who didn't make it to the final Tribal Council and all "have a score to settle". We're told it's filming in January 2022, will broadcast in July on M-Net (DStv 101) and will once again be done somewhere in South Africa because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

3. Award shows

DStv subscribers will be able to watch the 64th Annual Grammy Awards on 1 February on 1 Magic (DStv 103), the 94th Annual Academy Awards known as the Oscars on 28 March on M-Net (DStv 101), the Billboard Awards on 28 April on 1 Magic, and the Miss Universe pageant in 2022.

4. Paradise lost

No air date was provided for an upcoming new TLC show but from the producers of 90 Day Fiancé comes a sexy new docu-soap Love in Paradise – The Caribbean, following people who found love in the Caribbean. 

The tropics will provide the backdrop for relationships in various phases from holiday flings that turned serious to a rekindled love after 10 years apart and a vacation romance that turned into a pregnancy. Will meeting in paradise work out?

5. Pushing sport

Pushing the Line coming January 2022 to the Discovery Channel (DStv 121) will follow some of the top highliners and the up-and-comers of sport, who live together and push one another to take on the craziest places to set lines and break records.

6. Greedy

Mzansi Greed will debut on Moja Love (DStv 157) on 2 December, 21:30 exploring the worlds of crime and greed. What lengths will a person go to for money and power? 

The series focuses on cases of South African pyramid schemes, embezzlement and other crimes, featuring interviews with family members, police investigators business associates, fraud victims and, in some cases, the fraudsters themselves.

7. More SuperSport sports documentaries

In 2022 SuperSport will debut more locally-produced sports documentaries like Chasing the Sun.

 SuperSport is working on Pulse of a Nation: A South African Football Story that is a 4-episode documentary series looking at South African soccer.

Two Sides is another Springbok documentary - likely a documentary film - with cameras that once again filmed inside the Springbok rugby camp. The short sizzle clip shown to media contained a litany of unbleeped "f"-words from Springbok players and staff around them as everyone struggle to cope with the stress.

8. New broom

MultiChoice's video streaming service Showmax has a new boss that the media saw for the first time on Thursday. 

Barry Dubovsky who has been with MultiChoice since 2018 joined Showmax in his new role as its chief operating officer (COO) in August. Barry says that in 2022 Showmax will continue to focus on rolling out more Showmax Original productions.

9. Naija reality

The 7th season of Big Brother Naija gets a broadcasting date: June 2022. 

A group of isolated housemates will once again do tasks as they compete for a cash prize. Date My Family Nigeria will start in January 2022 on DStv, sending singletons on dates with three potential partners' families in a bid to find love.

The 7th season of Idols Nigeria will start in February and Judging Matters is a new "Judge Judy"-type show that will address legal issues from a small claims court, in partnership with the Lagos state ministry of Justice, hosted by Justice Olushola Williams and Ebuka Obi-Uchendu.

10. M-Net moves into Mozambique

M-Net is moving aggressively into the Mozambique market and upping local content produced in Portuguese for DStv subscribers specifically in Mozambique and Angola.

In Mozambique, MultiChoice and M-Net will launch the new Maningue Magic channel on DStv channel number 503 on 17 January 2022. 

The channel will have a local telenovela Maida, local lifestyle show, Txunado, local drama The Influencer, as well as Boss Station, a Mozambiquan original music show. Viewers can also expect to see a local version of Date My Family.

11. South Africa's Big Brother goes continental

The new season of Big Brother Mzansi revived after a decade will not just be seen in South Africa but will be shown across sub-Saharan Africa on DStv, similar to how Africa can watch Big Brother Naija. 

Also new is that the prize money will be R2 million for the winner.

12. A foodie date

The 4th season of MasterChef South Africa coming to M-Net (DStv 101) got a date: It will start on 28 February. 

Instead of on a wine farm like previous seasons, the new season is currently being filmed at the foot of Table Mountain in Cape Town "in a dynamic new location that celebrates both the heritage and the innovation of South Africa's diverse culinary offering".

13. kykNET returns

In 2022 kykNET (DStv 144) will have the 4th season of the Afrikaans procedural drama series Die Byl with Projek Dina returning for a second season. 

A new season of the anthology series Spoorloos is currently in development with a story set behind the backdrop of a small coastal town.

14. Fighting housewives

The third season of Real Housewives of Johannesburg will be shown in April 2022 that will consist out of 14 episodes. 

The Real Housewives of Lagos will be on Showmax in the first half of 2022. 

The second season of The Real Housewives of Durban will also be on Showmax but is still listed as "coming on 2022" only with no indication whether it's the first or second half of the year.

15. Local tabloid

While I Blew It will be back for a 4th season in 2022 and Ubizo for a third season on Mzansi Wethu (DStv 163) there will be new series as well doing what Moja Love has found success with Bangoxoshile, Not The One For You, Siza Mina and Fafi. 

Bangoxoshile is a series that assists homeless people who were forcefully removed from their homes by family, relatives or a spouse.

In Not The One For You friends and family write in to ask for assistance in confronting a friend or family member about a potent relationship that they should not be in. 

Siza Mina is a tabloid daily talk show featuring controversial topics and guests who are seeking intervention in resolving issues relating to family, marriage, parenting, divorce, broken friendships, cohabitation. 

In Fafi the 28-year-old Thandi Ndlovu is in love and getting married in 3 months - however it’s not her husband-to-be, Sgoloza Ndlovu, she’s in love with, rather her beloved late husband, Menzi Ndlovu. The Ndlovu family custom has dictated that upon Menzi's demise, his brother must marry his widow.

16. Sporties

On SuperSport in 2022 (see the full summary in its own article Here) the 2022 FIFA Football World Cup coverage will include all 64 matches, live and in prime time, as well as the UEFA Champions League and Europa League (until May 2022) and the FA Cup (until May 2022).

SuperSport will have the all-new United Rugby Championship (until June 2022) and an old friend in the shape of the Six Nations making a reappearance in February. There's also the World Sevens Series of the Blitzbokke.

In cricket, there's The Ashes and India's tour of South Africa until January 2022, the IPL in March and the Proteas' tour of England from July to September. In tennis and golf all of the Majors will be on SuperSport from January to July 2022. 

In WWE wrestling there will be headline events like the Royal Rumble in January and WrestleMania in April 2022.

On two and four wheels SuperSport will cover the longest-ever F1 season, MotoGP, SuperBikes, and cycling events from May's Giro d'Italia to October's Absa Cape Epic, the Amstel Gold Race to Challenge by la Vuelta and the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup and Paris-Roubaix to the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup.

In athletics SuperSport will have the American Indoor Track League, Diamond League, IAAF World Indoor Tour and World Athletics Continental Tour and in July and August 2022 the Commonwealth Games from Birmingham.

17. Absence of Aletta

This was notably the first MultiChoice Showcase - previously known as the DStv Content Showcase but for some reason rebranded - without Aletta Alberts, Africa's TV content queen. 

The extremely experienced and well-versed executive who was MultiChoice's head of content and third-party channels passed away in July from Covid-19 complications.

MultiChoice apparently didn't replace her position and her absence was definitely felt - the MultiChoice Showcase 2021 didn't have the all-knowing, all-telling tether of Aletta Alberts as anchor who in the past would help the media to integrate and build a bigger picture to put all of the various content streams into perspective.  

18. Notably nothing on this - so far 

Unlike previous years media sadly were not given the opportunity to ask questions at the showcase. MultiChoice that usually make announcements about DStv decoders didn't say anything about its decoders this time with no updates on the DStv Streama decoder that was announced over a year ago but never launched. 

Does MultiChoice plan to add Disney+ as a streaming service next to Netflix and Amazon Prime Video when it launches in South Africa from around June 2022? Or what about eMedia's new eVOD? Is Paramount+, discovery+, HBO Max, Apple TV+ and Peacock going to be added to the DStv Explora Ultra in 2022 like Sky and Comcast overseas did? We don't know yet. 

It's also not yet clear where MultiChoice is with letting DStv subscribers build their own subscription with DStv Flex by choosing various packages with selections of channels instead of picking a bouquet. 

MultiChoice has been investigating this and asking consumers their thoughts about such an offering earlier this year. 

It's also unclear for how long M-Net Movies will have premium first-run films to premiere given the impact of the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic on the world's film industry.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Showcase 2021: Why month-old pre-recorded interviews from MultiChoice executives sitting in Dubai touting DStv's 'home-grown local content' in Africa?

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Showcase 2021: SuperSport to shine in 2022 with a vast locked-in offering of local and international sports events.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Showcase 2021: 'Fuck, fuck fuck, fuck' says SuperSport in profanity-laced Springbok documentary sizzle reel for new Two Sides rugby and Pulse of a Nation football local documentaries coming to DStv in 2022.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Showcase 2021: MultiChoice and M-Net aggressively ramp up Lusophone production targeting DStv subscribers with new channels and content in Portuguese in Mozambique and Angola.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Showcase 2021: PICTORIAL. A set of new Blood Psalms stills released as MultiChoice's delayed Showmax Original fantasy series from Yellowbone Entertainment waits to be paid its film rebate.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Showcase 2021: M-Net renews Survivor South Africa for an all-stars 9th season to be broadcast in July 2022.