As glitz, glam and virtual red carpets signaled the start of South Africa’s very own awards season this past weekend, we bring you 10 critically acclaimed TV shows playing on DStv right now which all formed part of the 15th SAFTA winning home grown productions on Saturday (May 23).
- Gomora – Best Telenovela/ TV Soap as voted for by the public
Golden Horns: TWO
Drama series Gomora, highlighting the inequalities between the rich and the poor and how fine the line between the two can be, won the Best Achievement in Directing – Telenovela as well as the public’s choice for Best Telenovela/TV Soap. It can be watched daily on Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161) where it is in its second season or on Showmax, which houses all the episodes to date.
Caption: Katlego Danke stars as Thati Ndaba in Mzansi Magic’s Gomora
- Legacy
Golden Horns: SIX
Legacy has an overwhelming success story. Legacy is set in the fast-paced world of investment billionaires and focuses on a family at war with itself.
The captivating telenovela – which dishes out drama from Monday-Thursday on M-Net (DStv channel 101) at 19:00 – won six awards, including Best Telenovela and Best Supporting Actress in a Telenovela, awarded to Michelle Botes for her role as the cunning but always fabulous Angelique Price.
- The River:
Golden Horns: SIX
The River tied with Legacy’s result and also walked away with six Golden Horns this year. The River follows the Dlamini’s and the Mokoena’s families, which are brought together and divided by a diamond discovery in Pretoria.
At the centre of all the drama is Lindiwe Dlamini, a diamond mining magnate who does whatever it takes to protect her wealth and family.
Lindiwe is played by actress Sindi Dlathu, who won the Best Actress in a Telenovela award. Her colleague Meshack Mavuso Magabane was awarded Best Supporting Actor in a Telenovela for his role as Nsizwa on The River.
- Black Tax:
Golden Horns: ONE
Thuli Dlamini is a professional who is laden with her communities’ ‘pay as you grow’ structure – or Black Tax. A co-production with Showmax, Black Tax is BET’s first-ever locally co-produced comedy sitcom and won a Golden Horn for Best Achievement in Scriptwriting – TV Comedy.
- Binnelanders:
Golden Horns: TWO
Medical soap opera Binnelanders won a Golden Horn for Best Achievement in Directing – TV Soap. Clint Brink was also honoured with the Best Actor in a TV Soap award for his role as Steve Abrahams in the medical drama.
Binnelanders is set in a private hospital, Binneland Kliniek, in Pretoria, and the storyline follows the trials, trauma and tribulations of the patients and hospital staff. Binnelanders airs weekly on kykNET (DStv channel 144) at 19:30, currently in its 15th season. Binnelanders can also be watched via the DStv App.
- Hotel:
Golden Horns: TWO
kykNET’s Hotel won two Golden Horns after premiering on the channel in 2016. Hotel follows the story of a middle-aged hotel manager, Ferdie Kruger, as he gets new ownership over the Fransen Hotel in the small town of Fransbrug. All the seasons of the comical mockumentary are now available on Showmax.
- Still Breathing:
Golden Horns: THREE
Now available on Showmax, the M-Net Original series Still Breathing also had a great evening after winning three awards, two of which are first-time SAFTA winners Kate Liquorish for her role as Abi who won Best Actress in a TV Drama, and Best Actor in a TV Drama won by Brandon Auret for his role as Dani in the series.
- Life With Kelly Khumalo:
Golden Horns: ONE
Reality series Life With Kelly Khumalo won the Best Structured Soapie Reality Show. Currently in its second season on Showmax, a new episode will be released every Thursday and will detail all the scrutiny Kelly Khumalo has been under and her second chance at happiness.
- Chasing the Sun:
Golden Horns: TWO
Another SAFTAs15 winning documentary on SuperSport is Chasing the Sun, a riveting series capturing the moments leading up to the Springboks World Cup victory. Horns for Best Made-For-TV Documentary and Best Achievement in Cinematography – Documentary were awarded to the show’s production team.
- How To Steal A Country:
Golden Horns: FOUR
Showmax’s How To Steal A Country documents the Gupta family’s rise as owners of a controversial business empire in South Africa. How To Steal A Country walked away with four Golden Horn awards.
