Here’s what’s coming up on Carte Blanche this week. You can watch in SA (Sunday 25 September) on DStv Now or stream it overseas in most countries from Tuesday 27 September if you’re abroad. Formula 1 in SA Ours is a country with a deep love of motorsports – from the first Grand Prix in East London […]

Once billed as “the Ikea of Africa,” Steinhoff employed over 130 000 people on over 40 brands across four continents. Steinhoff-owned companies every South African will know include giants like Ackermans, Incredible Connection, Morkels, Pennypinchers, PEP, Russells, Tekkie Town, and Timbercity. On 5 December 2017, CEO Markus Jooste resigned amid an investigation into accounting irregularities, […]

Global superstar John Legend has given a nod of approval to South African musician Mthandazo Gatya’s duet of his hit ‘Nervous’, publicly liking the video on TikTok, and retweeting it on Monday on Twitter. And Gatya’s dreams could be coming true with a Black Coffee collaboration! Gatya – who had a hit during Lockdown with […]

Here’s what’s coming up on Carte Blanche this week. You can watch in SA today (Sunday 18 September) on DStv Now or stream it overseas in most countries from Tuesday 20 September if you’re abroad. The Golden Girls It’s an Olympic sport, although not one that’s celebrated with much fanfare. But for three South African seniors – […]

The Woman King – which was filmed in South Africa – is being touted as a film that’s going to change how people view women, particularly black women. It’s also likely to change how they view South African actress Thuso Mbedu, whose career is set to sky rocket. The SA actress says: “I’m honored to […]

In Blood Psalms, the epic Showmax Original African fantasy launching on 28 September 2022, Faith Baloyi stars as Queen Assili, the Magi of the mystical Uchawi kingdom. Baloyi is the breakout star of Flatland, which opened the Berlin Panorama. The Hollywood Reporter singled out her “winning central performance” as dogged detective Beauty Cuba, while Variety […]

Last week, the Joseph Stone Auditorium in Athlone was humming with hundreds of young students and a jubilant audience, enjoying the annual Marimba Jam Festival. Original covers of iconic songs such as “Welcome to Cape Town” and “Jabulani” were featured. And there were not only marimbas, but drums, guitar, violin, flute and the Ubuntu Choir. […]

Representing South Africa on a global stage, four members of the (controversially) recently formed Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra (Mzansi NPO) have been invited to participate in the world premiere performance of the newly formed G20 Orchestra in Indonesia. This concert will take place today – 12th of September 2022 – in Central Java’s Borobudur Temple […]

They’re the latest internet sensation – called ‘kidfleuncers’, these young children have mass appeal online and they’re raking in the big bucks. Kidfluencers Taylor Morrison is just one of the growing ‘mini influencers’ in South Africa who’s being courted by the big corporates to promote their brands. Taylor’s mom admits “Taylor makes more money than […]

South African singer Jesse Clegg announced the profoundly sad news on social media today (8 September 2022) that his partner Dani Cooperman has passed away, after a year-long battle with cancer. Jesse, son of legendary musician Johnny Clegg, lost his father to cancer just three years ago, in July 2019. He and Dani had been […]

Halala! Showmax remains the best place to stream South African content, according to the 2022 SAFTAs. Content on Showmax won 45 awards, more than half of the content prizes given out over the weekend, and the most by far of any streaming service. Showmax Originals alone won 17 SAFTAs, the most of any channel or […]

The stage was set: The Springbok A rugby side was facing a dangerous French Barbarians team at the spectacular Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban. It was billed as a clash of titans that would be played in front of an army of chanting spectators. But the stadium was empty… Bringing the ‘Gees’ Alarmed, avid rugby […]

British movie star Idris Elba says he not only wants to make more films in Africa, but wants to help develop the film industry on the continent. The 49-year-old actor stars in the new movie ‘Beast’, which has been entirely shot in South Africa, and revealed that he wants to pave the way for more major […]

Showmax has just dropped the trailer for Steinheist, a three-part documentary series about the biggest corporate scam in South African history… involving Steinhoff and the company’s CEO Markus Jooste. Showmax releases first-look trailer for Steinheist 3-part documentary series investigates the biggest corporate scam in South African history From the producers of Devilsdorp Featuring the richest cast […]

Global superstar Sting will be heading to South Africa in February 2023 to perform a special My Songs concert in Cape Town and Pretoria, it has been confirmed. Tickets go on sale this Friday, 2 September, at 9am. Sting’s My Songs concert is touted as an exuberant and dynamic show featuring his most beloved songs, […]

Since her playing days, Desiree Ellis had always dreamt of lifting the coveted Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with Banyana Banyana. But for years, the women’s national football side was a team largely ignored and unsupported… Champions of Africa Later appointed the national women’s coach, Ellis kept trying until years of dedication and perseverance culminated […]

This week Carte Blanche explores the psychological impact of pandemic rules – was the crisis management worth it in the end? South Africa’s top current affairs show meets parents who paid a high price at the peak of the pandemic. (Here’s the most up-to-date Carte Blanche this Sunday line-up.) « Our NICU story is sure to […]

Showmax started streaming in Africa on 15 August 2015, before Netflix and Amazon Prime Video (2016), Apple TV Plus (2019), Britbox (2021) and Disney+ (2022). This makes it the second oldest African streaming service after IROKOtv (2011). To celebrate Showmax turning 7, here are 7 things the African streaming service is celebrating: #1: 68% GROWTH […]

South African musical icon Tokollo Tshabalala – affectionately known as Magesh – has tragically passed away at the age of 45. Magesh’s family confirmed his death in a statement on Monday, revealing he “passed away this morning as a result of an epileptic seizure”. South African Minister of Arts, Nathi Mthethwa, has joined fans in […]

Why are we here? Are we alone? How did it all begin? Last Christmas the James Webb Space Telescope was launched into space on a 10-year mission to help find those answers. The size of a school bus, Webb is the successor to the legendary Hubble Space Telescope. Six times larger and a hundred times […]

It’s a very public test of endurance – two strangers, meeting for the first time, bound by a single purpose: to survive 21 days in the wilderness while completely naked. Tonight Carte Blanche finds out from a South African who survived, just how challenging the reality of the reality TV show is. Naked and Afraid […]

The Wife broke records on Showmax with its compelling storylines and brilliant acting. Now, ahead of the third season coming in November, go behind the scenes to find out more about the Zulu brothers and the women who love them in the eight-part special The Wife: Behind the Veil.  Subscribe to Showmax from R39 per […]

Idris Elba stars in Beast, a pulse-pounding new thriller about a father and his two teenage daughters who find themselves hunted by a massive rogue lion intent on proving that the savannah has but one apex predator. Co-starring in the film alongside Elba is South African actor, Sharlto Copley together with Iyana Halley and Leah Sava Jeffries. […]

For weeks, South Africa suffered crippling levels of power cuts throughout the country. In some areas, there would be no electricity for up to ten hours in a single day. But as Eskom ramped up the dreaded load shedding schedules, Cape Town kept its lights on for longer. Ahead of the Curve When the rest […]

Showmax has just dropped the trailer for The Wife: Behind The Veil, an eight-part special that takes fans behind the scenes on the hit telenovela to find out more about the Zulu brothers and the women who love them. The Wife broke records on Showmax, won DStv Mzansi Viewers’ Choice Awards for Abdul Khoza (Nqoba) and Kwenzo […]