Top Shayela is a South African lifestyle docu-reality television series produced by Curious Pictures and hosted by Siyabonga Ngwekazi (Season 1) and Thomas Gumede (Season 2) in which each week viewers get to hear the personal story of a featured celebrity, involving how they made it onto the A-list and what is required to stay there.
The series premiered on DStv's Vuzu channel on Wednesday 4 May 2011, at 19h30. It later aired on DStv's Mzansi Wethu channel. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 2 premiered on Mzansi Wethu on Thursday 8 August 2013, at 19h00. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are 13 episodes in the second season.
Season 1
Ever wondered what it takes to become a VIP in South Africa and then sustain that lifestyle in an environment full of backstabbers and other limelight ballers?
Presented by Siyabonga Ngwekazi, Top Shayela gives viewers a VIP pass right into the heart of the world of the rich and famous.
In each episode viewers get to hear the personal story of the celebrity: how they made it onto the A-list and what is required to stay there, at all costs.
But Top Shayela also delves into the softer side of celebrities – the charities they support; the heartache they may have suffered and more. In short it's a no-holds-barred access into a world that many envy or want to emulate.
The series begins with Bonang Matheba, the South African "It Girl" of the moment. She shows viewers what it takes to stay at the top of her media game - and keep beautiful. It's all about the nails, the weave as well as the swag and ensuring the lights, camera and lip-gloss are never far away for this TV and radio star.
Following swiftly on Bonang's kitten heels are a veritable slate of celebrities who have proved that you don't need to start at the top to take the spotlight.
Subjects include Uyanda Mbuli on being served like a queen; Da L.E.S – a typical night out for a baller; Somizi on fashion, fashion and more fashion and the always controversial DJ Sbu on what you need to do to be a hustler.
Season 2
Season 1 of Top Shayela was hosted by Siyabonga Radebe, but Season 2 finds Thomas Gumede in the presenter's seat. There's also twist in the Top Shayela tail for this season.
Season 2 is dubbed Top Shayela: Reality Check and features a mix of those celebrities who shone in Season 1 and a host of newcomers to the Top Shayela fold.
This time around, instead of only giving audiences the opportunity to get new insight into their favourite personalities, each "Top Shayela" will have to take up the challenge of getting out of their comfort zone. Once in that uncertain space, the true characteristics of the famous and fortunate come under the spotlight.
In Season 2's "reality check", the celebrity in the spotlight has the chance of winning R10,000 – with half of the prize money going to a charity of the "Top Shayela's" choice.
Each episode sees the celebrity undertaking three challenges – one easy, one not-so-easy and one hard. The first challenge is worth R2,000, the second R3,000 and the third R5,000.
Should the celebrity need help with the task at hand, it can be requested but not without losing R100 for every minute they are getting assistance. And if the celebrity doesn't complete any of the tasks, they walk away with no money for either themselves or the charity that's close to their heart – excellent motivation to really step up to the proverbial plate.
Up first for the challenge in Episode 1 is Bonang Matheba, who swaps her heels for a sponge during a taxi wash with a difference.
In the meantime viewers can start guessing which South African star was last seen two-stepping in a farmyard, which ladies' man rapper swopped his mic for a restaurant mop, and which comeback kid had to dig deep to remember that the customer is always right.
Seasons
Season 1 (13 episodes)
Channel: Vuzu | Premiere: 4 May 2011 | Finale: 26 Oct 2011 | Wednesdays, 19h30
Channel: Mzansi Wethu | Premiere: 9 May 2013 | Finale: 1 Aug 2013 | Thursdays, 19h00
Season 2 (13 episodes)
Channel: Vuzu | Premiere: 11 Sep 2012 | Finale: 4 Dec 2012 | Tuesdays, 20h30
Channel: Mzansi Wethu | Premiere: 8 Aug 2013 | Finale: 7 Nov 2013 | Thursdays, 19h00