Season 1
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 1 originally aired on Vuzu from 4 May to 26 October, 2011, on Wednesdays at 19h30, although the show went on hiatus from June to September. New episodes broadcast weekly.
Season 1 premiered on Mzansi Wethu on Thursday 9 May 2013, at 19h00. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are 13 episodes in the first 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.
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