MTV Shuga Down South 3
Channel: BET (DStv 129)
TX Time: 21h00
Genre: Drama
The new season returns, tackling social issues such as HIV prevention, HIV self testing, treatment adherence, sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, substance abuse, self-care, mental health, gender-based violence and various issues involving the LGBTQI+ community, amongst others.
Each storyline is laced with an original musical score from Amapiano to Afrobeats and every genre in between.
Amapiano power duo Mellow & Sleazy and Matorokisi singer Makhadzi make guest appearances, and this season unveils a dramatic drum majorette crew, that incorporates traditional and modern dance styles whilst adding a burst of colour to the episodes.
We'll see the return of some familiar faces from previous seasons, but there are also fresh faces unearthed from an open call to the public late in 2022.
The cast portrays each starry-eyed character on a mission to achieve their dreams no matter their circumstances, showcasing the character's life struggles and their efforts to break the cycle of hardship.
The cast includes young actors from the African continent and across the queer spectrum, each bringing unique perspectives to the show's storyline.
Loved or hated, each character takes you on a whirlwind experience of their lives, reflecting on views of issues that modern-day African youth are faced with.
The new cast includes:
Zazi Kunene as Nono (Lady Groove), a bubbly, up-and-coming Amapiano DJ on the rise, who seems to stop at nothing to become the next best thing in Mzansi.
Ziya Xulu as Warona, a shy, queer teenager who loves music and is a good dancer struggling with weight issues and the death of a close friend.
Tyson Mathonsi as Sandile (Snacks), a rich-kid hustler and manipulative flirt.
Ayakha Ntunja as Thembi, a feisty attention-seeking go-getter who is the star of her school's drum majorette team and a popular girl who finds herself growing up much faster than expected.
Ayanda Nzimande as Kedibone, a young queer girl who is very loving and supportive of those around her.
Lobisa Tsatsi as Azania, a young woman who is living with HIV, and is on a mission to document positive social media content to break the stereotypes around it.
She's also attempting to build a life and family with her HIV-negative high school sweetheart Victor.
Alex Aduka as Victor, a hardworking good guy with a big heart.
Living in the inner city of Johannesburg as a foreign national presents its fair share of challenges for Victor as he battles a two-year unemployment spell.
Palesa Mothopi as Vuvu, a quick-witted teen who hides her sense of displacement and the general feeling of lack of belonging by bullying and humiliating her peers who are all petrified of her.
Chidera Nwoha as Khenzo, a social recluse with a creative fashion flair, well-loved by his teachers but battling an addiction to Lean (a cough syrup mixture and antiretrovirals cocktail drug).
Naret Loots as Emma, a fun-loving girl who can dance and has immersed herself in black popular culture, and a friend of Nono's from primary school.
Also joining the cast for the new season are Nimrod Nkosi (Blessing), Seiphemo Motswiri (Robert Mosimane), Thuli Thabethe (Nomazizi Mkhize), Josias Moleele (Coach Sono), Lerato Mvelase (Mam' Grace) and Leera Mthethwa (Nurse Keitu).
This season will see various breathtaking reflections of South African society, from the grimy hustle and bustle of downtown Johannesburg with dwellings for the homeless, dumping sites, rats and pigeons.
This setting is home to this season's dilapidated inner-city high school that has seen better days Jubilee High, and the barren apartment occupied by controversial character Sol, played by Ayanda Makayi.
Viewers are also taken to the townships and exposed to the fast-paced streets of Orlando East in Soweto and then in contrast to the glitz and glam and manicured lawns of Sandton.
Then it's off to a rural KwaZulu-Natal beachfront village where we see Dee Rasedile's character Thuli's emotional journey begin this season as she returns to the series.
TVSA Show Page: MTV Shuga Down South 3 (with extra character bios)
The Girl from St. Agnes
Channel: 1Magic (DStv 103)
TX Time: 21h00
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Mystery drama web series which begins when the mysterious death of a schoolgirl at an elite boarding school sets off a desperate hunt for the truth.
At St. Agnes, a prestigious all-girls boarding school in South Africa, one of its most popular students is found dead.
The school is quick to declare that Lexi Summerveld drunkenly slipped and fell to her death in a tragic accident.
But teacher Kate Ballard doesn't believe it. On the night of her death, an upset Lexi had been trying to contact her.
Now wracked with guilt, Kate attempts to piece together the events of that fateful night, but without anyone discovering that she and her student Lexi had been lovers.
If the truth got out, it would ruin her.
The more Kate investigates, the more she realises that she didn't know Lexi at all. She was a complicated girl who had made a lot of enemies, and Kate suspects any of them could have murdered her.
It seems everyone has something to hide in this drama filmed in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
The series stars Nina Milner as Kate, Ty Keogh as Shane, Graham Hopkins as Chris, Jane de Wet as Lexi, Paige Bonnin as Megan, Shamilla Miller as Jenna, Makgotso M as Moipone, Celeste Khumalo as Kholwa, Tessa Jubber as Philippa, Tristan de Beer as Jason, Karl Thaning as Dylan, Zakeeya Patel as Sharon, Jocelyn Broderick as Joanne and Robert Hobbs as Gary.
TVSA Show Page: The Girl from St. Agnes
Love Your Garden
Channel: The Home Channel (DStv 176 / Openview 113)
TX Time: 21h30
Genre: Gardening, Lifestyle, Reality Makeover
A British lifestyle gardening show hosted by Alan Titchmarsh, alongside co-presenters David Domoney, Katie Rushworth and Frances Tophill.
The show sees the team visit locations around the UK helping people to transform their gardens.
Alan Titchmarsh and his team also travel the country to find those dream gardens we'd all like to have.
Meeting the colourful characters that create these spaces, they'll show us how we can live the dream at home by recreating these looks in our own gardens.
In the series premiere, "Hampshire": In this episode Alan comes to the rescue of a lady in Hampshire suffering from a life-threatening illness, who despite her health has devoted her time to fund raising.
As a result her garden has suffered and is far from the sanctuary she craves.
Home in a Heartbeat with Galey Alix
Channel: HGTV (DStv 177)
TX Time: 22h00
Genre: Reality Makeover, Home Improvement
Viral content creator Galey Alix is passionate about changing people's lives by transforming their spaces.
The eight-episode series follows Galey, a full time Wall Street executive and DIY design dynamo on the weekends, as she uses her extraordinary do-it-yourself skills to give homeowners a new lease on life in just a few days' time.
In each episode, she and her talented team will work unrelenting hours to turn out stunning home renovations that will provide these families, who are all selected from her massive social media following, the lift they've been needing.
In the series premiere episode, "Dallas Palace": Galey meets the McCarthy family who are eager to find functionality in their home after experiencing the loss of a loved one.
Over a single weekend, Galey and her team work tirelessly to reimagine their underutilized living and dining room into a luxurious and cohesive space the whole family can enjoy for years to come.
1000-lb Best Friends 2
Channel: TLC Entertainment (DStv 135)
TX Time: 20h00
Genre: Docu-Reality
BFFs Vannessa, Meghan, Tina and Ashely return with heart, humour and waistline struggles as they come together to celebrate the highs and battle obesity's lows.
Even after losing 200lbs (90kg), Meghan struggles with motivation and hopes planning her wedding will get her back on track.
But the stress of living with Tina and her family while their house floods may derail them both.
Vanessa, the most successful in her weight loss journey, now fears for the life of her obese 19-year-old son, and Ashely must face personal set backs that threaten her chances to qualify for the gastric bypass surgery.
The four women are always searching for new and unique ways to push themselves, and each other, physically and mentally.
From participating in a 5k to roller skating to bra shopping and a trip to a wellness retreat, this feisty foursome will try anything in their quest for weight loss.
Through the meltdowns to the glow-ups and everything in between, they always strive to stick together as BFFs.
In the Season 2 premiere, "We're Back (The Weight Is Over)": Vannessa reveals her post-surgery body while Meghan struggles with stalled weight loss.
Ashely hopes to get surgery and makes journals to help stay on track, but it gets thrown in her face.
Meanwhile, Tina's house floods.
Izingane Zes'thembu
Channel: Mzansi Magic (DStv 161)
TX Time: 20h00
Genre: Reality
This show is an in-depth look into the lives of the Mseleku older children and the challenges they face as they strive to carve their own identity.
The series features renowned polygamist Musa Mseleku's five older children.
Gain a fresh and relatable look inside the lives of the Mseleku children, as the siblings share their struggles and triumphs of working towards defining themselves.
This show is a look at their lives as they try to find their place in the world.
Izingane Zes'thembu will follow the children's struggles and triumphs, allowing viewers to gain an insight into the complexities of growing up in a polygamous family through the eyes of the next generation of the Mseleku family.
Mpumelelo is eager to carry on his father's polygamous legacy.
However, he struggles to reconcile his youthful nature with his duty as a son.
Mpumelelo intends to have seven wives starting with his current two girlfriends: Vuyo, his child's mother, who struggles with his interest in other women; and Tirelo, who is fine with Mpumelelo dating other women.
But Mpumelelo takes advantage of Tirelo's openness to control his whereabouts and romantic relationships.
Alongside Mpumelelo are his siblings Mpilo, Abongwe, Sne and Lwandle.
Home of the Year Ireland 7
Channel: The Home Channel (DStv 176)
TX Time: 19h30
Genre: Reality Competition, Reality, Home Improvement
Home of the Year Ireland is back for a seventh season.
Over eight weeks, 21 homes will compete for the Home of the Year title, with three very different properties featured each week.
From restorations and new builds to renovations and re-design, Home of the Year features Irish locals who have created their dream homes.
Looking for individuality, functionality and clever design, the judges will individually score each of the homes out of 10, the home with the highest combined score in each programme will go through to the final, where the ultimate winner will be crowned.