Earlier this week, Rorisang Thandekiso gave away the top cash prize of R100 000 on the local version of the legendary quiz show Wheel of Fortune. Now, the effervescent quiz show host is geared to win big money herself by moving into the Deal or No Deal Celebrity hot seat. 

In this glitzy weekly hour-long Deal or No Deal spin-off, aired on SABC 1 on Saturdays at 18:00, famous Mzansi stars put their hearts on the line to battle the show’s notorious banker for the benefit of a worthy cause. 

The former YOTV presenter, actress, musician and radio presenter is adamant in her quest to bankrupt the banker on behalf of Paediatric Care Africa. In support of this NGO, which supplies free medical and specialist medical care to children whose parents can’t afford it, Rorisang has even picked a special outfit for the occasion that matches the word “Africa” in the charity’s name. 

Rori has a huge respect for the incredible work done by Paediatric Care – from their outreach programmes ensuring kids in secluded areas receive proper medical attention to facilitating life-saving surgery. 

“We love to say things like children are the future, but sometimes forget how vulnerable babies and small kids in many communities are when it comes to health care,” she says. 

As is the case with the hugely popular Deal or No Deal South Africa, which transforms the lives of individuals from all across South Africa, the A-listers playing the celebrity version can win anything between R1 and R250 000 based on the deal they strike when the banker offers to buy the briefcase they chose at the start of the game. 

Tune into SABC 1 on Saturday, 20 April, at 18:00 to see how much Rori manages to donate to Paediatric Care Africa. Deal or No Deal Celebrity is proudly sponsored by LottoStar, and the rebroadcast is on S3 on Sundays at 12:00 and SABC 1 on Tuesdays at 22:00. 

LottoStar is Licensed by the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator. No U18. National Responsible Gambling Programme 0800 006 008. Ts & Cs apply. All games are fixed-odds betting events.

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Neil Horne, a chess champion from Gugulethu, Cape Town, made local television history on his 52nd birthday (15 April) by becoming the first contestant to win more than R100 000 on Wheel of Fortune South Africa.

In the legendary game show, which has been airing in the US since 1975 and finally made it to our shores on 8 April 2024, three contestants spin a giant carnival wheel and solve word puzzles to win cash or fabulous prizes.

Besides a snazzy red Suzuki Grand Vitara and other mystery prizes, the highest amount of cash up for grabs in Wheel of Fortune South Africa’s bonus round, played by the winner of the previous rounds, is the R100 000 Neil managed to clinch with his incredible word skills – and some assistance from Lady Luck.

In addition to the top cash prize, Neil also pocketed R2 600 earlier in the game, bringing his total winnings to R102 600.

Usually, big-money winners on big-name game shows leap out of their skins when surprised with such huge sums of money. However, Neil contained his emotions with a straight face. Even host Rorisang Thandekiso, jumping with joy, commented that she seemed more excited than him.

However, this unemotional approach matched Neil’s unflappable style throughout the episode.

Playing against Ruben Smith, a High School Computer and Business teacher from Pretoria, and the effervescent Tshiamo Tshabalala, a Political Science graduate from Brits, it was a slow and disappointing start for chess champion and word master Neil.

Ruben won the first “Toss-up”, where fast fingers counted. The category was “Quotes from movies”, and after the show, Neil confessed that he was bummed about Ruben solving the puzzle first: “The answer was ‘May the force be with you’. I thought to myself, ‘Ruben was probably not even born when the first Star Wars movie came out’!”

Then, Tshiamo won the first round. But Neil stayed calm and collected – a strategy that also served him in good stead as the reigning Bellville chess champion.

The next “Toss-up” was an easy solve for Neil. Yet again, it was almost game over when Tshiamo had one letter remaining to crack the second round. Lucky for him, she chose the wrong letter.

So, proceeding to the bonus round, Neil had to spin the wheel to land on one of 24 envelopes, not knowing the content inside. From the three categories presented to him, he picked “Around the house” and nailed the puzzle.

The mystery prize inside the envelope turned out to be the whopping R100 000!

Despite his composed composition on the show, Neil says, “Being on Wheel of Fortune South Africa was bundles of fun. I was also in awe of the aesthetics of the studio and set.”

Furthermore, Neil attributes his Wheel of Fortune success to his scrabble prowess, knowing the permutations of letters to compose a word and “just being lucky”.

Neil has won several Scrabble tournaments, including the prestigious Western Province Masters. He also plays Killer Sudoko daily.

Wheel of Fortune South Africa is made possible by Cell C and airs on S3 Mondays to Fridays at 19:30. There are daily rebroadcasts on SABC 2 the following day at 09:30 and an omnibus on S3 on Saturdays from 09:00-12:30.

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Johannesburg, South Africa (10 April 2024) – The prestigious Fluence Africa Influencer Festival is thrilled to announce its collaboration some of the countries’ most influential brands. Poised for impact, SABC and Arena Media join the mission to grow the creator sector. This partnerships brings together renowned radio stations such as Metro FM, 5FM, and Radio 2000 to amplify the festival’s infectious energy across the airwaves. The involvement of Arena Media also welcomes esteemed media publications like Timelive, Sowetan, S Mag, and Tshisa Live, further broadening the festival’s outreach and influence.

“We are delighted to welcome Telkom SA, SABC and Arena Media as our partners, enhancing the festival experience for both participants and audiences alike,” says Jolene Roelofse, Fluence Africa Founder and Festival Organiser,

The second annual Fluence Africa Influencer Festival is poised to be a ground-breaking event, uniting influencers and brands in an unparalleled gathering set to take place on 20 April 2024 at the Hill on Empire in Parktown. Aimed at empowering influencers with cutting-edge industry insights and fostering relationships with top consumer brands, this festival is set to redefine the influencer landscape.

“We are thrilled to announce that the theme for this year’s Influencer Festival is ‘The Art of Creating,’ celebrating the innovative spirit and creativity of influencers across Africa,” adds Roelofse.

The Art of Creation involves the intricate process of giving birth to something innovative through creativity, imagination, and skill. Our focus is on South African artist, Melissa Goba, highlighting her art and how, with the assistance of AI, she merges traditional art with content creation. Our goal is to demonstrate that AI does not aim to replace the artist or content creator; instead, it empowers them by providing new tools, techniques, and opportunities for creative expression. Join us at the Festival as we strive to redefine the art-making and content creation processes in the digital age. The festival will also unveil Fluence Africa’s Creator Excellence Programme.

In a world where social media influence is paramount, the Fluence Africa Influencer Festival stands out as a beacon of excellence, offering a platform for influencers to gain valuable knowledge, engage with industry experts, and connect with leading brands and how to embrace and use AI.

SABC had the following to share about their partnership with the festival:

“We are delighted to be part of this exciting initiative that present an opportunity for us to engage in a strategic and impactful manner with the influencer community which includes content creators, influencers, industry professionals, and aspiring entrepreneurs. For us as one of the largest content providers in the continent we have developed a deliberate and well considered approach in how we should be reaching out and continuously enticing, attracting, and keeping our audiences captivated on our platforms.  We are cognisant of the fact that the content creation and marketing environments have changed drastically in the last few years, and the need of influencer-based marketing has become more prominent, and we cannot be left behind. It is against this background that we had no doubt that a great association with platforms such as Fluence festival will culminate in fruitful mutually benefiting partnership,” says Mmoni Seapolelo, Acting GE of Corporate Affairs & Marketing.

Stay tuned for an unforgettable experience that celebrates creativity, innovation, and meaningful connections in the influencer community.

For further details, visit [Fluence Africa Influencer Festival 2023](https://www.fluence.africa/influencer-festival-2023).

To find out how to bring your brad to the festival, call Sharon at 0673985379 or festival@fluence.africa

For press inquiries, please contact:

OnPoint PR

Lungile Nyembe | lungile@onpointpr.co.za

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The second episode of the all-new season The Masked Singer South Africa, Mzansi’s most fun-filled and famed singing contest, turned out to be a battle of note with four strong-voiced A-listers disguised in spectacular costumes which hide their identity from top to toe.

First, sassy Tortoise took on suave Giraffe, whereafter Diamond sparkled in her exquisite attire in a sing-off against brawny Mielie.

Unfortunately, the panel of detectives – J’Something, Somizi Mhlongo, Sithelo Shozi and Skhumba Hlophe – and the studio audience had to pick a favourite after each battle. So, Tortoise slowly marched to the danger zone, where Diamond later outdazzled her in the final vote.

Only supersleuth Somizi guessed correctly that superstar comedienne and actress Celeste Ntuli was the superb entertainer disguised as Tortoise.

The mysterious case of Tortoise started with a fun clue package shot in an all-pink salon, where the show’s Men and Women in Black pampered the confident turtle girl. Between the powder-puffing, toenail-buffing, and exchanging a seemingly useless hair straightening iron for a hair dryer, Tortoise shared some vague snippets about herself.

“I might still be a little slower than most, but my career isn’t,” Tortoise revealed. She also mentioned that she misplaced an essential gadget while travelling abroad, which almost ruined her entire holiday. Furthermore, she changed career paths and counted meeting her favourite entertainer of all time as a highlight among her many different life experiences.

From these obscure clues and Tortoise’s mind-blowing performance of Lebo Mathosa’s “Free”, detective Skhumba highlighted this glam queen’s love for cosmetics. But why did she put so much emphasis on her hair dryer, and what was the significance of the magic hat when she referred to meeting her entertainer idol?

Skhumba wondered if it meant she had dreadlocks and her music was her magic. Based on his findings, Skhumba guessed that Tortoise might be Thandiswa Mazwai, Thembi Seete or even Sophie Ndaba.

Somizi also commented on Tortoise’s glam squad and her favourite entertainer. However, Somizi had visions of comedian Cedric the Entertainer, indicating that Tortoise also made a living from her funny bones. In addition, Somizi noticed that Tortoise is a self-aware and overconfident lady, which resulted in her being single

and loving it. So, Somizi believed that either Relebogile Mabotja or Celeste Ntuli was hiding inside Tortoise’s shell.

Raving about Tortoise’s performance, Sithelo’s gut feeling was that Tortoise was a childhood star or someone whose career took off very fast. The names crossing her mind were Hulisani Ravele, Tumi Morake or Thuso Mbedu.

However, J’Something latched onto the supersized pencil he spotted at the end of Tortoise’s clue package and her passion for everything pink. So, the beloved muso gauged that Tortoise was an author, and because even her book was pink, it might be Bonang Matheba. Another glam girl who matched J’Something’s deduction was Ayanda Thabethe.

Once J’Something was allowed to ask Tortoise one direct question, her reply provided more clarity – or not. Upon enquiring if we had seen her on stage before, Tortoise replied, “Big screens, small screens, stage, I’ve done it all.”

That’s why J’Something decided on Bonang Matheba. Somizi named Celeste Ntuli. Sithelo picked Thuso Mbedu, and Skhumba was “absolutely positive” that the hidden celeb was Thandiswa Mazwai.

After all the evening’s sterling performances, the votes were in, and host Mpho Popps announced it was time for Tortoise to show her face, the detectives had to lock in their final guesses.

Despite his initial assertion that Tortoise was Bonang, J’Something couldn’t forget that colossal pencil and changed his mind to distinguished storyteller and songwriter Buhle Mda from The Soil.

Meanwhile, Sithelo noticed Tortoise’s mannerisms and how she held her hands while waiting to show her face. As Sithelo gauged that the to-be-unmasked celebrity was “a little bit older”,  she settled on Tumi Morake. Skhumba agreed, but Somizi went with Celeste Ntuli.

Somizi nailed it!

However, Skhumba shared that he had an inkling that it might be Celeste when Tortoise crawled to the danger zone lair but he was fooled by thinking she was currently overseas.

Celeste confessed she was disappointed not to be part of The Masked Singer South Africa’s first season and had great fun on stage. “I’m a comedian and love making people laugh. Also an actress. But this made me feel like I’m a character and a singer.”

She also came clean with some clues. She lost an iPhone and a boyfriend abroad; luckily, the phone returned. The famous entertainer she met was multiple award-winning international actor and comedian Dave Chapelle.

The Masked Singer South Africa, proudly sponsored by Andolex®, airs on S3 on Saturdays at 18:30. There are rebroadcasts on SABC 1 on Thursdays at 21:00 and on S3 on Fridays at 18:00

The gregarious host of SABC 2’s fun-filled Monday-to-Friday cooking show Ready Steady Cook South  Africa has a date with Mzansi’s most notorious television banker this weekend. On Saturday, 13 April, at 18:00, the always-fabulous Moshe Ndiki will be in the hot seat to raise money for a charity close to his heart on SABC 1’s Deal or No Deal Celebrity. 

In the glitzy spin-off of the show that has enriched the lives of many ordinary South Africans, Mzansi’s A-listers – from actors and radio presenters to comedians and sports stars – play the nerve-wracking game to win anything between R1 and R250 000 for a charity of their choice. It all depends on the sequence in which they choose to open 20 briefcases held by gorgeous “Money Models”.

Since hitting our screens in March, five famous personalities have cashed in money to donate to worthy causes, with Generations The Legacy actress Manaka Ranaka bagging the biggest amount. The beloved actress and soap star won R35 230 for Hearts of Hope. Comedian Tumi Morake clinched R20 000 for Palesa Pads, with 947 radio presenter Mo Flava hot on her heels with his R19 250 for Character Company. Furthermore, podcaster MacG took home R16 200 for Door of Hope and muso Vusi Nova R5000 for Grace Baby Haven.

Will Moshe be the first celebrity to break the bank hitting the R250,000 jackpot?

Moshe will play for Ikamva Youth, an organisation with different branches nationwide that sets learners up for a fruitful future. Their after-school programme is designed to assist learners in achieving better grades to enter tertiary education or stand a better chance of employment.

Moshe chose the charity because education is hugely important to him. “Everyone deserves an equal chance in making their dreams come true,” Moshe says.

Deal or No Deal Celebrity is produced by Homebrew Films in collaboration with Primedia Studios and is proudly sponsored by LottoStar.  The premiere screenings are on SABC 1 on Saturdays at 18:00, and the rebroadcasts of the hour-long show are on S3 on Sundays at 16:30 and SABC 1 on Tuesdays at 22:00.

LottoStar is Licensed by the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator. No U18. National Responsible Gambling Programme 0800 006 008. Ts & Cs apply. All games are fixed-odds betting events.

Over the years, seasoned actress Nthati Moshesh slayed many complex characters in an array of films and television series, earning her several accolades, including Golden Horn awards at the SAFTAs.

Using these acting chops, she bowled over The Masked Singer South Africa fans in the first episode of the spectacular new second season of the craziest, most fun-filled singing contest on television.

Disguised as our national treasure, Springbok, Nthati leapt onto The Masked Singer South Africa stage on Saturday, 6 April, with a stunning performance, leaving the show’s distinguished detective panel completely stumped.

Detectives J’Something, Somizi Mhlongo, Sithelo Shozi and Skhumba Hlophe had no clue that Nthati was the ball of energy in the Springbok attire until she emerged from behind the mask at the end of two epic sing-offs.

However, Springbok was not the only masked character coming clean in the first episode of The Masked Singer South Africa Season 2. The mysterious case of the Kit Kat Break Master was finally solved.

For weeks, the Kit Kat Break Master had been spotted at malls and cinemas across the country, prompting the people of Mzansi to “take a break” by dishing out Nestlé’s delicious chocolate-covered wafer bars. Rumours were rife that the Break Master was a famous personality. So, when the Kit Kat Break Master opened the show, and host Mpho Popps was nowhere to be seen, the secret was finally out. Mpho had to break out of this costume.

The Masked Singer South Africa Season 2’s first episode featured four phenomenal Masked Singers facing off in two epic battles. Wildebeest and Springbok locked horns, whereafter Butterfly and Rainbow vied for the votes of the detective panel and studio audience.

From the moment the detectives laid eyes on Springbok, they were in awe of her beauty and confidence, but the story she told in her clue package threw the four bloodhounds completely off their track.

Springbok shared that it didn’t surprise her parents when she decided on her path, that she had been honoured for her work, and even being called one of the best in her field. Furthermore, she let slip that she would have been a bird if she weren’t the country’s best-loved Springbok. The graceful antelope also went to a girl’s school but clearly stated that although she can be called “a friend collector”, she has come to The Masked Singer South Africa stage to make enemies.

Initially, Somizi focused on Springbok’s over-the-top make-up, J’Something gauged that her beautiful necklace indicated that she loved fine jewellery, and Sithelo figured that they were dealing with a “girl’s girl”. However, Springbok’s competitiveness signalled to Skhumba that she’s a “Springbok for real”, in other words, an accomplished sports star.

Then, Springbok’s sensational rendition of the Harry Styles hit “As It Was” had the foursome even more befuddled.

J’Something admitted being clueless about who is behind the mask. He also confessed that this season’s mysteries were much harder to crack, and that the vocal prowess of the competitors blew him away. After asking Springbok straight-out whether she’s a sports star, her coy answer, “my job allows me to play”, in his opinion, pointed to Minnie Dlamini.

Springbok’s energetic performance convinced Sithelo the celebrity in question was a dancer – maybe Lorna Maseko or Lorcia Cooper. Meanwhile, Springbok’s legs and tiny feet led Somizi to believe that he performed with this national treasure at previous Rugby World Cup. It could only be Lorcia Cooper.

Finally, Skhumba guessed Springbok was the award-winning sports presenter Motshidisi Mohono.

Despite having the detectives on their feet with her amazing performance, the majestic Wildebeest trampled petite Springbok in the vote, sending her to the danger zone, where rare beauty Butterfly later joined her. In the end, Butterfly fluttered through to the next round.

Before Springbok took off her mask, the four judges had to lock in their final guesses. Sithelo and Skhumba stuck to their original names – Lorcia Cooper and Motshidisi Mohono – but J’Something and Somizi changed their minds. Somizi settled on sports presenter Carol Tshabalala, and Springbok’s clue package hint about almost being a bird led J’Something to songbird Zolani Mahola.

Of course, they were all wrong. Nthati deceived them with her superb acting skills and obscure clues.

The legendary actress said she immediately jumped on board when she was approached to be on The Mask Singer South Africa: “In all my roles I’m serious, I’m strict, I’m stern, I’m horrible. I’m evil. So, when this came up, I thought the inner child in Nthati must come out and play and have fun.”

The Masked Singer South Africa, proudly sponsored by Andolex®, airs S3 (formerly SABC 3) on Saturdays at 18:30. There are rebroadcasts on SABC 1 on Thursdays at 21:00 and on S3 on Fridays at 22:00

When South Africa’s adaptation of the legendary game show Wheel of Fortune kicks off on S3 on Monday, 8 April at 19:30, Rorisang Thandekiso will rewrite global television history. Rorisang is the first female ever to anchor an edition of the big-name game show franchise, produced in more than 40 countries.

These localized versions of the original US show, created by TV host and media mogul Merv Griffin, are renowned for their formidable hosts and co-hosts. Pat Sajak and his graceful sidekick Vanna White, who have appeared on the US’s Wheel of Fortune since its inception in 1975, are American television royalty. With Pat retiring soon, sought-after television presenter Ryan Seacrest will steer the iconic Wheel of Fortune’s upcoming season.

In another host coup, Wheel of Fortune returned to the UK earlier this year with five-time Bafta-winner Graham Norton at the helm.

“I am incredibly honoured to follow in these giant footsteps and be the first Wheel of Fortune South Africa host and the lucky person introducing the show to Africa,” says Rorisang, whose impressive resumé spans from entering the industry as a YOTV presenter to establishing herself as an esteemed radio and television personality.

She is also one of the country’s most esteemed MCs and motivational speakers and has an angelic voice, as proved by being the lead vocalist of Muzart. Furthermore, she captivated viewers with her acting in several television series.

“Rorisang radiates all the attributes required to hold the reins of this world-famous word-quiz game show, said Lala Tuku, Acting Group Executive of Video Entertainment at the SABC. “Rori comes with gravitas and years of experience in front of the camera but also embodies a unique mix of sparkle, confidence, and calmness. Furthermore, we’re thrilled to break the mould with a powerful female host. It fits in with SABC’s mission to celebrate diversity and put the spotlight on women.”

Wheel of Fortune South Africa, proudly sponsored by Cell C, is a collaboration between Primedia Studios and the acclaimed production company Homebrew Films. 

Cell C Chief Marketing Officer Melanie Forbes said, “We are thrilled to support such an iconic game show as Wheel of Fortune and to have a remarkable figure in entertainment like Rorisang as the host is the icing on the cake to bring excitement and opportunities for winning big to viewers across South Africa. We are proud to be able to change people’s fortunes and bring joy and entertainment at the same time.”

In each 30-minute Monday to Friday episode of Wheel of Fortune South Africa, Rorisang will be joined by three contestants who will be swept away by a whirlwind of word riddles and a giant carnival wheel determining what they will take home.

“It’s like Hangman meets Roulette, but on an ample dose of healthy television steroids,” Rorisang raves. “Like the rest of the world, South Africans will love it. This is the kind of game show that will keep the entire family glued to their screens – whether they’re trying to solve the word puzzles themselves or are routing for the contestants to rake in more money or fabulous prizes.”

Among the prizes on the show is a snazzy Suzuki Grand Vitara Hybrid.

So, South Africa’s first Wheel of Fortune host invites everyone who loves word games like the classic Hangman – and a bit of an adrenaline rush from the prospect of winning big – to come and spin The Wheel of Fortune themselves.

If you want to spin, solve the puzzle and win on Wheel of Fortune South Africa’s state-of-the-art set, complete the application form on wheeloffortunesa.tv.

Besides Wheel of Fortune South Africa’s Monday-to-Friday premiere screenings on S3 at 19:30, there will be daily rebroadcasts on SABC 2 at 09:30 and an omnibus on S3 on Saturdays from 10:30 to 13:00.

Johannesburg, 5 April 2024 – In commemoration of 30 years of democracy and as a lead-up to the 6th general elections taking place on the 29th of May 2024, SABC News, in collaboration with SABC1 and SABC2 will launch an election-driven programme, Elections 360. 

Elections 360 is a comprehensive, current affairs show reflecting the 30 years since South Africa obtained democracy. It will look at how the lives of South Africans have been impacted since 1994, hand over the mic to the public and get them to express their lived experiences, the quality of democracy and how they’ve experienced it. The show aims to amplify the voices not usually heard with unedited content that will tell South African stories and tackle issues related to service delivery, community development, politics, and economics, including topics of interest for all South Africans. 

SABC1 will broadcast Election 360 daily, starting Monday the 8th of April, Mondays – Thursdays at 17:00, hosted by the multi-talented Mxolisi Masango. 

SABC2 will broadcast Election 360 weekly, the Sunday edition, starting on the 14th of April at 19:00, where award-winning broadcasters Sakina Kamwendo and Blain Herman will host the political party debates.

For more information and publicity images, don’t hesitate to contact the Video Entertainment Publicity office.