The prestigious Miss South Africa beauty pageant made its memorable return to the public broadcaster, after 23 years, through its Video Entertainment channel S3 broadcasting the event live!

Broadcast on Sunday 13 August, it was presented by multi-talented media personality and businessperson Ms. Bonang Matheba and the excellent broadcast had South Africans enthralled, as it topped the trends poll on social media.

We spoke to Mr. David Makubyane, the Head of Video Entertainment Platforms, to understand why it was important for this property to return to SABC screens.

1. QUESTION

Firstly, congratulations on a spectacular broadcast production of the Miss South Africa 2023 pageant. For the SABC, what was the thinking behind collaborating with the Miss South Africa organisation, after last having broadcast the pageant 23 years ago?

ANSWER: Miss South Africa is a key event of national importance that sits well on the Public Broadcaster. Not only is it aligned to the S3 brand positioning as a prestigious event, but it’s also aligned to the channel strategy of 2023/4. We believe that for the SABC, it is an imperative that the South African public have access to such an important event, where the person who is going to represent them internationally is selected.

The Miss South Africa title carries with it a lot of hope, aspirations and most importantly, it enables young women from all backgrounds to showcase the power of what one can achieve with the right opportunities and platform. In addition, women empowerment is also a critical social imperative, which the SABC will continuously drive, and therefore we will fully support and collaborate with events of this nature.

2. QUESTION

As part of the build up to the finale of Miss South Africa, S3 presented a realty series called ‘Crown Chasers’ which showcased the journey the contestants took to reach the final stage. How do you think the programme fared and did it resonate with viewers?

ANSWER: The Crown Chasers did well for the channel, increasing the performance of the channel’s weekend ratings. It was a collaborate objective to bring something new and fresh in a form of a five (5) part reality series, where those competing for the crown will be placed in real life Miss South Africa scenarios, including several challenges, based on the four pillars of Miss South Africa – Duty, Championship, Empowerment and Beauty.

3. QUESTION

Will there be a rebroadcast of the finale and can viewers expect the pageant to be broadcast by the SABC again next year?

ANSWER: The finale will repeated on S3 on 28 August 2023 at 21:00. In addition, The Crown Chasers together with the Awards will also be broadcast on SABC+.

4. QUESTION

Lastly, what other exciting content in terms of events or awards can the public look forward to on the Video Entertainment network in the coming months?

ANSWER: We are excited to have the 17^th  South African Film and Television Awards next month, the South African Music Awards, later on in the year, The Crown Gospel Awards, the South African Traditional Music Awards, as well as the Basadi in Music Awards 2023. We are certainly the home of spectacular local live broadcast events!

By: Vuyo Mthembu (Manager: Media Relations)

Johannesburg, 11 August 2023 – S3 is gearing up for the much-anticipated live broadcast of the 2023 Miss South Africa pageant on Sunday, 13 August 2023, from 18:30. 

Media personality and style icon, Bonang Matheba, returns as the official host of the Miss SA, with Her House of BNG Cap Classique as the official Miss South Africa celebration sponsor.

Having a long association with Miss South Africa over the past decade, Matheba first hosted the pageant for its 60th anniversary in 2018, then returned in 2019 when Zozibini Tunzi took the title. Matheba has played a massive role this year, having been on the journey with the finalists as a judge on the Miss South Africa television series Crown Chasers which was broadcast recently on S3.

South Africans will wait in anticipation to see who of the following seven finalists will be competing for the Miss South Africa crown: 

• Anke Rothman (23)
• Bryoni Govemner (26)
• Homba Mazaleni (23)
• Jordan Van Der Vyver (27)
• Melissa Nayimuli (27)
• Nande Mabala (25)
• Natasha Joubert (25)

On the judging panel for 2023 is Reigning Miss Universe R’Bonney Nola Gabriel, renowned South African Actress and Author Leandie du Randt, nominated Emmy South African actress Thuso Mbedu, Investigative Television Journalist Devi Sankaree Govender and Jo-Ann Strauss, Presenter, Businesswomen and Miss South Africa 2000.

For more information and interview opportunities, contact the S3 Publicity office. 

Open Up to new worlds of reality and tune in to the live broadcast of Miss South Africa 2023 this Sunday, 13th of August, at 18:30 on S3 and SABC Plus. 

SABC+ is available for download from Apple and Android App Stores.

Johannesburg, 10 August 2023 – SABC Video Entertainment celebrates the 17th Annual South African Film and Television Awards with 51 nominations. At the forefront is SABC1 with 24 nominations, followed by SABC2 with 20 nominations and S3 with seven nominations.

In the running for the public votes for Best TV Presenter are Kamo Moth (Heavy Hitters), Emo Adams (Noot vir Noot), Denver Vraagom (Words and Numbers) and Katlego Maboe (Tropika Island of Treasure All Stars). 

Viewers will also get another opportunity to vote for their favourite soapies with Generations: The Legacy, Giyani Land of Blood, Muvhango, Skeem Saam, The Estate and Uzalo nominated in the public votes category of Most Popular TV Soap Or Telenovela. 

Voting lines will be open from 9 August 2023, and the voting codes will be available on all SAFTAs social media platforms and the NFVF website. Voting will close on 27 September 2023 at 23h59.

In the documentary categories, SABC1s Lobola, A Brides True Price? received two nominations, Best Achievement In Directing and Best Documentary Feature and Pale Ya Kosa on SABC2 nominated for Best Achievement In Editing.

Takalani Sesame and Words and Numbers was nominated in the children category for Best Children Programmes.

Skeem Saam scored four nominations in the categories Best Supporting Actress (Dieketseng Mnisi), Best Supporting Actor (Refilwe Letsholonyane), Best Actress in a TV Soap (Elizabeth Serunye and Hariette Manamela).

Best Actor In TV Comedy nominations goes to Kwa Mamazala Michael Mabizela and Ou Toppies Tobie Cronje.

SABC Video Entertainment SAFTA 2023 nominees list

Congratulations to all the nominees.