In 2023, reality shows have captivated audiences all over South Africa. From risque shows, to emotainment and educational shows, there has been everything for everyone. Here are the best reality shows to stream this December on Showmax.
Kwa Mam’Mkhize S2 | Showmax Original | Thursdays from 14 Decemeber
Produced by POP24 (The Mommy Club), Kwa Mam’Mkhize is back for a second season, with an eight-part all-access look inside the life of the business mogul.
In the first season, we followed Shauwn Mkhize as she took us on a journey of self discovery after her highly publicised divorce. Not only was the show a ratings hit, but it was named Best Reality Show at the Hollywood and African Prestigious Awards and led to Shauwn Mkhize’s nomination as Personality of the Year at the 2022 DStv Mzansi Viewers’ Choice Awards.
In the second season, we get to see Shauwn as a mother, grandmother, businesswoman and an all-round boss.
The Mommy Club reunion | Showmax Original | Stream from 5 December
Jozi’s IT moms reunite face to face to discuss all the tea and drama that went down in the record-breaking first season of The Mommy Club.
The reunion special will be hosted by DStv Mzansi Viewers Choice Awards and SAFTA winner Thembisa Mdoda, who will leave no stone unturned as she gets to the bottom of all the drama while holding the mommies accountable for everything they did and said during the season.
The mommies include entrepreneur and motivational speaker Hermajesty, former The Real Housewives of Johannesburg breakout star Mpumi Mophatlane, florist to the stars Nunurai Mudarikwa, business owner Ratile Mabitsela, and entrepreneur Ms Manche, named Diva Extraordinaire of the Year at The Feather Awards.
Sports Wives | Showmax Original | Stream from 5 December
Directed by Thumeka Hlotshana (The Real Housewives of Durban S2-3), Sports Wives is a reality show that gives you a glimpse into the lives of the wives, girlfriends and exes of sports stars.
Bomzi September is married to ex-footballer Thabo September, now second assistant coach at his old team SuperSport United. Chrissie Kgamphe-Jane and Tsholo Makgalemele-Mbane are married to Banyana Banyana players Refiloe Jane and Bambanani Mbane respectively. Clarissa Manaças was in a 12-year relationship with Lionel Mapoe, a two-time Currie Cup champion, who played as a utility back for the Springboks and Vodacom Bulls. They have now gone their separate ways, after their 2021 engagement ended earlier this year. Dipuo Maloi has two baby daddies who play soccer – Andile Jali, who has played for Bafana Bafana, Orlando Pirates, Sundowns and now Moroka Swallows, and Lantshene Phalane, his teammate at Moroka Swallows. And Sisanda Cetyiwe has a baby with Kennedy Mwene, Zambia’s most capped player, who also kept goal for Sundowns.
Sports Wives is the first reality show from Ndlovukazi Concepts, who have produced emotainment hits such as Cishe Ngafa and Abandoned for Mzansi Magic.
Bae Beyond Borders | Binge from 25 December
Bae Beyond Borders follows four South African women in search of love, the Naija way. In the first phase of the show, each woman will have dates with all 12 men from Nigeria. After that, the bachelorettes will collectively narrow down the men from 12 to four. After each lady picks their Nigerian bae, they will then move to Cape Town to live in a gorgeous villa to see if their cross-cultural relationship can work beyond borders.
This Body Works For Me S2 | Showmax Original | Binge from 2 January
The Showmax Original This Body Works For Me continues to be a conversation starter. The 18SNL reality series about the South African adult entertainment industry introduced us to ladies who live their lives on their own terms.
The show features Bubbly, Gina, Primadonna and Wandi, who all returned for the second season, joined by newcomers Dione Xanthe, Diamond, and Lebo, the first trans woman on the show.
This Body Works For Me is produced by POP24, who are also behind the hit Showmax Original dating show, Bae Beyond Borders, which becomes available to binge on 25 December 2023.
The Bala Family | Binge now
In Season 1 of Mzansi Magic’s reality series The Bala Family, fans of the famous sensational singing siblings the Bala Brothers will be able to get up close and personal with them and the rest of their family.
The show takes us behind the scenes as the family tries to bury their differences and rebuild their relationships, opening up to Mzansi with vulnerability and honesty as Zwai, Loyiso, Phelo, Mama Veronica, and Pinky draw on their courage and love as a family to face their issues.
On Instagram, Loyiso said, “Real life is like a journey without a script… It hasn’t been easy to be part of this show, but amid the challenges I’ve strived to be as authentic as possible, letting the rawness shine through the crafted façade.”
The Real Housewives of Lagos S2 | Showmax Original | Binge episodes 1 – 9 right now, new episodes on Fridays
The Real Housewives of Lagos (RHOLagos) has been airing for nine weeks and as usual, the ladies are not disappointing.
The second season follows the lives of Nigeria’s most stylish, trendsetting, wealthy and popular women: businesswoman influencer Laura Ikeji-Kanu, lawyer and luxury hair brand owner Chioma Ikokwu, celebrity stylist Toyin Lawani Adebayo, Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo, PR expert Mariam Timmer, fashion entrepreneur Tania Omotayo and former model and socialite Faith Morey.
International shows
Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test| Binge from 20 December
Based on the notoriously gruelling United States Special Forces selection course, the military training reality series Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test throws a group of celebs into some of the harshest settings in the world, where they’ll take on a series of gruelling training exercises that will push them to their limits both mentally and physically. The only way for these recruits to leave is to give up on their own accord, through failure or potential injury, or by force from the directing staff (DS) agents. There’s no elimination, no grand prize, and no one is coming to save them (unless it’s in an ambulance).
Temptation Island USA | Binge from 20 December
The ultimate test of faithfulness returns with fresh twists and turns in Season 5 of Temptation Island, where four couples – all committed to each other but at a crossroads in their relationships – will test their love on an amazing vacation in paradise. The catch? They’ll be separated from their partners, to spend their days, and nights, in the company of attractive singles, all looking for love.
In this perfect setting, life is filled with parties, romantic escapades, truthful conversations and, of course, temptations. And when the couples are reunited after the ultimate test – a 24-hour dream date with their favourite single – it’ll be time for emotional declarations, bitter recriminations, and the ultimate question: will they go home together – or go their separate ways?
