MultiChoice Celebrates Creatives Behind Major SAFTAs 2026 Wins

The South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) returned to Johannesburg on 13 and 14 March 2026, celebrating the best in local television and film. Among the biggest winners of the night was MultiChoice, a Canal+ company, which walked away with an impressive 48 awards across reality, scripted, documentary and lifestyle programming.

The awards recognised the exceptional storytellers, performers and production teams who continue to shape South Africa’s vibrant entertainment industry.

Telenovelas Shine for Mzansi Magic

Mzansi Magic’s legacy of powerful storytelling once again dominated the awards in the Telenovela category, with its stars claiming all four acting prizes.

• Bonko Khoza won Best Actor for iThonga, marking his second SAFTA win.
• Nelisiwe Sibiya took home Best Actress for iThonga.
• Zenande Mfenyana earned Best Supporting Actress for Inimba.
• Anele Matoti won Best Supporting Actor for Gqeberha – The Empire.

The teen drama Youngins, available on Showmax, also made a strong impact, winning Best Telenovela and collecting four awards overall. Meanwhile, Inimba captured the hearts of viewers nationwide, winning the public vote for South Africa’s Favourite Telenovela.

Scriptwriting and Production Excellence Recognised

Scriptwriting talent was also celebrated, with Inimba, Law, Love & Betrayal, Magda Louw, and Suidooster winning in their respective writing categories.

Production powerhouse Tshedza Pictures, responsible for Youngins and iThonga, emerged as the most awarded production company of the year, reinforcing its reputation for delivering compelling local stories.

Nomsa Philiso, Director of Content for General Entertainment in English and Portuguese-speaking territories, praised the industry’s achievements.

“This recognition honours the extraordinary depth of our creative talent. South Africa’s creative community consistently delivers work of world-class standard, rooted in authenticity and driven by excellence.”

M-Net and Showmax Score Major Wins

M-Net’s acclaimed investigative show Carte Blanche extended its remarkable streak by winning Best Current Affairs Programme for the fourth time.

The channel’s standout dramas also performed strongly:

• Reyka Season 2 won Best TV Drama and collected three awards.
• White Lies also secured three awards across technical categories.

The success of Reyka continues internationally, with the first season already sold to more than 150 territories worldwide.

On the streaming side, Showmax’s sci-fi feature film The Fix dominated its categories, taking home four awards for achievements in make-up, visual effects, sound design and special effects.

Documentary and Sports Storytelling Triumph

Two internationally recognised productions also celebrated wins at the ceremony.

• School Ties, an International Emmy nominee, won Best Made for TV Documentary Series.
• Chasing the Sun 2, also nominated internationally, received the award for Best Achievement in Editing for a TV Documentary Series.

kykNET Comedy and Drama Impress

kykNET productions delivered a standout performance, securing 15 awards during the ceremony.

The comedy Magda Louw dominated the TV comedy category with multiple wins, including:

• Desiré Gardner – Best Actress in a TV Comedy
• Hannes van Wyk – Best Actor in a TV Comedy

Long-running soap Suidooster, which celebrated its 10-year milestone last year, added further accolades with two awards.

Veteran actors also received recognition:

• Frank Opperman won Best Actor in a TV Drama for Nêrens, Noord-Kaap Deel 2.
• Tobie Cronjé earned Best Supporting Actor in a TV Comedy for Pronk Primêr.

Honouring Industry Legends

Beyond the competitive categories, the SAFTAs also recognised individuals who have made lasting contributions to the industry.

• Erik Holm received the Special Disability Award for his work on Binnelanders, celebrating representation and inclusion in television.
• Bobby Heany was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades of contribution to the industry and his work mentoring emerging talent through the MultiChoice Talent Factory.

Celebrating the Future of South African Storytelling

With 48 awards across multiple channels and platforms — including Mzansi Magic, M-Net, kykNET, Showmax and SuperSport — MultiChoice’s success at the 2026 SAFTAs highlights the strength of local storytelling and the collaborative efforts behind South Africa’s growing television and film industry.

As the industry continues to expand locally and internationally, the achievements recognised at this year’s SAFTAs reaffirm the country’s position as a global force in compelling and authentic storytelling.