Celebrating SA's finest at the 2026 SAFTAs
MultiChoice shows were the big winners at this year's SAFTAs.
The South African Film and Television Awards took place over two nights, 13 and 14 March 2026, in Johannesburg. Among the biggest winners at this year’s SAFTAs was MultiChoice, a CANAL + Company, which took home 48 Awards across reality, scripted, documentary and lifestyle programming. The awards celebrated the creative brilliance and talent behind the scenes and on screen who continue to set the benchmark for exceptional storytelling.
Built on more than a decade of iconic telenovelas, Mzansi Magic’s storytelling was on full display as its stars swept all four acting awards in the Telenovela category with Bonko Khoza winning Best Actor (iThonga), his second win; and first-time winners Zenande Mfenyana for Best Supporting Actress (Inimba); Anele Matoti for Best Supporting Actor (Gqeberha - The Empire) and Nelisiwe Sibiya for Best Actress (iThonga). Showmax’s teen drama Youngins picked up the most wins in the Telenovela category, including the award for Best Telenovela, bringing the show’s total to four awards. In a public vote for the country’s most popular telenovela, Inimba claimed the top honour.
Scriptwriting was another area of recognition with Inimba, Law Love & Betrayal, Magda Louw, and Suidooster all earning SAFTA awards for scriptwriting in their respective categories. The second season of Law, Love and Betrayal (LLB) is currently available on Mzansi Magic and Showmax. Tshedza Pictures (Youngins, iThonga) once again proved its creative strength, emerging as the most awarded production company of the year.
“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,” says Nomsa Philiso, Director: Content, GE English- and Portuguese-speaking territories. “Congratulations to all the winners.”
The long-running investigative flagship show on M-Net (DStv Channel 101) Carte Blanche extended its streak in the Best Current Affairs Programme category, winning it for the fourth time this year. M-Net’s hit dramas Reyka S2 and White Lies tied with three SAFTAs each, including Best TV Drama for Reyka S2. The first season of the crime drama was sold to over 150 territories. Showmax’s sci-fi feature film The Fix took home four awards. The awards also celebrated the success of School Ties and Chasing the Sun 2, both International Emmy nominees, with School Ties winning Best Made for TV Documentary Series, and Chasing the Sun 2 taking home the award for Best Achievement in Editing for a TV Documentary Series.
The kykNET comedy Magda Louw delivered a strong showing on the nights, earning multiple awards in the TV Comedy category, including Best Actress for Desiré Gardner and Best Actor for Hannes van Wyk. Suidooster, which celebrated its 10‑year milestone last year, added further recognition with two wins. Veteran performers Frank Opperman (Nêrens, Noord‑Kaap Deel 2) and Tobie Cronjé (Pronk Primêr) - both recent recipients of Lifetime Achievement Awards - also took home top honours, each winning in their respective acting categories.
The awards also celebrated exceptional contributions and representation in the industry. Erik Holm was honoured with the Special Disability Award for the work on Binnelanders, while Bobby Heany received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his long standing contribution to the industry and nurturing the next generation of storytellers through the MultiChoice Talent Factory.
Here is a list of all the Multichoice winners:
MZANSI MAGIC
BEST STRUCTURED OR DOCU-REALITY SHOW
UMkhonto Ogwaza Ekhaya
Devandile Media
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN WARDROBE - TV SOAP/TELENOVELA
Genesis S1
Sylvia Gegana
Singavision Productions
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SCRIPTWRITING – TELENOVELA
Inimba
Siphosethu Tshapu, Kirsten Adams, Sacha-ann Stokes, Nombulelo Mcwerah, Khanyisa Jali, Vanishia Kisten, Sinethemba Keleku, Mpolokeng Hope Bogatsu & Sibusiso Kumalo
The Milton Empire
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TELENOVELA
Zenande Mfenyana (Inimba S1)
The Milton Empire
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TELENOVELA
Anele Matoti (Gqeberha - The Empire)
Tshedza Pictures
BEST ACTRESS IN A TELENOVELA
Nelisiwe Sibiya (iThonga)
Tshedza Pictures
BEST ACTOR IN A TELENOVELA
Bonko Khoza (iThonga)
Tshedza Pictures
MOST POPULAR TV SOAP OR TELENOVELA (PUBLIC VOTE)
Inimba S1
The Milton Empire
MZANSI MAGIC MUSIC
BEST ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME
Yash'ingoma S3
Skepe Entertainment and Urban Brew Studios
Mzansi Magic Music
M-NET
BEST MADE FOR TV DOCUMENTARY OR DOCUMENTARY SERIES
School Ties
IdeaCandy
BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS PROGRAMME
Carte Blanche
Combined Artists
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING - TV DRAMA
Reyka S2
Theola Booyens
Quizzical Pictures
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SPECIAL EFFECTS (SFX) IN HAIR AND MAKEUP - TV
White Lies
Natasha du Toit
Quizzical Pictures
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND - TV DRAMA
White Lies
David Oosthuizen & Declyn Strydom
Quizzical Pictures
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN ORIGINAL MUSIC/SCORE - TV DRAMA
White Lies
Edward George King & Charl-Johan Lingenfelder
Quizzical Pictures
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY - TV DRAMA
Reyka S2
Tom Marais
Quizzical Pictures
BEST TV DRAMA
Reyka S2
Quizzical Pictures
kykNET
BEST COMPETITION REALITY SHOW
Plaasjapie (Seisoen 2)
afrOkaans
BEST LIFESTYLE PROGRAMME
Elders: Ligtoringroete
Bonanza Films
OUTSTANDING PERSON WITH A DISABILITY
Erik Holm
Binnelanders
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SCRIPTWRITING - TV COMEDY
Magda Louw
Desire Gardner
Homebrew Films
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING - TV COMEDY
Magda Louw
Johan Nel
Homebrew Films
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN WARDROBE - TV DRAMA
NIGGIES (COUSINS)
Mariechen Vosloo
Wolflight Films
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN ORIGINAL MUSIC/SCORE - TV DRAMA
NIGGIES (COUSINS)
Pierre-Henri Wicomb
Wolflight Films
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP AND HAIRSTYLING - TV SOAP/TELENOVELA
Skemergrond
Waldemar van Rensburg
Penguin Films
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION - TV SOAP/TELENOVELA
Suidooster
Beatrix van Zyl
Suidooster Films
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SCRIPTWRITING – TV SOAP
Suidooster
Pieter Francois Retief Scholtz
Suidooster Films
BEST ACTOR IN A TV DRAMA
Frank Opperman (Nêrens, Noord-Kaap Deel 2)
Nagvlug Films
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TV COMEDY
Tobie Cronjé (Pronk Primêr)
Sonvelt Media
BEST ACTRESS IN A TV COMEDY
Desire Gardner (Magda Louw S2)
Homebrew Films
BEST ACTOR IN A TV COMEDY
Hannes van Wyk (Magda Louw S2)
Homebrew Films
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A FEATURE FILM
June van Merch (Die Kwiksilwers / The Quicksilvers)
Sanktuary Films
SHOWMAX
BEST VARIETY SHOW
Unfollowed Season 2
Goat (Originals)
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION - TV DRAMA
Catch Me A Killer
Warren Gray
Local Motion Pictures
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SCRIPTWRITING - TV DRAMA
Law, Love & Betrayal (LLB)
Alex Xolo, Lwazi Musi, Dorette Nel, Chisanga Kabinga & Oratile Mogoje
Ramathesele Media and Communications
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING - TV DRAMA
Catch Me A Killer
Rene van Rooyen & Brett Michael Innes
Local Motion Pictures
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING - TELENOVELA
Youngins
SC Nhlumayo, Natalie Varoy, Siwelile Mbanjwa, Lubabalo Mayaba, Nandi Mehlomakulu & Nonhlanhla Mxumalo
Tshedza Pictures
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN ORIGINAL MUSIC/SCORE - TELENOVELA
Youngins
Brendan Jury
Tshedza Pictures
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING - TELENOVELA
Youngins
Nthabi Tau, Thembalethu Mfebe & Sandile Mdluli
Tshedza Pictures
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING - FEATURE FILM
The Fix
Nicola Roodt
Crave Pictures
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SPECIAL EFFECTS(SFX) IN HAIR AND MAKEUP
The Fix
Nicola Roodt & Clinton Aiden Smith
Crave Pictures
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND DESIGN - FEATURE FILM
The Fix
David Oosthuizen & Geoffrey Kock
Crave Pictures
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS - FEATURE FILM
The Fix
Kelsey Egan, George Webster, Sam Alessandri, Charles Tait, Andre Steyn, Lee Gemmell, Phillip Keong, Randall Makhanya, Tristan Brown & Mike Louw
Crave Pictures
BEST TELENOVELA
Youngins
Tshedza Pictures
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TV DRAMA
Jabulani Mthembu (Catch Me A Killer)
SUPERSPORT
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING - DOCUMENTARY
Chasing the Sun 2
Christiaan Scheepers
T+W
BEST YOUTH PROGRAMME
On The Base Roundtable
VIS Studios
MTV Base
BEST NATURAL HISTORY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME
Day of the Dragon
Earth Touch
National Geographic Channel
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Bobby Heany
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