For nearly three decades, the theme music of Top Billing was the soundtrack of aspiration in South Africa. It played in living rooms from Soweto to Sandton, from Cape Town to Durban, as viewers watched glossy segments on luxury homes, celebrity interviews, and the latest in fashion and design. It was a window into a world that many could only dream of — and for 27 years, it was a weekly ritual for millions.
Then, suddenly, it was gone.
In 2019, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), crippled by financial mismanagement and deep budget cuts, pulled the plug on Top Billing along with several other beloved programs. There was no grand farewell. No final episode. Just silence. The show that had defined South African lifestyle television simply vanished.
But now, after a seven-year hiatus, Top Billing is back.
The beloved magazine program premieres new episodes on SABC3 on Thursday, April 30 at 7 p.m. , with repeats on Sundays and Tuesdays. The return has been met with an outpouring of nostalgia, joy, and — in some quarters — cautious skepticism. Fans who grew up watching the show with their families are sharing fond memories online. But others have warned that the show must avoid featuring “corrupt figures” who have become synonymous with South Africa’s scandals in recent years.
“Top Billing was part of our Sunday nights,” said Thabo Mokoena, a 34-year-old marketing executive from Johannesburg. “My mom would make popcorn. We would sit together and watch the houses, the cars, the clothes. It was escape. It was inspiration. I am so happy it is back.”
The fall: How a giant collapsed
To understand the significance of Top Billing‘s return, one must understand its fall.
The show first aired in 1992, just as South Africa was emerging from apartheid into a new era of democracy and hope. It was the brainchild of producers who wanted to showcase the best of South African lifestyle — from cutting-edge architecture to emerging fashion designers to the country’s most glamorous events.
Over the years, Top Billing became a cultural institution. Its presenters — including the late Bones Ntshotsho, Jeannie D, Jonathan Boynton-Lee, and Simba Mhere — became household names. The show won multiple awards and was exported to several African countries.
But by 2019, the SABC was in crisis. The public broadcaster was bleeding money, plagued by allegations of corruption, and struggling to pay staff and suppliers. In a brutal cost-cutting exercise, the SABC cancelled multiple flagship programs, including Top Billing, Morning Live, and Selimathunzi.
The decision was met with public outrage. Petitions were signed. Protesters gathered outside SABC headquarters. But the broadcaster held firm. Top Billing was over.
“We were devastated,” said Patience Stevens, the show’s executive producer, speaking to reporters at the launch of the new season. “We had been on air for 27 years. We had generations of viewers who grew up with us. And then, just like that, it was gone. No warning. No farewell. Just a phone call.”
Stevens and her team at Cardova Productions — the company behind Top Billing — spent the next seven years fighting to bring the show back. They pitched to other broadcasters. They explored streaming platforms. They kept the brand alive through social media and special events.
“We never gave up,” Stevens said. “We believed that Top Billing still had a place in South African television. We believed that viewers wanted us back. We just needed someone to believe in us.”
The return: A new home, a new look
In late 2025, the SABC — under new leadership and with a stabilized financial position — approached Cardova Productions about reviving Top Billing. Negotiations were swift, and by January 2026, the deal was done.
The new season, which consists of 26 episodes, will air weekly on SABC3. The format remains familiar — a magazine-style mix of lifestyle, design, travel, and entrepreneurship — but the focus has shifted.
“We are not trying to recreate the past,” Stevens explained. “We are honoring the legacy while embracing the present. The old Top Billing was about aspiration. The new Top Billing is about inspiration. We are spotlighting young urban innovators — people who are building, creating, and changing South Africa with their own hands.”
The new segments include:
- Design Diaries – A look at emerging architects and interior designers redefining South African spaces.
- The Hustle – Profiles of young entrepreneurs building businesses in townships and suburbs alike.
- Wanderlust – Affordable travel destinations for South Africans exploring their own country.
- The Icons – Occasional tributes to established figures who paved the way for the new generation.
“We want to show South Africans that success is possible,” said Lerato Mkhize, one of the new presenters. “Not just for the rich and famous. For the girl in Soweto who starts a clothing line. For the guy in Cape Town who builds an app. For the family in Durban who renovates their home on a budget. That is the new Top Billing.”
The nostalgia wave: ‘I grew up with this show’
The announcement of Top Billing‘s return has triggered a wave of nostalgia on social media. Viewers are sharing memories of watching the show with their families, of dreaming about the homes and lifestyles featured, of feeling that — just for an hour — anything was possible.
“I remember watching Top Billing with my late grandmother,” wrote one user on X. “She loved seeing the beautiful houses. She would say, ‘One day, we will live in a house like that.’ She never did. But the dreaming was beautiful.”
Another wrote: “Simba Mhere was my favorite presenter. When he died, it felt like losing a friend. I am glad the show is back. It feels like a piece of my childhood is returning.”
Some fans have expressed hope that the new Top Billing will feature tributes to its late presenters, including Mhere, who died in a car accident in 2015, and Ntshotsho, who passed away in 2019.
“The show owes its legacy to those who came before,” Stevens said. “We will honor them. Not in every episode, but in the spirit of everything we do. They built this brand. We are just carrying it forward.”
The caution: ‘Please don’t platform corrupt people’
Amid the excitement, there is also skepticism. South Africa has been rocked by years of corruption scandals — from state capture to tender fraud to the collapse of municipalities. Some viewers have warned that Top Billing must be careful not to feature individuals linked to corruption.
“We love Top Billing, but please don’t give airtime to corrupt businesspeople,” wrote one user. “We don’t need to see the homes of Gupta-linked executives or the lifestyles of tenderpreneurs. Keep it clean. Keep it aspirational for the right reasons.”
Another added: “The old Top Billing sometimes featured people who turned out to be crooks. The new Top Billing must do better. Vet your subjects. Don’t glorify stolen wealth.”
Stevens addressed the concern directly.
“We are aware of the criticism,” she said. “And we take it seriously. The people we feature on the new Top Billing are vetted. We are not interested in showcasing corrupt individuals. We are interested in showcasing innovation, hard work, and legitimate success. If someone has a shadow over their record, they will not appear on our show.”
The production team has reportedly hired a compliance officer to vet all subjects featured on the show, including background checks and public records searches.
“We cannot afford to get this wrong,” Stevens said. “The trust of our viewers is everything. We will protect it.”
The presenters: Fresh faces for a new era
The new season of Top Billing features a mix of returning favorites and fresh faces.
Lerato Mkhize – A 29-year-old former Miss South Africa finalist and architecture graduate, Mkhize brings a passion for design and urban development.
Thabo Ndlovu – A 34-year-old entrepreneur and digital creator, Ndlovu will host the entrepreneurship segments, drawing on his own experience building a tech startup from scratch.
Zara Patel – A 27-year-old travel blogger with over 500,000 followers on Instagram, Patel will host the Wanderlust segments, focusing on affordable and off-the-beaten-path destinations.
Bongani Dlamini – A 41-year-old former radio host and lifestyle journalist, Dlamini is the elder statesman of the new team, bringing gravitas and experience.
“We are a team of dreamers and doers,” Mkhize said. “We represent the new South Africa — young, diverse, ambitious, and grounded. We are not here to show off. We are here to show what is possible.”
The production: Cardova’s vision
Cardova Productions, which produced the original Top Billing for much of its run, is once again at the helm. The company has invested heavily in new equipment, new editing software, and new talent to ensure the show meets contemporary standards.
“We are not cutting corners,” said James Cardova, the company’s founder and CEO. “We know that viewers expect high production values. We are delivering. Every episode is shot in 4K. Every segment is edited to broadcast standards. We are competing with streaming platforms, not just other broadcasters.”
Cardova also confirmed that the show has secured several major sponsors, including a leading bank, a luxury car brand, and a home improvement retailer.
“The advertisers believe in us,” Cardova said. “They see the value of the Top Billing brand. They know that South Africans trust this show. They want to be part of its comeback.”
The competition: A crowded market
When Top Billing first aired, South African television was a much simpler place. There were fewer channels, no streaming services, and limited international content. Today, viewers have endless options — from Netflix and Amazon Prime to Showmax and Disney+.
Can Top Billing compete?
“We are not trying to compete,” Stevens said. “We are offering something different. Something local. Something familiar. There is no other show on South African television that does what we do. We are not a reality show. We are not a news program. We are a lifestyle magazine. There is still a place for that.”
Media analyst Tshepo Mkhwanazi agrees.
“Top Billing has a built-in audience,” he said. “Millions of South Africans grew up with this show. They will tune in out of nostalgia. If the content is good, they will stay. The challenge is attracting younger viewers who may not remember the original. That is why the focus on young innovators is smart. It bridges the gap between old and new.”
The legacy: More than just a TV show
For many South Africans, Top Billing was never just a TV show. It was a marker of time. It was a shared experience. It was a reminder that beauty, creativity, and ambition existed — even in a country often defined by its struggles.
“I used to watch Top Billing with my mother every Sunday night,” said Nomsa Dlamini, a 42-year-old teacher from Soweto. “She passed away in 2018. She never got to see the final episodes. When I heard the show was coming back, I cried. Not because I love the show so much. Because I miss her. And watching Top Billing was something we did together.”
Dlamini plans to watch the premiere with her own daughter.
“I want her to know that there is more to life than struggle,” she said. “I want her to dream. Top Billing helped me dream. Maybe it will help her too.”
The premiere: What to expect
The first episode of the new season, airing Thursday, April 30 at 7 p.m., features:
- A profile of a 26-year-old furniture designer from Alexandra who is upcycling waste materials into high-end pieces.
- A tour of a renovated Victorian home in Cape Town’s Bo-Kaap, transformed by a young couple on a tight budget.
- A travel segment to the Wild Coast, highlighting eco-lodges and community-based tourism.
- An interview with a 31-year-old tech entrepreneur who built a logistics app now used by thousands of small businesses.
“We wanted the first episode to set the tone,” Stevens said. “This is not your mother’s Top Billing. It is better. It is bolder. It is more relevant. And it is proudly South African.”
The verdict: Hope and caution
As the premiere date approaches, the mood among fans is a mixture of hope and caution. Hope that a beloved show can recapture its magic. Caution that the world has changed — and that the old formula may not work.
“We will be watching,” said Mokoena, the marketing executive. “But we will be watching with open eyes. We want Top Billing to succeed. But it has to earn our trust. It has to prove that it belongs in 2026.”
Stevens is confident.
“We are ready,” she said. “We have worked for seven years for this moment. We have listened to the critics. We have learned from our mistakes. We have built a show that honors the past while embracing the future. On April 30, South Africa will see what we have created. And I believe they will love it.”
The final word
Top Billing returns to SABC3 on Thursday, April 30 at 7 p.m. Repeats air on Sundays and Tuesdays.
For seven years, it was gone. Now, it is back.
The theme music will play again. The lights will come up. And millions of South Africans will settle into their couches, ready to dream.
Welcome home, Top Billing. We missed you. 🎬📺✨
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