15 jaw-dropping reality shows to stream this September

With the full season of The Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 14 to binge only on Showmax, plus every single episode of Born Into Fame and Married at First Sight Mzansi, there is enough delicious reality content on Showmax this month to satisfy any die-hard fan.

Coming soon

The Real Housewives of New Jersey S14 | First on Showmax | Binge from Wednesday, 11 September

Coming first to Showmax, this season of The Real Housewives of New Jersey proves that friendships can change at the flip of a switch. With more division than ever before and dynamics changing within the circle of friends, the ladies of the Garden State will need to rely on their core family units for support and understanding. 

Now in its 15th year, RHONJ was up for Reality Show of the Year at this year’s People’s Choice Awards, where it was previously nominated for Favourite TV Guilty Pleasure.

Season 14 promises to deliver all the drama you’ve been craving, with Housewives Teresa Giudice – who’s been nominated for three MTV TV Awards, including Best Reality Star and two Best Fight awards – and fellow Best Fight nominees Margaret Josephs and Jackie Goldschneider, as well as Melissa Gorga, Dolores Catania, Jennifer Aydin, Danielle Cabral, Rachel Fuda, and Jennifer Fessler.

Binge now

Born Into Fame S1 | Binge now 

Born Into Fame is a Showmax Original reality series that shines a spotlight on the children of famous parents, offering an honest look at how their unique upbringing has shaped their lives. The show explores both the challenges and privileges that come with being born into the limelight.

The cast includes AJ Mafokate and Owami Mafokate, children of music icon Arthur Mafokate; Phila Madlingozi, son of legendary musician Ringo Madlingozi; Robbie Malinga Jr, son of the late Robbie Malinga; Shamiso Mosaka, daughter of media personality Azania Mosaka; and Tank The Rockstar, son of DJ Tira.

The explosive season finale left viewers stunned as the intense feud between AJ and Phila reached its peak, leaving us all wondering if there will ever be a resolution.

Married at First Sight Mzansi S1 | Binge now 

Described as “keeping the internet buzzing” by Bona, Married at First Sight Mzansi features eight hopeful individuals who agree to take part in a bold experiment – marrying a complete stranger. 

Experts – including a spiritualist, relationship coach, and sociologist – use scientific matchmaking methods to pair each couple, who meet for the first time on their wedding day.

The Mzansi Magic reality show captures the journey of these couples, from honeymoons to the everyday realities of married life. After several weeks, each pair must decide whether to stay together or part ways. 

Uthando Nes’Thembu S7 | Binge now

Uthando Nes’Thembu offers an intimate and captivating look into the life of Musa Mseleku, a prosperous businessman, who is looking to add a fifth wife to his polygamous family this season. 

The most-watched reality show on Mzansi Magic for the first four five months  of 2024, according to the Broadcast Research Council of South Africa, Uthando Nes’Thembu is up for Most Entertaining Reality Series at the 2024 Behind the Scenes Awards, where it’ll be competing against its spinoff, Izingane Zes’thembu, and Showmax faves like The Real Housewives of Durban, The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip – South Africa, MnaKwethu,  and Kwa Njomane. 

I Blew It S6 | Binge now

I Blew It follows individuals who suddenly came into significant wealth – through lottery wins, inheritances, or legal settlements – only to lose it all in an instant. 

This gripping Mzansi Magic series chronicles their dramatic journeys from riches to rags, uncovering the highs and lows of their unpredictable fortunes.

Season 6 includes former Bafana Bafana star Lerato Chabangu and renowned long jumper Luvo Manyonga. 

Marry Me Now S2 | Binge now

Mzansi Magic’s Marry Me Now S2 showcases determined South African women who take charge of their relationships by orchestrating surprise proposals and weddings in just three days. 

Each week, a new woman plans an elaborate, spontaneous wedding. Will her partner accept the surprise? Will the wedding go off without a hitch? Or will she be left with unexpected results?

Hosted by Ntombee Mzolo, Marry Me Now examines how traditional values and modern romance intersect, providing a fascinating look at how love and tradition can harmoniously coexist.

Binge soon

Beaulah: Queens van die Kaap S1 | Binge from next Thursday, 19 September

From POP24 (The Mommy Club), Beaulah: Queens van die Kaap offers an exhilarating glimpse into Cape Town’s drag scene. 

This reality TV show features a standout cast of award-winning drag queens, including Emogan Moore, Ina Propriette, Kat Gilardi, Manila von Teez, Maxine Wild, and the rival house mothers BB Vahlour and Madison Scarr. 

At MIP Africa’s first Inclusive Lens awards, Beaulah: Queens van die Kaap won the Representation of LGBTQIA+ award for Non-Scripted Series. As the Inclusive Lens citation says, “Beaulah: Queens van die Kaap is recognised for its authentic and vibrant portrayal of Cape Town’s drag queen scene, providing an eye-opening introduction to this colourful community while offering an insider’s look into the world of extreme transformations, fashion, and sisterhood.”

New episodes every Thursday

Shebeen Queens S1 | New episodes every Thursday 

Shebeen Queens is a reality show about the bold women behind popular Soweto shebeens Alina’s Place, Big Mama’s Tavern, and Rama Tavern.

Starring larger-than-life entrepreneurs Alina Sishange, Emily Thabang Leeuw a.k.a Big Mama, and Xoliswa Shwayimba, the Showmax Original follows the shebeen queens as they try to balance parenting with keeping their businesses afloat in a cut-throat, all-hours industry that is filled with liquor and laughter – and has historically been male-dominated. 

Shebeen Queens is produced by Barkers Media (2024 SAFTA nominee How To Manifest A Man) and directed by Mpho Lengane (Isencane Lengane). The Citizen says the shebeen queens “serve up drinks and drama,” while Daily Sun says, “Shebeen Queens is taking over Mzansi, and viewers are loving it.”

2024 SAFTA nominees to binge now

The Mommy Club S1 | Binge now

Nominated for the 2024 SAFTA for Best Structured Soapie Reality Show, the Showmax Original The Mommy Club follows five glamorous Jozi momfluences navigating parenting challenges – and the cutthroat world of “it moms.”

The Mommy Club set a record for the most first-day views of any reality series on Showmax, becoming one of the streamer’s  ten most-streamed local series in 2023. A second season launched this February, with a Durban-set spinoff, The Mommy Club: Sugar & Spice, currently streaming, with new episodes on Thursdays.

The Mommy Club is produced by POP24, who are also behind Bae Beyond Borders, nominated for a SAFTA in the same category.

Bae Beyond Borders S1 | Binge now

Nominated for the 2024 SAFTA for Best Structured Soapie Reality Show, the Showmax Original Bae Beyond Borders follows four South African women searching for love “the Naija way”. 

The show begins with each woman speed-dating all 12 Nigerian men, after which they collectively narrow the field to four. Once each bachelorette selects her Nigerian partner, they move to a luxurious villa in Cape Town to see if their cross-cultural romance can thrive beyond borders. 

One of the ten most-streamed local series on Showmax in 2023, Bae Beyond Borders is produced by POP24, who are also behind The Mommy Club, nominated for a SAFTA in the same category. 

Sex and Pleasure | Binge now

Nominated for the 2024 SAFTA for Best Structured Docu-Reality Show, the Showmax Original Sex and Pleasure takes an expansive look at what South Africans engage in behind closed doors – and everywhere else too. 

The adults-only documentary series is produced by IdeaCandy, best known for true-crime series like Devilsdorp, Tracking Thabo Bester, School Ties and 2024 SAFTA nominees Rosemary’s Hitlist and Convict Conman.

Hosted by writer Kim Windvogel and journalist Romantha Botha, Sex and Pleasure also features the likes of  Lesego Tlhabi, aka Coconut Kelz; Moonchild Sanelly; Siv Ngesi and Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng. 

Die Brug | Binge now

Nominated for the 2024 SAFTA for Best International Format, Die Brug follows twelve strangers who must work together to build a bridge in a remote location, with one hoping to walk away with prize money of R1 million. 

Neil Sandilands (Sweet Tooth, DAM) narrates the acclaimed kykNET adventure reality series, which is produced by multi-award-winners Red Pepper Pictures (Big Brother South Africa). 

Sip & Talk | Binge now

Nominated for Best Variety Show at the 2024 SAFTAs, Sip & Talk is an intimate Mzansi Magic talk show hosted by Dineo Ranaka. 

Guests include Ayanda Ncwane, Celeste Ntuli, Sello Maake kaNcube, Trevor Gumbi, Zwai Bala, and Nimrod Nkosi, who is currently starring in the hit Showmax legal drama Law, Love & Betrayal (LLB). 

Kokkedoor: Vuur & Vlam | Binge now

Nominated for the 2024 SAFTA for Best Competition Reality Show, kykNET’s Kokkedoor: Vuur & Vlam sees participants showcase their braai skills to award-winning chef Bertus Basson and Kobus Botha, dubbed “the braai king of France” by Sunday Times. 

Kokkedoor: Vuur & Vlam is produced by multi-award-winners Homebrew Films, who are also behind Showmax Originals like 2024 SAFTA nominee Trompoppie and 2024 Silwerskerm winner Wyfie.  

Elders: Frankryk | Binge now

Nominated for the 2024 SAFTA for Best Lifestyle Show, kykNET’s Elders followed host Erns Grundling to France ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup to give us a taste of the host country.

Join Erns as he explores some of France’s most beautiful destinations, starting out in the country’s oldest city, Marseille, walking Le Chemin de Nietzsche and partially following the tracks of the French Huguenots, before taking on the Via Podiensis Camino route to conclude his journey in the famous town of Saint-Jean-Pied-du-Port, near the Pyrenees.