Top Billing was a South African lifestyle television programme that aired on

SABC3 SABC 3 (stylised as S3) is a South African free-to-air public television network owned by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). It carries programming in English and, few in other South African languages. It has a number of its own re ...

on Saturday evenings from 18:00–19:00 with repeats on Sundays at 12:00. It was founded by Basetsana Kumalo and Patience Stevens, who own the ''Tswelopele Production'' company. The show was the longest-running entertainment and lifestyle programme in

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

, broadcasting since 1992. In addition to a variety of presenters, there was a

voice-over Voice-over (also known as off-camera or off-stage commentary) is a production technique where a voice—that is not part of the narrative (non-Diegetic#Film sound and music, diegetic)—is used in a radio, television production, filmmaking, th ...

guide throughout the programme. A magazine of the same name was launched in March 2004, containing similar content to the show.

Content

The weekly show had genres of beauty, fashion, food, home decor, travel and weddings. Different local and international celebrities were interviewed each week and a designer home featured as part of the show. International celebrities such as

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pe ...

's ex-wife,

Ivana Trump Ivana Marie Trump (, ; February 20, 1949 – July 14, 2022) was a Czech-American businesswoman, media personality, socialite, fashion designer, author, and model. Ivana lived in Canada in the 1970s before relocating to the United States and ...

, featured on the show, as well as

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...

actor and

Beverly Hills Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. A notable and historic suburb of Greater Los Angeles, it is in a wealthy area immediately southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Bev ...

doctor, Dr. Rey. Local celebrities such as rugby player

Bryan Habana Bryan Gary Habana OIS (born 12 June 1983) is a South African former professional rugby union player who initially played as an outside centre but later on, he shifted to the wing. He most recently played for Toulon in the French Top 14 competit ...

, singer Tamara Dey and Muvhango actress Ntahbiseng Mphahlele have been given equal attention. Popular events such as awards ceremonies and fashion runway shows were showcased. Presenters travelled to locations around the world and often partook in exclusive activities such as sky-diving, skiing, and scuba-diving. Food and wine pairings were also presented, and exclusive weddings attended. In 2019 the broadcaster cancelled the show due to high production costs. The last episode aired on 19 October 2019.

Presenters

Nico Panagio Nicolaos Panagiotopoulos, professionally known as Nico Panagio, is a South African television presenter, actor, and businessman known for being the host of Survivor South Africa since 2010. He is also known for his previous role on the soap oper ...

Maps Maponyane Masego "Maps" Maponyane (born March 16, 1990) is a South African television presenter, actor, fashion designer, speaker, model, creative consultant, voice over artist, philanthropist and business entrepreneur. Career While taking a year off ...

* Jade Hubner *

Lorna Maseko Lorna Maseko (born 3 July 1983), is a South African chef, media personality and former ballet dancer. Early life and education Maseko was born and raised in the Johannesburg township of Alexandra, Gauteng, Alexandra. Her mother was a receptioni ...

* Jeannie D * Ayanda Thabethe * Jonathan Boynton Lee * Ryle de Morny * Fezile Mkhize * Harmony Katulondi * Basetsana Khumalo *

Jo-Ann Strauss Jo-Ann Cindy Strauss (born 3 February 1981 in Cape Town) is a South African model, public speaker and businesswoman. In 2001, she represented her country as Miss South Africa at the Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico as well as at the Miss W ...

* Christopher Jaftha * Tumisho Masha * Neil McCarthy * Michelle Garforth * Kelly Parkhurst *

Lyndall Jarvis Lyndall Jarvis is a South African model and television presenter. Born and raised in Cape Town, she is the daughter of an English mother and a South African father. She started modelling at the age of 5. In 2009, ''FHM South Africa'' named he ...

* Casey B Dolan * Vanessa Haywood * Roxy Burger *

Natalie Becker Natalie Bridgette Becker is a South African actress. Biography Becker was born in George, Western Cape province and raised in Cape Town. She is of Cape Coloured descent. Becker has spoken about growing up lonely on a small holding because her mo ...

Simba Mhere (actor) Simbarashe "Simba" Mhere (29 October 1988 – 31 January 2015) was a Zimbabwe-born South African actor, presenter and television personality. He is best known for winning the 2010 Top Billing Presenter Search. Early life Mhere was born on 29 ...

(deceased) * Sinazo Cynthia Mini * Janez Vermeiren * Ursula Chikane * Aidan Bennetts *

Bonang Matheba Bonang Dorothy Matheba (born 25 June 1987), is a South African award-winning television presenter, radio personality, actress and social media personality. Born in Mahikeng, North West, she is known for her flamboyant presenting skills and h ...

Michael Mol Michael Benjamin Mol (born 16 August 1971) in Cape Town, South Africa is a medical doctor, an executive television producer, presenter, international speaker and business consultant. Mol graduated from the University of Pretoria with a MBChB in ...

* Dhiveja Sundrum *Iminam Tatiya

Voice-over artists

* Alex Jay * Kevin Savage * Phil Wright

Public opinion

People who dislike ''Top Billing'' base their hostility on the "questionable ethics" that "dressed presenters will sit down alone to a meal prepared for them in a luxurious setting. This is in a country where people are going hungry..." Others complained that the content featured in the lifestyle programme are unaffordable to the average viewer. On the contrary, ''Top Billing'' producers affirmed that the programme was aimed at "giving South Africans hope" that they too can achieve those luxuries that they see on the programme.

Tswelopele Productions

''Tswelopele Productions'' is a production company equally owned by Basetsana Kumalo and Patience Stevens. After the success of ''Top Billing'', Tswelopele also produces other local productions such as

Afrikaans Afrikaans (, ) is a West Germanic language that evolved in the Dutch Cape Colony from the Dutch vernacular of Holland proper (i.e., the Hollandic dialect) used by Dutch, French, and German settlers and their enslaved people. Afrikaans gra ...

lifestyle programme ''Pasella'',

SiSwati The Swazi or siSwati language is a Bantu language of the Nguni group spoken in Eswatini and South Africa by the Swati people. The number of speakers is estimated to be in the region of 2.4 million. The language is taught in Eswatini and so ...

youth show ''Ses'khona'', travel series ''Top Travel'', ''Top Dogs'' and ''No Reservations''.

Controversy

In 2009, Tswelopele staff members suffered a 10% wage cut for 7 months after Tswelopele waited for SABC to renew their contract. This was accompanied by an 8-day late salary payment, after the company had apparently spent R400,000 expanding their working premises. In 2017, Tswelopele faced additional controversy when the broadcaster was unable to pay not only Tswelopele but several South African production companies that produced their content. This resulted in salaries being paid late. An article published by ZAlebs stated that the presenters had also not been paid.

Competition

In 2009,

M-Net M-Net (an abbreviation of Electronic Media Network) is a South African pay television channel established by Naspers in 1986. The channel broadcasts both local and international programming, including general entertainment, children's series, ...

launched a lifestyle programme that was similar in content to that of ''Top Billing''. The M-Net show, All Access, was given the same time slot as ''Top Billing''. Lani Lombard, M-Net's publicist, was reported saying that the show will be "fun-filled, unpretentious and we trust that many M-net viewers who have been watching ''Top Billing'' over the years will migrate to All Access". Five seasons of the show were aired on M-Net before it was moved to one of M-Net's sister channels, Mzanzi Magic.

References

External links

* http://www.topbilling.com * http://www.tswelopele-sa.org.za * http://www.sabc3.co.za {{DEFAULTSORT:Top Billing (Tv programme) 1996 South African television series debuts SABC 3 original programming 1990s travel television series Wedding television shows 1990s South African television series 2000s travel television series 2000s South African television series 2010s travel television series 2010s South African television series