Four SAFTA frontrunners to binge now across DStv and Showmax
As the excitement builds on the week of the SAFTAs, four standout shows available to stream are leading the charge. Mince Jou Hare ,The Fix, Ithonga and Reyka 2 have racked up an impressive 41 nominations between them, cementing their place as some of the strongest contenders at this year’s awards.
From gripping storytelling to standout performances, these series have captured audiences and critics alike, making them the must-watch titles ahead of the SAFTA ceremony.
Mince Jou Hare S1|Showmax|Binge now
Mince Jou Hare is MultiChoice’s most-nominated series at the 2026 SAFTAs. The Showmax Original follows Frieda (Melissa de Vries from Arendsvlei) as she quits her factory job to set up a hair salon in her home, disrupting the lives of her family, neighbours and clients in the process.
The small-town comedy is up for 11 Golden Horns, including Best TV Comedy, Directing (David Isaacs and Shimmy Isaacs), Scriptwriting (Shimmy Isaacs and Tristram Atkins), Supporting Actress (Lee-Ann van Rooi and Bianca Flanders, who won Best Actress at Silwerskerm 2025 for the role), and, appropriately, Make-Up and Hairstyling (Janine Arendse). Roberta Durrant produced Mince Jou Hare through Penguin Films, the company behind classic South African comedies like International Emmy nominee Stokvel, Rose d’Or nominee Madam & Eve, and triple SAFTA winner G.I.L.
The Fix|Showmax|Stream now
The Showmax Original The Fix is the most-nominated movie at the 2026 SAFTAs. Set in a dystopian future with toxic air, The Fix follows a model (Grace van Dien from Stranger Things) who takes a new designer drug at a party and suffers a shocking transformation. Pursued by forces with competing interests in the drug’s effects, Ella discovers that her mutations could save the human race.
Crave Pictures’ dystopian body-horror is up for 11 Golden Horns, including Best Feature Film, VFX, SFX and Director (Kelsey Egan, who had the most awarded film in the category in 2022 with Glasshouse). The Fix was the opening night film at MIPAfrica and the closing night screening at Chattanooga, where it won the Dangerous Visions Award. Chattanooga called it a “thrilling sci-fi/action/body horror concoction,” adding, “We love this movie, from its killer lead performance… to its wild dystopian world and fantastic mutation effects.”
iThonga S1|DStv Stream & Showmax| Binge now
Ithonga is the most-nominated telenovela at the 2026 SAFTAs. Set in the world of KZN construction mafias, the Mzansi Magic series stars 2022 SAFTA winner Bonko Khoza (Mqhele in The Wife) as twin brothers Banele and Sanele. Despite walking two different paths – one in the light, the other in the shadows – the twins share a mystical and unshakable bond.
The Tshedza Pictures series is up for 10 Golden Horns, including Best Telenovela, Actor (Khoza), Actress (first-time nominee Nelisiwe Sibiya), and Supporting Actress (first-time nominee Zodwa Nkosi). iThonga was also nominated for Best Scripted Series at the 2025 National Film and Television Awards, where Khoza and Sibiya were up for Best Actor and Actress.
Reyka S2|DStv Stream & Showmax|Binge now
Reyka 2 is the most-nominated drama at the 2026 SAFTAs. In the second season, profiler Reyka Gama investigates a series of attacks on couples at the docks in Durban Harbour, Africa’s largest port.
Quizzical Pictures’ crime drama for M-Net is up for nine Golden Horns, including Best TV Drama, Directing (Catherine Cooke and Rea Rangaka), Actress (Kim Engelbrecht) and Cinematography (Tom Marais). Cooke, Engelbrecht and Marais won those categories for S1 in 2022, as did creator Rohan Dickson for Scriptwriting. The first season was also up for International Emmys for both TV Drama and Actress (Engelbrecht), selling internationally.
Where to watch the Awards?
The SAFTAs Craft awards show will be streamed live on the SAFTAs YouTube page and across social media platforms on Friday, 13 March 2026.
The main awards show will be simulcast live on Mzansi Magic (DStv Channel 161) and SABC 2 (DStv Channel 192) on Saturday, 14 March 2026. The red carpet starts from 7:30pm with the live show from 8pm.
