It’s official: 2024 was a banner year for South African TV. From international awards to record-breaking moments, local content stole the spotlight…
Here are 9 Reasons Why 2024 Was a Stellar Year for South African TV
1. South Africans Directed the iEmmy-Winning Animation—Again!
For the second year running, South African directors made waves at the International Emmys. This time, Tabby McTat, directed by Jac Hamman and Sarah Scrimgeour, took home the award for Best Kids: Animation.
Fun fact: last year’s winner in the same category, The Smeds and The Smoos, was also directed by South Africans, Daniel Snaddon and Samantha Cutler.
Check out the trailer for Tabby McTat below:
2. Die Brug Scored an iEmmy Nomination
kykNET’s Die Brug kept the iEmmy momentum going with its nod for Best Non-Scripted Entertainment. This marked the third consecutive year MultiChoice content on Showmax was recognized, following Two Sides in 2023 and Reyka in 2022.
Check out the trailer for Die Brug below:
3. Spinners Beat Succession in Shanghai
Showmax Original Spinners clinched the Best Foreign Series award at the prestigious Magnolia Awards in Shanghai, triumphing over heavyweights like the Emmy-winning Succession. The show also hit #6 on CANAL+ during primetime in France.
Check out the trailer for Spinners below:
4. Shaka iLembe Became SAFTA Royalty
The sweeping historical drama Shaka iLembe made history at the SAFTAs, bagging 12 awards—including Best Drama—to become the most-awarded drama series in the event’s history.
Check out the trailer for the show below:
5. Catch Me A Killer Broke Ground at Series Mania
True-crime drama Catch Me A Killer, based on Micki Pistorius’ work as a profiler, was the first South African series to screen at France’s Series Mania festival. It also earned Warren Gray a Best Production Design award at the British Film Designers Guild Awards.
Check out the trailer for the show below:
6. Wyfie Held Its Own Against Global Giants
Wyfie went international, earning nominations at the Seoul International Drama Awards, the Rose d’Or Awards, and the Global Production Awards. It competed against iconic names like Wong Kar-Wai, EastEnders, and Netflix’s Troll.
Check out the trailer for the show below:
7. Showmax Doccies Gained Global Recognition
True-crime doccie Original Sin: My Son The Killer was a finalist at the Venice TV Awards, while Death in the Heartlands—a Kenyan running-community story—was a contender at the Broadcast Sports Awards in London.
8. Tracking Thabo Bester Broke Showmax Records
The true-crime sensation Tracking Thabo Bester became the most-watched documentary on its first day of release in Showmax history.
Check out the trailer for the documentary below:
9. The Most Showmax Originals Ever
In February, Showmax hit a monthly record with 18 Originals, contributing to a total of 85 Originals released across multiple countries in 2024—a milestone year for African storytelling.
With titles like these, it’s no wonder Showmax remains the go-to platform for South African TV.
Ready to catch up on this year’s highlights? Everything mentioned (except White Lies, coming 23 December) is streaming now, so sign up for Showmax today to start binging!
Watch this space for updates in the Television category on Running Wolf’s Rant.
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