Gomora
Channel: Mzansi Magic (DStv 161)
TX Time: 19h30
Genre: Telenovela
Revolves around the the worlds of the upper- and lower-class communities of posh Sandton and neighbouring Alexandra - a crowded, hard-working township nicknamed Gomora.
An unfortunate series of events causes two families on either side of this divide to collide, revealing a complex story of romance, social inequalities and prejudices.
As the series opens, a woman manages to escape from her lowly, humble township roots and makes it big as a hotshot Sandton socialite.
A series of events leads it all to come crashing down around her and suddenly she finds herself back where she started, in the hustle and bustle of Alexandra township.
Although Alex is just down the road from her previous life, it feels like a million miles away. Before long, she finds herself at the heart of its underworld.
The beloved Johannesburg kasi is where most of the story unfolds and is an insight into the love and care of a community, despite the tough, frightening environment they often find themselves in.
Katlego Danke stars as Thathi, the trophy wife whose life takes an unexpected turn at the start of the series.
Connie Chiume plays crime boss Mam'Sonto, a woman who appears to be a loving grandmother on the outside – but underneath has a heart of steel. She pulls the strings in this community and doesn't let anyone forget it.
Also starring in the series is Themba Ndaba as Mbongeni, Thathi's husband who is the CEO and one of the major shareholders of CBS bank.
Thembi Seete plays Gladys, a tough social worker in Alex who is street-smart and tough, and fervently believes in uplifting the community in which she works.
Zolisa Xaluva stars as Mondli, Thathi's ex who is now married to Gladys and is the principal at the school in Alex.
Also starring is Ntobeko Sishi as Ntobeko, Gladys and Mondli's son who chooses to seek out the kind of love and appreciation he doesn't get at home, seeking affirmation from the dodgy elements and criminals in Alex.
SEE ALSO
Mzansi Magic's Gomora: what it's about with a who's who of characters
and
TVSA Show Page: Gomora
Blood & Treasure
Channel: M-Net City (DStv 115)
TX Time: 18h20
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Globe-trotting action-adventure drama about a brilliant antiquities expert and a cunning art thief who team up to catch a ruthless terrorist who funds his attacks through stolen treasure.
Danny McNamara is a former FBI agent specialising in stolen arts and antiquities. Lexi Vaziri is a resourceful art thief who is haunted by the tragic loss of her father, which she blames on Danny.
When terrorist Karim Farouk absconds with a priceless artifact and kidnaps Danny's mentor, Dr. Anna Castillo, Danny recruits Lexi to help him bring Farouk to justice and rescue Anna.
As they chase down Farouk, they encounter unscrupulous individuals who may either be useful allies or dangerous enemies, including Aiden Shaw, an arms dealer who acts solely in his self-interest, and Simon Hardwick, an expert at procuring pilfered artifacts.
Danny and Lexi are assisted by Father Chuck, a childhood friend of Danny's who works at the Vatican Foreign Ministry in Rome.
Their hunt draws the attention of Interpol agent Gwen Karlsson, who wants Farouk brought to justice, but won't allow Danny and Lexi to break international laws in the process.
As they crisscross the world hunting their target, Danny and Lexi unexpectedly find themselves at the centre of a 2,000-year-old battle for the cradle of civilisation.
Lockdown 3
Channel: Mzansi Wethu (DStv 163)
TX Time: 20h00
Genre: Drama
Last season came to a dramatic end with an injured Monde (Zola Nombona) making a run for it with the stolen diamonds, as Maki (Linda Sebezo) and her nemesis Deborah (Pamela Nomvete) came face to face in an explosive showdown.
Fast forwarding a couple of months later, Season 3 opens with a cliffhanger as Beauty's life is hanging in the balance with her son Njabulo (Mthunzi Ntoyi) spiralling out of control with guilt behind bars.
Monde wakes up in an inyanga's house who turns out to be a good Samaritan. Determined to start afresh, Monde decides to contact Simon (Thabo Rametsi) as she believes he's her ticket to a new beginning, as the couple go for happily-ever-after.
Meanwhile, Deborah has to deal with a potential suspension after Monde's escape, while nursing a gruesome injury at the hands of Maki Magwaza. Maki's revenge plot gains momentum, leaving the once powerful Deborah shattered and alone.
Tyson (Lorcia Cooper) is out seeking revenge from the man that stripped her of her dignity, while MaZ (Dawn Thandeka King) goes after Sharon (Lindiwe Ndlovu) for killing someone dear to her.
This season also introduces new management and new inmates, including:
Pauletta Scott
played by Tichina Arnold
Pauletta is a new prisoner at Thabazimbi. A deal went wrong with a former business associate, leading to a series of event that sees her locked up.
Minister Mazibuko
played by Thembi Nyandeni
Minister Mazibuko is the Minister of Correctional Services who has been assigned to Thabazimbi to get things under control. Mazibuko is hardcore and only softens up towards her daughter, Phindi, for whom she will do anything.
Phindi Mazibuko
played by Mmabatho Montsho
Phindiwe is naïve and idealistic. A criminal psychologist, she believes that all evil people can be redeemed. She is the apple of her mother's eye.
Grace, aka Zim Zim
played by Manaka Ranaka
Zim Zim is a serial killer who has a fascination with body parts and operating on people.
Mamba
played by Khulu Skenjana
Mamba is a career criminal in for armed robbery and murder. He has charisma and enigma that is both attractive and fearsome.
Azania (real name Pinky)
played by Dineo Nchabeleng
A student activist who comes to Thabazimbi along with two fellow activists for arson and malicious damage to national property.
TVSA Show Page: Lockdown 3
Mary Berry's Quick Cooking
Channel: BBC Lifestyle (DStv 174)
TX Time: 18h00
Genre: Food, Travel
Follows Mary as she explores some of the most exciting places that have mastered or inspired the very best of speedy cooking.
This adventure takes her abroad to cities she's never visited before, along with places closer to home that we don't normally have access to.
Entwined in these travels is Mary cooking some of her most delicious quick recipes that take no time at all - some in a kitchen and some perched on rooftops, in food trucks or tiny cafe kitchens.
In the series premiere, "Rome": Starting her travels in Italy, Mary makes her first ever visit to Rome.
With a cuisine and cooking culture she has always adored, Italy's vibrant capital city offers some of the world's best food and produce.
After a moped tour of the sights, she tries a delicious new take on traditional pizza, uncovers a hidden gem in Rome's old Jewish quarter and cooks a speedy Roman classic with Michelin-starred chef Cristina Bowerman.
Doing what she does best, Mary whips up a mouthwatering bruschetta on a beautiful central Rome rooftop, some superspeedy pasta dishes and an irresistible tiramisu - all inspired by her Italian adventure.
Little Fires Everywhere
Channel: M-Net (DStv 101)
TX Time: 21h00
Genre: Drama, Period Drama, Miniseries
Starring Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington, this series follows the intertwined fates of the picture-perfect Richardson family and an enigmatic mother and daughter who upend their lives.
Based on Celeste Ng's 2017 bestseller, the story explores the weight of secrets, the nature of art and identity, the ferocious pull of motherhood – and the danger in believing that following the rules can avert disaster.
In the series premiere, "The Spark": The picture-perfect lives of the Richardson family are upended by the mysterious arrival of artist Mia Warren and her daughter Pearl in Shaker Heights, Ohio - an idyllic town founded on the utopian principals of harmony and order.
Egged on by her guilty conscience, do-gooder Elena Richardson rents to the mother-daughter duo, irrevocably intertwining the fates of the two families.
Killer Couples 7
Channel: eReality (Openview 108)
TX Time: 20h40
Genre: True Crime, Docu-Drama
Featuring the true crime stories of America's most dangerous duos, this series takes a deep dive into the turbulent lives these couples led.
Each episode examines the evolution of their relationships and the passion that drove them to commit murder.
Through reenactments and first-hand accounts, each episode tells a story of what ultimately drove them to commit the crime, as well as destroy the lives of those around them.
In the Season 7 premiere, "Angela Hill and Logan McFarland": A drug-crazed couple set off on a multi-state crime spree.
Is this duo the modern-day Bonnie and Clyde or is one of them just another victim in a twisted crime?
The Throne
Channel: Mzansi Wethu (DStv 163)
TX Time: 20h30
Genre: Telenovela
Telenovela created by Ferguson Films and set in a fictitious BaTswana kingdom which revolves around a royal family in turmoil after the discovery of mineral deposits on their land.
Kweneng - a modest kingdom in the North West Province's Magaliesburg region that runs smoothly without major conflict, contestation or resentment - is thrown into a cocktail of treachery, deceit and turmoil when the minerals are discovered, and the reigning monarch's legitimacy is questioned.
Each member of the royal family embarks on a desperate quest to serve their own interest: be it ascending into the coveted seat or the pursuit of freedom – avoiding customary obligation and anxiety.
At the centre of the plot lies Queen Mosadi Kwena, the current ruler and matriarch, who is tasked with finding an heir to the throne between her daughters, Kefilwe and Mosetsana.
Alongside her daughters is the Queen's brother Moseki, who also has a claim to power and weaves a plot to override the rightful protocols.
Also in the mix is the wise communal sage, Sephiri, who is the custodian of cultural history, boundlessly loyal to the throne, and the only person who knows who the true successor will be.
The kingdom traces its lineage back many years, to a momentous event that occurred over five generations ago when a great Tswana king who ruled over a fertile valley uncovered a cruel betrayal by his only son.
As punishment, he decided to hand over the reins of his kingdom to his beloved eldest daughter, who would become the first in a long line of queens.
His furious son took some of the community with him and founded a rival monarchy – the Morule Kingdom – that many years later still disputes Queen Mosadi's rightful claim to the throne.
Queen Mosadi is a just and brilliant ruler. She was the first in her lineage to receive a university education, and she has put her schooling to great use.
She founded a tea company in the fertile valley of Kweneng. Kwena Tea is sold both locally and internationally, and is known to treat a multitude of ailments. It is a herbal infusion that her great aunt introduced to her as a teenager, made from traditional herbs.
Queen Mosadi realised the tea had the potential to create great wealth for her community. The wealth has been invested in roads, in infrastructure, and in education.
She rules over a peaceful kingdom, and her subjects love and adore her. But trouble is brewing in the kingdom of Kweneng...
For key character bios and a list of every actor to have appeared in the series, go here:
TVSA Show Page: The Throne
Jane the Virgin 5
Channel: Netflix South Africa
TX Time: 10h00 (all episodes)
Genre: Comedy-Drama
Season 4 saw Jane falling back in love with her baby-by-accidental-insemination-daddy, Rafael. And she published her first book.
Unfortunately, it didn't exactly fly off the shelves, but Jane pushed on and had her biggest writing breakthrough yet, combining her grandmother's story, her mother's story and her own into a multigenerational love story.
And speaking of the Villaneuva women... matriarch Alba had a huge year. She began dating again, became sexually liberated, became an American citizen (at last!) and got married.
And Xiomara certainly had a big year as well.
At first, she found herself struggling to adjust to life as a married woman. But she and Rogelio worked through their issues.
And then, just as Xo started to get her groove back, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
After choosing to have a mastectomy, she started to go through chemo... which was tough. But she's stayed strong, with her husband's support.
Which brings us to her husband, Rogelio. First, he had a baby (named "Baby") with his ex-girlfriend Darci. And then he decided to become a stay-at-home Danny (Dad + Nanny = Danny).
And that lasted a whole month. But alas, he found staying home with his baby Baby pretty difficult.
And he couldn't resist the siren call of the cameras when the network decided they wanted to remake "The Passions of Santos" for American TV.
Can you blame him? That's been his dream forever.
Unfortunately, that remake came with strings; it had to costar his latest, fiercest nemesis, River Fields.
Which finally brings us to... Petra, who was accused of murder. Again! But Petra denied it and hired a lawyer named Jane Ramos aka JR.
And then, she and JR fell in love. And when Petra's life was threatened, JR ran to her rescue, and wrestled the gun away from her would be attacker.
But oh no! The gun went off! Leaving us with the classic cliffhanger - "Who did JR shoot"?
And speaking of cliffhangers, remember when Jane walked into Rafael's apartment and saw her dead husband Michael standing there? Surprises come at you fast and furious around here...
In the Season 2 premiere, "Chapter Eighty-Two": Jane makes a shocking discovery and looks to Rafael for answers but is confused by his decision to put everything he and Jane have on hold.
Meanwhile, Petra is trying to secure a future with the hope of it being with JR, but her past might jeopardise everything.
The Rookie
Channel: M-Net City (DStv 115)
TX Time: 19h10
Genre: Drama, Police Procedural
Starting over isn't easy, especially for small-town guy John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) who, after a life-altering incident, is pursuing his dream of being an LAPD officer.
As the force's oldest rookie, he's met with skepticism from some higher-ups who see him as just a walking midlife crisis.
If he can't keep up with the young cops and the criminals, he'll be risking lives including his own.
But if he can use his life experience, determination and sense of humour to give him an edge, he may just become a success in this new chapter of his life.
Britain's Best Home Cook 2
Channel: BBC Lifestyle (DStv 174)
TX Time: 20h00
Genre: Food, Reality Competition
Best Home Cook is back with a new lease of life: brand new kitchens, tougher challenges and a tense finale each week.
There's also a new addition to the judging line-up, with Michelin-starred chef Angela Hartnett joining the 'queen of home cooking' Mary Berry and fruit and veg expert Chris Bavin.
Hosted by Claudia Winkleman (Strictly Come Dancing), 10 talented home cooks embark on the ultimate immersive cooking competition, living together in a shared house and competing against each other, while the trio of judges put their cooking prowess to the test.
Each week, the cooks face two challenges - Mary's 'ultimate' task, preparing dishes for special occasions, and Chris's incredibly difficult 'rustle up' challenge, where they have one star ingredient and one hour to create a mid-week masterpiece.
Those who haven't impressed enough across these two challenges will be picked to take part in Angela's dreaded eliminator where the cooks go head to head and must follow one of Angela's recipes, perfectly.
In the Season 2 premiere, Mary challenges the cooks to produce their ultimate Italian pasta dinner, while Chris requires them to rustle up a dish based around a piece of fruit.