Netflix marks a decade in South Africa with new programming slate

Comedy franchise addition How to Ruin Diwali: Meet The Parents

Global streamer Netflix has unveiled a slate of new South African projects to mark its 10th anniversary in the country.

Netflix is holding a press showcase in Johannesburg today to mark 10 years since its South African launch in 2016 – an expansion the streamer said has supported more than 8,000 jobs through partnerships with 30 local production companies.

New series on the regional slate include an expansion of the How To Ruin franchise, titled How to Ruin Diwali: Meet The Parents (October 30), from Burnt Onion Productions in collaboration with producer Jayan Moodley.

Drawing on the same tradition of Moodley’s South African Indian family-centred comedy seen in titles such as The Kandasamys, the story follows an interracial couple whose engagement brings two very different families and cultures together.

Netflix also announced partnerships with more local production companies on forthcoming projects.

Dineo and Zothile ‘Solo Ntsizwa’ Langa host Love is Blind: South Africa

On the reality slate, celebrated local power couple Dineo and Zothile ‘Solo Ntsizwa’ Langa have been confirmed as the hosts of Love is Blind: South Africa, produced by afrOkaans and slated for release later this year.

Wedding docusoap Stars & Vows: Anele & Buzza, from Dopezuluboi Productions, will also launch later this year, while BrightFire is working on a new dating reality show, with more details set to be revealed.

Elsewhere, The Bomb Shelter Film Productions is working on a new scripted series alongside a multi-title partnership with Tshedza Pictures across four scripted series.

Subscribers can also catch Blood Legacy S2 (launching September 25) and film sequels Seriously Single Too and Another Disaster Holiday, both launching this year.

Netflix also confirmed Tuiskoms S2 and Marked S2, and the film Meet the Khumalos 2 are all in different stages of production.

Previous Netflix South African originals include Blood & Water, Young, Famous & African, Unseen, Silverton Siege, Fatal Seduction, Disaster Holiday, How to Ruin Christmas, Beauty & the Bester, Marked, Kings of Joburg, Blood Legacy, The Polygamist and, most recently, Umthetho.

Ben Amadasun, VP of content for Netflix Middle East and Africa, said: “Ten years ago, we set out to share South African stories and voices with the world and today, we are proud to strengthen our partnership with the local creative industry and continue creating exciting stories that will entertain our members in South Africa and around the world.”