Avatar photo

Compiled by Thami Kwazi

Lifestyle Print Editor


Why ‘A Very Bonang Year’ continues to break records

The viewership for the show equates to almost 21% of the total South African audience and the highest achieved by any entertainment offering in the slot this year.


A Very Bonang Year – the two-part special which chronicles 12 extraordinary months in the life of South Africa’s media darling, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Bonang Matheba – saw over 2 million viewers watching part 2 on Saturday 8 August on SABC 1.

The viewership for A Very Bonang Year equates to almost 21% of the total South African audience and the highest achieved by any entertainment offering in the slot this year, which also had a massive viewership of 1.86 million for the first episode broadcast Saturday 1 August.

Her success could be attributed to the fact that viewers find her so relatable. Although always draped in fashion regalia, her personality is motivational and inspirational. And she carries a piece of Mzansi wherever she goes. On her show, she’s heard speaking a bit of Tswana on The Breakfast Club, to host Charlamagne Tha God. She’s known as the original ‘Moghel’.

Image supplied.

She’s a big supporter of local brands and was draped in Rich Minsi and Gert-Johan Coetzee before both designers became household names.

She continues to be a social activist and philanthropic work.

Bonang heads up The Bonang Matheba Bursary Fund, which aims to provide 300 young ladies with tertiary education by the year 2025.

She said: “I believe that when you educate a girl child, you actually educate a community and you educate a family.”

She’s also her own boss. A Very Bonang Year was produced by Red Button Films in association with C.S.A. and Bonang Matheba Entertainment, her own production company.

The #AVeryBonangYear hashtag reached an astonishing 2.2 billion impressions over the broadcast period, showing why Bonang has well-earned the moniker of Queen B.

“Overall, we are happy with the performance of the show and it proves as a good business decision on our part. We are grateful for the viewers who tuned in and generated much talk-ability,” said Sane Zondi from SABC 1.

(Compiled by Thami Kwazi)

Read more on these topics

Bonang Matheba

For more news your way

Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.