Best series on DStv this March, from Cobrizi to David Blaine: Do Not Attempt

Cobrizi S1 | Mzansi Magic | 20:00 on Sundays from 16 March

Presley Chweneyagae burst onto the acting scene in the title role of the Oscar-winning Tsotsi, which won him his first SAFTA. But for most South Africans, he’s now better known for his unforgettable performance as Thuso “Cobra” Mokoena in The River, which won over 30 SAFTAs, including two Best Actor Golden Horns for Presley, and cracked an International Emmy nomination.

Now, Cobra is back in the spinoff series Cobrizi from hit-makers Tshedza Pictures (Youngins, Adulting, Outlaws, The Republic). The 13-episode drama series sees Cobra attempting to do right by his youngest child and prove he is not a loser. He starts as the same troubled, angry man viewers knew from The River – a survivor whose only way out has been through theft and hustling. But even a man like Cobra can evolve … if life gives him a fighting chance.

Look out for familiar faces from The River, like Thapelo Sebogodi and Winnie Ntshaba, who will be joined by the likes of DStv Mzansi Viewers’ Choice Awards winner Thembsie Matu (The Queen, Rockville).

Watch the first look:

David Blaine: Do Not Attempt  | National Geographic | 18:50 on Fridays from 28 March

David Blaine: Do Not Attempt follows the magician as he travels the world in search of extraordinary people who perform real feats that look like magic, which he then learns and attempts.

The six-part National Geographic series is directed by Emmy winner Matthew Akers (Marina Abramovich: The Artist Is Present), with Oscar winners Ron Howard and Brian Glazer (A Beautiful Mind) among the executive producers.

Locations include Brazil, Southeast Asia, India, the Arctic Circle, Japan and, yes, South Africa too.

Watch the trailer, which racked up over 7m views on YouTube alone in its first four days online:

Niggies | kykNET | 20:00 on Tuesdays from 25 March

In 1965, Issie Fourie and Petro Nel were kidnapped and murdered in the peaceful village of Odendaalsrus in the Free State. Issie’s brother, André, swore to throw everything into the fight to have the culprit apprehended. It would take him 18 years.

SAFTA winner Jaco Bouwer (Spinners, Gaia) directs, with Wolflight Films producing. Wolflight were also behind Koek, the most-awarded series at last year’s Silwerskerm.

Silwerskerm winner Beer Adriaanse (Hotel, Wonderlus) and newcomer Janru Steenkamp co-star as the older and younger André respectively, opposite the likes of Silwerskerm winners Carel Nel (Gaia), Jacques Bessenger (Koek, Donkerbos) and Erica Wessels (Donkerbos), SAFTA winner Tinarie van Wyk Loots (Fynskrif) and SAFTA nominees Jane de Wet (Griekwastad, The Girl from St Agnes) and Albert Pretorius (Nêrens, Noord-Kaap).

Watch the trailer:

Lioness S2 | M-Net | 20:00 on Mondays from 24 March

Zoe Saldaña won the 2024 Critics Choice Super Award for Best Actress: Action for her performance in Lioness as Joe McNamara, the leader of an undercover all-women US special ops team dedicated to befriending the wives, girlfriends or daughters of high-value terrorist targets and working to turn them for the CIA.

Created by Taylor Sheridan (Yellowstone, Tulsa King), Lioness became Paramount+’s most-watched global series when it launched.

The hit series stars Oscar winner Morgan Freeman, four-time Emmy nominee Michael Kelly (Hank Stamper in House of Cards), and Oscar winner Nicole Kidman, who was nominated for a 2025 Critics Choice Award as Kaitlyn Meade.

In Season 2, as the CIA’s fight against terror moves closer to home, Joe, Kaitlyn, and Byron enlist a new Lioness operative to infiltrate a previously unknown threat. With pressure mounting from all sides, Joe is forced to confront the profound personal sacrifices she has made as the leader of the Lioness program.

Watch the trailer:

iThonga | Mzansi Magic | 20:30 on weekdays from 3 March

SAFTA winner Bonko Khoza (The Wife, Red Ink) stars in iThonga as twin brothers Banele and Sanele. Despite walking two completely different paths – one in the light, the other in the shadows – the twins share a mystical and unshakable bond.

Set in the world of KZN construction mafias, the Mzansi Magic daily drama is produced by Tshedza Pictures, the powerhouse behind Showmax record holders Youngins and Adulting, 2024 SAFTA Best Telenovela winner Outlaws, and the International Emmy nominee The River.

The cast includes Ayanda Borotho (Sibongile and the Dlamini’s), Nelisiwe Sibiya (Nompendulo on Umkhokha: The Curse), Siphosethu Mabaso (Durban Gen), and singer Noluthando Ngema, winner of the 2023 Nando’s Emerging Artist of the Year Award at the Basadi in Music Awards.

Watch the trailer:

Wena Wodumo S1 | Moja Love | 20:30 on Saturdays from 29 March

After the unexpected death of her love and manager, Mampintsha, Gqom superstar Babes Wodumo finds herself having to pick up the pieces and start her life completely afresh amid huge expectations from fans and shocking complications around family and friends.

Babes took to Instagram to post the trailer, saying, “My journey is finally gonna be revealed in publicFrom the 1st day of being a widowMy crying days, misbelief, trauma, depression, conflicts and heartbreaks. Everything will be aired on the show.”

Watch the trailer:

Ludwig S1 | BBC Brit | 20:00 on Tuesdays from 18 March

Puzzle setter John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor’s life is upended when his identical twin, DCI James Taylor, disappears. John reluctantly assumes his identity to track him down.

Double BAFTA winners David Mitchell (Peep Show) and Anna Maxwell Martin (Bleak House, A Spy Among Friends) co-star. Also, look out for Nigerian Dipo Ola as DI Russell Carter.

Ludwig has a 91% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with The Guardian saying, “The BBC’s new comedy-mystery… has made me laugh more than anything else on TV all year. All year!”

Watch the trailer:

Come Dine With Me South Africa S10 | BBC Lifestyle | 20:00 on Wednesdays from 5 March

In each episode, four strangers from across South Africa take turns to try and achieve dinner party perfection. Who will take home the R10 000 cash prize?

A previous SAFTA winner for Best International Format Reality Show, Come Dine With Me South Africa is produced by Rapid Blue (Dancing With The Stars, The Bachelor, Family Feud, Got Talent, Shark Tank). 

Watch the trailer:

Industry S3 | M-Net | 22:00 on Mondays from 10 March

The BBC’s best series of 2024 and Rotten Tomatoes’ third best-reviewed drama series of last year, Industry follows a group of young bankers as they forge their identities within the pressure cooker environment and sex- and drug-fueled blitz of international bank Pierpoint & Co’s London office.

In Season 3, Pierpoint looks to the future and takes a big bet on ethical investing. Yasmin (2025 BAFTA EE Rising Star Award nominee Marisa Abela), Robert (Harry Lawtey), and Eric (Ken Leung) find themselves front and center dealing with Lumi, a green tech energy company led by Sir Henry Muck (Emmy nominee Kit Harington, aka Jon Snow in Game of Thrones). Since leaving Pierpoint, Harper (Myha’la) is eager to get back into the addictive thrill of finance and finds an unlikely partner in FutureDawn portfolio manager Petra Koenig (Emmy nominee Sarah Goldberg, aka Sally Reed in Barry).

Industry S3 was up for Best Drama Series at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards and has a 98% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, who say, “Industry’s ruthless third season is its best yet.”

Watch the trailer:

Snoop’s Fatherhood: Cori and Wayne’s Story | E! Entertainment | 19:05 on Sundays from 23 March

Snoop’s Fatherhood: Cori and Wayne’s Story follows Cori Broadus, entrepreneur and daughter of Snoop Dogg, and her fiancé, Wayne Duece, as they plan the wedding of the century. However, with four months to plan, a growing guest list and pending to-do’s before their I do’s, life does not always go as planned.

After an epic bachelorette celebration, Cori and Wayne’s picture-perfect wedding crumbles when Cori’s gown isn’t what she envisioned, and Wayne and his groomsmen get off on the wrong foot with a conflict over “kicks”. A pre-marital counseling session reveals some underlying issues and ultimatums that turn their lives upside down.

As Cori and Wayne are left to manage these relationship tensions, all while facing public backlash over their union, it proves to be too much. After a sudden life-threatening health scare, Cori must come to terms with her private health struggles, leaving the Broadus crew to focus on what’s most important … family.

Watch the trailer:

• The Oscars, live on M-Net on 3 March

• kykNET’s Lamb Champs, hosted by Minki van der Westhuizen, from 16 March

• Mzansi Magic’s reality series Makoti Are You The One? S3, from 30 March

• The White Lotus S3 | M-Net | 9pm on Mondays

• Suits L.A. S1 | M-Net | 7pm on Thursdays

• Herders | kykNET | Sunday, 9 March

• Tulsa King S2 | M-Net | Wednesday, 5 March

• Recipes for Love & Murder S2 | M-Net | Thursday, 13 March

• Thina Singo Zungu | Mzansi Magic | Sunday, 16 March

• Umkhont’ Ogwaz’Ekhaya S1 | Mzansi Magic | Sunday, 16 March

• The Day of the Jackal S1 | M-Net | Monday, 17 March

• Die Byl S6 | kykNET | Tuesday, 18 March

• Big Brother Mzansi S5 | Sunday, 23 March

• MasterChef Australia Dessert Masters | Sunday, 30 March

• Icala S2 | Mzansi Magic | Monday, 31 March

• Elders: Ligtoringroete | kykNET | Monday, 31 March

See the full schedule:

• Industry S3 

• Cobrizi

• Niggies

• Lioness S2

• iThonga

• Wena Wodumo

• Ludwig S1

• Snoop’s Fatherhood: Cori and Wayne’s Story

• David Blaine: Do Not Attempt

• Come Dine with Me SA S10