The Masks Are Back, And South Africa Is Watching (Again)
There’s something about mystery, spectacle, and just the right amount of chaos that keeps South Africa coming back for more. And just like that, The Masked Singer South Africa is back.
Returning for its third season, the SAFTA-winning show steps into a new era, and a new home on SABC 2, bringing with it the drama, disguise, and delight we’ve come to expect. From 4 July, Saturday nights at 19:00 are officially reserved for big reveals, bigger guesses, and the kind of television that turns living rooms into group chats.
But this isn’t just a comeback, it’s a level up. We’re talking more spectacle, more drama, more of those “wait… is that WHO I think it is?” moments.
At its core, the show remains what South Africans love: a high-energy guessing game where some of the country’s most recognisable faces step behind elaborate, almost surreal costumes to perform, and completely disappear into them.
According to Anele Mdoda, co-founder and CEO of Rose and Oaks Media, this season is not here to play small.
“Expect the wow factor that made The Masked Singer South Africa the talk of the town, but multiply it by at least three. It’s going to be wild!” says Anele Mdoda, co-founder and CEO of Rose and Oaks Media. “You won’t believe your eyes when the personalities behind the Masks are revealed. We’re talking mega-mega stars. And the Masks themselves are absolutely out of this world. Think glitz, glamour, and extravagance on an epic scale.”
And if previous seasons are anything to go by, the bar is already high.
We’ve seen Holly Rey take it home as Lollipop, and Warren Masemola owns the stage as the unforgettable Giraffe. We’ve watched personalities like Dricus du Plessis, Shudufhadzo Musida, and Doctor Khumalo completely throw us off track. And that’s the magic of it, you never really know.
This season, Mpho Popps returns as host, holding it all together as the chaos unfolds, while the ever-entertaining panel, Somizi Mhlongo, Skhumba, J’Something, and Sithelo Shozi take on the impossible task of figuring it all out.
Clues will be dropped, wild guesses will be made, and South Africans? We’ll be right there, convinced we’ve cracked it.
What’s also clear is that the show continues to sit at the intersection of entertainment and cultural moment. It’s not just about who’s behind the mask, it’s about how we watch, how we react, and how we collectively piece it together.
And with SABC 2 as its new home, there’s a sense that the show is becoming even more accessible, more shared, more ours. So yes, the masks are back.
The guesses will fly, the group chats will light up, and for a few weeks, at least, we’ll all be detectives. Because in South Africa, we don’t just watch the show, we play along.
The Masked Singer South Africa Season 3 premieres on SABC 2 on Saturday, 4 July at 19:00.
_ In The Room
Published by Neontle Mogomotsi
