A new presenter line-up will bring fresh energy to SABC1’s long-running entertainment lifestyle show when HotSpot Seli returns on 1 October
SABC1 is bringing a new presenter line-up to HotSpot Seli, with Khanyisile ‘Khanyi Mars’ Masimola, digital creator Munaka Muthambi and entertainer Oratile ‘Roiii’ Kgobe joining the refreshed entertainment lifestyle show.
The new season premieres on Thursday, 1 October 2026 at 18:00 on SABC1 and SABC Plus.
The trio will take viewers into the world of South African entertainment, lifestyle and popular culture, offering access to celebrities, events, destinations and experiences beyond the usual red carpet.
A long-running SABC entertainment show
HotSpot Seli is the latest evolution of the SABC’s long-running Selimathunzi franchise, a programme that has been part of South African television for decades.
The show has previously been presented by a number of familiar television personalities, including Dosto Noge, Zam Nkosi, Kaos Mate, Lunga Shabalala and Zizo Beda. Selimathunzi was later reworked as Hotspot Selimathunzi before adopting the shorter HotSpot Seli branding.
In 2024, SABC1 announced a revamped version of the programme, with Hotspot Selimathunzi returning to the channel in July before a further season launched in September with Siphesihle Vazi, Zanele Potelwa and Sparks as presenters.
The format has traditionally focused on entertainment, celebrity interviews, music, fashion, events, cars and lifestyle, while putting presenters in the middle of the cultural moments generating conversation.
The 2024 season, for example, included coverage of the Basadi Music Awards red carpet, a behind-the-scenes look at Enhle Mbali’s collection for South African Fashion Week and a feature around BMW spinning at the Royal Heritage Festival.
The refreshed 2026 season continues that approach while introducing three new personalities with backgrounds spanning digital media, music, broadcasting and entertainment.
Khanyi Mars brings presenting and interview experience
Khanyisile Masimola, popularly known as Khanyi Mars, joins the show as a digital presenter with experience in artist interviews and live hosting.
She has built her profile around entertainment conversations and amplifying African creative voices, with her work extending across interviews, hosting and digital content.
Her stated ambitions include taking her presenting career onto international television platforms, covering global red carpets and hosting major entertainment stages.
Khanyi’s appointment also comes as her profile in the entertainment industry continues to grow. She was listed as a Podcast Presenter of the Year winner at the 2026 Basadi in Music Awards, further reflecting her growing presence across entertainment media.
Munaka Muthambi moves from digital platforms to television
Munaka Muthambi brings a strong digital following and reality television experience to the presenting team.
The digital creator and lifestyle personality is also known for winning Love Never Lies SA. According to the broadcaster, she has built a community of more than 728,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok.
Her content centres on authenticity, empowerment, connection and creativity, with a focus on relatable storytelling and conversations that speak particularly to Gen Z and millennial audiences.
Her move into HotSpot Seli gives her an opportunity to take that digital-first approach into a television environment, connecting her existing audience with the wider entertainment and lifestyle world explored by the programme.
Roiii adds music, radio and digital entertainment
Oratile ‘Roiii’ Kgobe joins the show with a background spanning music, radio, television and digital content.
The South African entertainer first made his name in the music industry before expanding his work into radio presenting, content creation, creative direction and vlogging.
Known for his energetic personality and storytelling style, Roiii has developed a presence across multiple areas of entertainment, making his transition into a television lifestyle format a continuation of his work across different creative platforms.
His experience in front of the microphone and camera is expected to add another dimension to the show’s interviews, event coverage and entertainment features.
Taking viewers behind the scenes
At the centre of HotSpot Seli is access – taking viewers beyond the polished public image of celebrities and into the spaces where entertainment and popular culture unfold.
The new season will feature major entertainment and cultural events including Scorpion Kings Live, Tropika Island of Treasure, the iLembe Heritage Festival in Mandeni, KwaZulu-Natal, the Masquerade Ball in Sun City and the Macufe Music Festival in Bloemfontein.
The presenters will also explore homes, cars, restaurants, destinations, food, fashion, music and street culture while meeting the personalities connected to those worlds.
The format is built around spontaneous conversations and real-time experiences, allowing the presenters to interact with celebrities, creators and audiences in different environments.
A new chapter for HotSpot Seli
The arrival of Khanyi Mars, Munaka Muthambi and Roiii marks another change in the evolution of a programme that has repeatedly refreshed its format and presenter line-up while maintaining its focus on South African entertainment and lifestyle.
As SABC1 continues to position the show around the people, events and cultural moments driving conversation, the new season will combine established elements of the franchise with personalities whose careers have been shaped by digital media, music, broadcasting and contemporary popular culture.
HotSpot Seli premieres Thursday, 1 October 2026 at 18:00 on SABC1 and SABC Plus.
