The 19th Annual South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) wrapped up over two nights, 13–14 March 2026, at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg, with Tshedza Pictures walking away as the night's biggest winner.
The ceremony, organized by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), doubled as a tribute to 50 years of South African television storytelling, operating under the theme: One Story. One Industry. One Future. The Craft Awards were streamed live on the SAFTAs YouTube channel on the first night; the Main Awards were broadcast simultaneously on SABC 2 and Mzansi Magic (channel 161) on the second.
The Winners
"Death of a Whistleblower" took Best Feature Film, while Sandra Prinsloo and Ian Roberts both won acting honors for "A Kind of Madness" — Best Actress and Best Actor in a Feature Film respectively.
On the television side, "Reyka 2" won Best TV Drama, with Gail Mabalane (Best Actress) and Frank Opperman (Best Actor) taking the drama acting prizes — Mabalane for "Unseen – Season 2" and Opperman for "Nêrens, Noord-Kaap Deel 2." "Catch Me A Killer" won Best Achievement in Directing in the TV Drama category.
"The Morning After" won Best TV Comedy, with Desire Gardner and Hannes van Wyk winning the comedy acting prizes for "Magda Louw Season 2."
In the Telenovela category, "Youngins" won Best Telenovela, while iThonga claimed both Best Actor and Best Actress in a Telenovela — Bonko Khoza and Nelisiwe Sibiya respectively. "SCANDAL!" took Best TV Soap. The public vote for Most Popular TV Soap or Telenovela went to "Inimba S1."
Production Company Standings
Tshedza Pictures led both nights with 7 Golden Horns — the award's name for SAFTA trophies — including four wins for "Youngins" (Best Telenovela, Best Direction, Best Original Music/Score, and Best Editing) and two for "iThonga." Quizzical Pictures and Wolflight Films each claimed 6 Golden Horns, while Ochre Media took 5.
Special Honors
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to two recipients: Bobby Heaney, a television, film, and stage producer-director known for mentoring new filmmakers; and Magic Hlatshwayo, an actor whose career dates to the 1980s, including his role as Madlanduna in "Kwakhala Nyonini."
Erik Holm, known for his role as Rian Malherbe in the soap "Binnelanders," received the Outstanding Person with Disability Contributor Award. Eastern Cape-born Sandulela Biyana received the Youth Achiever Award, and Ntokozo Mlaba received the Emerging Filmmaker Award.
On the Night
The main awards show was hosted by Anele Mgudlwa and Simphiwe "Alphi" Mkhwanazi. The Red Carpet was hosted by Pamela Mntanga and Katleho "Kat" Sinivasan, and the Craft Awards by Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp and Moshe Ndiki. Performances across both nights included Thebe, Mdu, Early B, Kamo Mphela, Khuli Chana, Amy Tjasink, and Toss. A gospel tribute by Hle anchored the in-memoriam segment.
The show was produced by Black Swan Media. NFVF Acting CEO Onke Dumeko acknowledged broadcast partners Canal+ and SABC, as well as sponsors Flight Centre SA, Icebolethu Group, the Gauteng Film Commission, First for Women, Magical Marble Family Festival, and AVANTE.
The full winners list is available at nfvf.co.za and across SAFTAs social media under #SAFTAs19.
