Cape Town - In a surprise twist, viewers will next Friday see a group of 11 finalists, rather than the usual top 10, battle it out in style and travel challenges as they fight to survive elimination and compete for one of three presenter spots on Presenter Search on 3.
Earlier this month, the announcement of an 11th contender emerged at a media event hosted by SABC3 and sponsor Nedbank at the city’s Protea Hotel Fire and Ice.
“I had to keep it a secret,” Nambitha Ben-Mazwi exclaimed to her fellow finalists when she was named the 11th addition to the group.
The singer, actress and entrepreneur, who has also dabbled with some television presenting, struck a pose as she joined the top 10 for a photo call.
Whether it be a catwalk glide while doing a balancing act on blue stilettos, or exuding confidence in a fitted designer suit, each of the top 11 are determined to use their own mix of charm, talent and stylish flair to woo both the judges and TV viewers.
Rocking her blue stilettos, Cape Town’s Zoë Brown, 25, is already a household name to many who have heard her as a KFM radio presenter.
“I’ve always liked the idea of being in media, so now I want to try TV,” said Brown, who initially failed to make the top 30 but was brought back as a “wildcard” pick.
Also holding an honours in International Relations from Stellenbosch University, she added that she hoped her degree would come in handy should her presenting ambitions crash.
One of the final winners will join popular Top Billing presenters Jeannie D and Bonang Mtheba, who will judge the contestants’ performance, along with TV presenter and radio DJ Phat Joe.
The second will join the presenting team of breakfast show Expresso, while the third will co-host a new reality programme to be revealed later.
Nationwide auditions started off two months ago, with SABC3 announcing that the show will be held as a tribute to the memory of late Simba Mhere, hailed as “one of South Africa’s favourite Top Billing presenters”
Meanwhile, working the room with humorous anecdotes while oozing charisma, KwaZulu-Natal finalist Sanda Shandu said his economics degree from UCT would serve as a “back-up” should the “entertainment thing not work out”.
But it seems showbiz has already favoured the 23-year-old in what he described as “booking the right shift on the right night”.
In August while working at a local Star Dust diner, Shandu met one of the country’s most renowned entertainers, David Kramer.
The next month Shandu found himself on stage in his debut theatre performance, in the role of Richard Collins in Kramer’s hit musical production, Orpheus in Africa.
The grand finale will be held at the end of next month on the island of Zanzibar.
* Catch all the glitz, glam and action, starting on Friday on SABC3 at 7.30pm.
Weekend Argus