The perfect catch
Actor-turned-presenter Siyabonga Radebe is bringing lovebirds together on new dating reality show Kheth’omthandayo.
Kheth’omthandayo Season 1 Fridays (from 2 February) 1Magic (*103) 20:30
Dating in 21st century is as simple as going on a reality TV show like Kheth’omthandayo (2018- current) and leaving for a candlelit dinner with your date at the end of the episode. “It isn’t that easy though,” laughs actor and presenter Siyabonga Radebe. Contestants have four suitors to choose from at the start of the episode, with two being eliminated in a set of rounds. The final two will fight for the contestant’s heart, be it a bachelor or a bachelorette. “The participants are looking for love. While some believe in finding their perfect match onscreen, others are looking forward to being seen on TV,” laughs Siyabonga. “The idea of being in front of the camera matters so much to them that the dating part is the ‘price’ they are willing to pay to have screen time,” adds the host.
WINGING IT!
The contestant isn’t alone in their hunt for love though. The suitors are put through the wringer in the first two rounds by family and friends, who throw tricky question at them about their past, their relationship goals and their personal lives. “The suitor who doesn’t make the grade is eliminated – and I can tell you now, they have to work twice as hard to impress the family and friends,” says Siyabonga. For the last round, the two finalists need to put their best feet forward in two challenges: one mental and one physical that will determine if they’re worthy of a full-on date.
And it’s an entirely foreign concept to Siyabonga, who admits that “before I joined, I didn’t watch dating shows, so I didn’t know what to expect, no clue. Our show tests how contestants tolerate invasion and their private lives being questioned – tolerance is needed in all relationships”. Siya adds that “I do believe it’s possible to find love on TV; it all depends on the people involved. For me, genuine love takes years to build, so these contestants have to be prepared to work hard to keep the sparks flying in their relationship”.
GOING WITH THE FLOW
Hosting a reality show is more than just reading lines from a teleprompter. Siyabonga is also a stand-up comedian, performing as Siya B, and he says that it helps him improvise while presenting Kheth’omthandayo. He adds that his eyes were opened to how different the TV industry really is, having played troubled musician Boboza on Rhythm City (2007- current, see more on p18) in 2010. “Unlike soapies and dramas, shooting a reality show takes forever,” laughs Siya. “I’m amused at the amount of work done by the production crew in making this show come together – they are actually the stars of the show.”
The human factor helped Siyabonga take the hosting job. “Acting is my first love, although I hosted décor reality show Kasi Cribs: Edladleni in 2015. I’m always ready to work on other projects and I am have a lot of fun presenting Kheth’omthandayo! I interact with the contestants in a way that makes them forget that they are on television. I try to make them feel comfortable and confident while they’re trying to steal hearts in front of the country.”