The Masked Singer South Africa is a South African reality singing competition television series that premiered on SABC 3 on 3 June 2023. It is part of the Masked Singer franchise and hosted by Mpho Popps. The format features celebrities singing in head-to-toe costumes and face masks which conceal their identities from other contestants, panelists and an audience. The second season premiered on 6 April 2024. The third season premiered on 4 July 2026 airing on SABC 2.
Format Each season of The Masked Singer South Africa features a group of celebrity contestants. In a typical episode, four contestants anonymously in costume each sing for panelists and an audience. Hints to their identities, known as the "clue package" are given before and occasionally after each performs. The perennial format is a taped interview with a celebrity's electronically masked voice narrating a video showing cryptic allusions to what they are known for. During screenings of the clue packages, after performances and before an elimination, the panelists are given time to speculate on each singer's identity out loud and write comments in note binders. They may ask questions and the host may offer additional clues.
After performances conclude, the audience and panelists vote for their favorite singer using an electronic device. The show uses a weighted voting system; panelists' and audience members' votes are worth 50 percent each and combined to form a score. The least popular contestant then takes off their mask to reveal their identity. This process of elimination continues for a set number of episodes until four contestants remain in the season finale and one is declared the winner after they perform again. The "Golden Mask" trophy is awarded as a prize. Voting does not occur for certain performances; contestants in an episode might occasionally sing as a group, and each episode concludes with the eliminated celebrity singing an encore unmasked. Occasionally, the eliminated celebrity sings their signature song unmasked. To continue attracting viewers, producers often modify the format each season.
Panelists and host The permanent panel consists of television personality and actor Somizi Mhlongo, musician and former celebrity chef J Something, socialite and media personality Sithelo Shozi, and comedian Skhumba Hlophe. Mpho Popps hosts the show from season 1–present.
Guest panelists Season Episode Name Notability1 5 Boity Thulo Musician 6 Tbo Touch Radio personality 9 Moshe Ndiki TV personality 2 3 Jason Goliath Actor 6 Kurt Darren Singer 8 Devi Sankaree Govender Journalist 9 Moshe Ndiki TV personality 10 Holly Rey Musician3 4 Jason Goliath Comedian 5 Moshe Ndiki TV personality 9 Jason Goliath Comedian 11 Moshe Ndiki TV personality Tbo Touch Radio personality Zee Nxumalo Singer
Series overview
Awards and nominations Year Association Category Nominated works Result Ref. 2023 National Film and Television Awards Best Competition ShowThe Masked Singer South Africa 2024 IAB Bookmark Awards Bronze Award for digital promotion South African Film and Television Awards Best International Format Reality Show (Season 1) Most Popular TV PresenterMpho Popps
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