Deal or No Deal South Africa continues to catch dreams with a slick new look
The life-changing show has already given away more than R12 million!
Deal or No Deal South Africa host, Katlego Maboe. Photo: Supplied
On Monday (3 March), Primedia Studios’ hugely popular Monday-to-Friday game show Deal or No Deal South Africa on SABC 2 surprised its avid fans with some vivid visual tweaks.
The moment the show’s charismatic host, Katlego Maboe, stepped onto the set, the contestants waiting to play the thrilling game of chance – and viewers at home – could sense a change in the air.
Katlego showed off a trendier version of his trademark blue suit, rounded off by snazzy white sneakers—to the delight of the fashionistas among the contestants and the show’s social media followers.
Following his spectacular entrance, Katlego introduced several revamped set features alongside an exciting new mechanism: the “LottoStar button”.
The button replaces the handwritten offers from the banker to buy the money box that the contestant in the hot seat has chosen as their bargaining chip, potentially allowing them to go home with a considerable sum of cash.
In this paperless environment, the contestant rejects the banker’s bid by closing the lid of the LottoStar button.
Meanwhile, pressing the red buzzer indicates that they are accepting the deal. They’d best keep their cool because one never knows what an adrenaline rush can do to shaky hands!
Photo: Supplied
The Deal or No Deal South Africa Money Tree now also boasts a new look with distinctive colour cues.
The desirable low amounts on the left side are marked in blue, while the dangerous high amounts on the right are in red.
This upgrade adds to the drama of the contestants opening the boxes that might stand them in good stead.
Furthermore, all the banker’s offers are displayed in clear view on the big screen hosting the Money Tree.
“With these cosmetic changes, simply amplifying everything viewers have come to love about Deal or No Deal, we celebrate the incredible impact it has made since launching on SABC in March 2023,” said Jan du Plessis, President of Primedia Studios.
After two years on air, we wanted to take the show to the next level for its loyal fans and trust the enhancements will provide even more drama and exhilarating entertainment.”
Deal or No Deal South Africa, in which contestants can win anything between R1 and R250,000 and often walk away with enough to kickstart projects, fund their studies, or fill some financial gaps, has increased viewership in all its timeslots on SABC.
Thanks to the show’s headline sponsor, LottoStar, the life-changing and dream-catching Deal or No Deal South Africa has already given away over R12 million to diverse contestants from all over the country.
Recently, Ayanda Zondi, a globetrotter and self-proclaimed poker addict born in KZN, lived up to her nickname “Ace” by winning the R250,000 jackpot.
Among the other big winners who took home more than R100,000 on SABC 2 were Phumza Gwaza from Alice, Hamanskraal’s Francinah Mmaĺamola Lekalakala, Liam Lloyd from Table View, and Ratanang Mafatshe representing Meadowlands.
From time to time, some lucky Deal or No Deal South Africa participants also drove off with nifty cars when the banker added two extra boxes on special occasions.
Who could forget how mathematics teacher Bongani Masilela sobbed when picking the correct box gifted him a Suzuki S-presso on Valentine’s Day 2024?
Lady Luck also smiled on Zola Zakade on Freedom Day, and after 2025’s “back to school”-themed episode, new adventures await Wesley Adams in his Suzuki Fronx.
“It’s such a blessing to be part of a show that truly transforms lives,” host Katlego said.
“It’s a beacon of positivity and light, fun, joy, goodwill, and genuine human connections that are so needed in these often tumultuous and depressing times faced by people around the globe. What’s particularly amazing and heartwarming for me is how the contestants form bonds on the show and support one another, and, for many, simply being on the show is a dream come true. So, winning the money is the cherry on top of something that’s another meaningful deal – being part of the wonderful, caring on-screen Deal or No Deal family.”
If you want to join this on-screen Deal or No Deal family, you can apply to be a contestant on the show’s website: dealornodealsa.tv.
Deal or No Deal South Africa is made possible by LottoStar and is produced by Homebrew Films for Primedia Studios.
The show airs on SABC 2, Mondays to Fridays at 18:30.
There are also rebroadcasts on the channel the following day at 11:00 and on S3 at 17:30
LottoStar is Licensed by the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator. No U18. National Responsible Gambling Programme 0800 006 008. Ts & Cs apply. All games are fixed-odds betting events.