Luxury has a language of its own, usually associated with expensive clothes, exclusive spaces, international travel and access to things most people cannot easily afford. However, those ideas do not necessarily capture what luxury means to a younger generation of South Africans.
That is the cultural question behind “VIP Lounge”, a new Mzansi Magic lifestyle magazine show that is attempting to put a more local meaning to the idea of luxury while placing black South African achievement at the centre of the conversation.
Rather than treating luxury as a fixed concept, the show’s content producers, Anathi Rubela and Monde Sibisi, see it as something that changes with time, circumstances and generations.
South Africa is no stranger to luxury lifestyle shows, which raises the question of what “VIP Lounge” hopes to bring to a space that has already been explored on local television.
According to Rubela and Sibisi, the answer is not about filling a gap as much as widening the audience for the conversation.
“This show isn’t about filling a gap in the market. It’s about expanding the market,” they told “The National”.
For Rubela and Sibisi, the distinction is important. They said that previous luxury lifestyle programmes have often been aimed at older, more economically established audiences.
However “VIP Lounge” targets viewers from their mid-20s upwards, and wants to bring younger adults into a conversation about what they consider aspirational, exclusive and worth celebrating in South Africa in 2026.
That means looking beyond the obvious symbols of wealth.
For this audience, luxury might include access to a major music event, a particular fitness programme or an experience that feels special. Fashion and travel remain part of the picture, but they are not the entire definition.
“Luxury evolves constantly with the times, and with each generation. That doesn’t only mean fancy travel and clothing; it also means access to the right music events, the right fitness programmes, the things that actually matter to them,” Rubela and Sibisi said.
The approach raises a broader question about how luxury is understood when viewed through a South African lens.
The producers acknowledge that the word itself is imported, but argue that its meaning can be shaped by the people and culture using it.
The show therefore intends to centre South Africans and their experiences, particularly people who have built careers and businesses despite not necessarily starting with privilege.
Local designers will feature on the programme, not only to showcase their work but to tell the stories behind how they reached national and international recognition.
“We’re not trying to reinvent luxury. We’re giving it our take!” the producers said.
That approach places the journey alongside the finished product.
The designer’s clothes, the celebrity’s home or the musician’s success are not simply presented as objects of aspiration. The people behind them become part of the story of what South African achievement can look like.
It is also why the programme does not restrict itself to fashion and celebrity culture. Its scope includes television, film, music, art, culture, lifestyle and current affairs, reflecting the producers’ belief that there is no single way to define luxury.
“Everyone, rightfully so, has their own definition, so we wanted to offer something for everybody, while knowing we can’t include everybody, because that’s simply not possible,” they said.
For a culture increasingly shaped by different generations, influences and ideas of success, that flexibility is central to the show’s positioning.
“VIP Lounge” is intended to grow alongside its audience, with its producers expecting tastes and interests to change as viewers move through different stages of life.
The cultural framing also extends to the idea of black South African excellence. Rather than using excellence simply as a shorthand for celebrity or wealth, the programme wants to look at people making an impact across different creative and cultural spaces.
That includes the fashion designers building their brands, musicians shaping the sound of the moment, artists developing their work and television personalities whose careers have become part of popular culture.
The emphasis is on what people in South Africa are creating and achieving now.
That was also part of the reason the producers felt the programme was timely. Mzansi Magic already has a range of unscripted shows, but they saw an opportunity for a lifestyle variety programme aimed at young adults that did not centre on relationship drama.
They wanted to create space for stories about what people are doing, making and celebrating in their communities.
“Why not now?” they said. “We want to give audiences a different take on Mzansi Magic content. This is it!”
The programme’s hosts also bring their own relationship with television to the format. For Zulu Mkhathini, the show represents a return to the screen and an opportunity to be part of a show centred on black South African achievement.
“I’m excited to be part of a show that celebrates black South African excellence. A lifestyle magazine show is what we need right now. It’s super nostalgic with a twist, and I’m excited to be back on screen,” Mkhathini said.
He also welcomed the opportunity to share the presenting role with Pamela Mtanga, describing her as “super talented”.
For Mtanga, the show marks her return to television after several years away. She said the opportunity was particularly meaningful because of the kind of programme she wanted to be part of.
“I’ve always wanted to be part of television that feels current, fun, and connected to what’s happening in Mzansi right now.
“I’m also excited to share the space with Zulu, we’ve already had so much fun putting it together, and I can’t wait for everyone to finally see it,” she added.
Mkhathini and Mtanga will host the show, which premieres on Friday, October 2 at 9pm on DStv Channel 161.
nomathamsanqa.sithathu@nationalmg.co.za