13 South African comedy specials to stream online

You won’t be able to laugh hysterically in a crowded comedy club anytime soon, but Showmax has stepped into the gap with an ever-growing comedy catalogue, guaranteed to put a smile on your dial, even in the time of Covid.

Here are some of the most popular local comedians on Showmax, plus a bonus pick that’s just landed on Netflix: Loyiso Gola’s first Netflix stand-up special!

With his coy grin and wry, understated humour, Eldorado Park’s very own Dillan Oliphant gets you giggling while he quietly cuts to the heart of the matter, blindsiding you with some home-truths on township life, conflict resolution, looting, funerals, uncles, aunties and loneliness. 

Since winning the 2012 Savanna Comics Choice Newcomer Award, Dillan has racked up laughs alongside the best in the biz on stage and screen, including Trevor Noah’s Nationwild, the Emmy-nominated Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola, Kings & Queens of Comedy and Blacks Only.  

Goliath presence, goliath persona, goliath energy – that’s Jason Goliath. Nominated for Best Newcomer in the 2012 Comics Choice Awards, Jason went on to scoop the Nando’s Best Friend of Comedy Award for three years running, from 2015 to 2017, with his co-owned entertainment company, Goliath & Goliath. 

In Manstruation, the Black Tax star has a go at relationships, making light of both sides in the marital equation.

One of the “first ladies” of SA comedy, Eastern Cape-born comedian, actress, columnist and author Khanyisa Bunu tells it like it is with her trademark modesty and good, clean comedy (though she gets a little bit naughty here). 

Khanyisa got her start on reality show So You Think You’re Funny. Since then, the former high school teacher has conquered the circuit, from Kings & Queens of Comedy, Blacks Only and the Comedy Central Roast Battle to the Grahamstown Arts Festival, Botswana, Nigeria and even Greenwich Village Comedy Club in New York. She’s toured with and opened for Trevor Noah and in 2015 became the first woman to win the coveted Comics Choice Audience Choice Award.

Fans of stand-up comedy phenomenon, internet sensation and Jonathan: Die Movie star Rikus de Beer are spoiled for choice with the full Radio Raps line-up on Showmax, including his live gigs Genuine, Dingetjies en Goetertjies and Laat Ek Jou So Sê.

With his usual dry observations, character sketches and straight-faced, laugh-out-loud humour, Dingetjies en Goetertjies takes a unique and hilarious look at life’s smallest irritations; Genuine tackles married life, the problems with social media groups and TV classics like Boer Soek ‘n Vrou; and Laat Ek Jou So Sê has a go at everything from current news and big events to random everyday things. And if that’s still not enough for you, Showmax has an all-you-can-eat buffet of Die Radio Raps Show, including the brand-new third season. 

Schalk Bezuidenhout won the 2013 Comics Choice Newcomer Award, was nominated as Breakthrough Act of the Year in 2014, and won the Intermediate Award in 2015. The Kempton Park-born Afrikaans comic has endeared himself to audiences across cultures and countries, with Skhumba calling him “the one white comedian loved by black people”. 

In Snorseun and Schalkie, his third Afrikaans and English one-man shows respectively, Schalk once again has a go at himself, Afrikaner identity, and preconceptions in general, bringing us strange encounters in Kempton Park and SA at large.

In Volksbesit, he pokes fun at himself and other South Africans, with no topic or quirk off limits.

It’s uncut, uncensored and unforgiving. That’s right, it’s Grudgement Day for rapper AKA. Pearl Thusi made history as the first black woman to be Roastmaster, and who better to put in the hot seat than her BFF’s baby daddy, AKA?

Watch (and squirm) as SA’s funniest take their very best below-the-belt potshots at the rapper (and each other). The guests include Nina Hastie, Mark Fish, Francois van Coke, Papa Penny, Moonchild Sanelly, Joey Rasdien, Davido and Moshe Ndik

If you still want more, Showmax also has the Pre-Roast Special with Jason Goliath.

Since becoming the first black video game designer to graduate from Wits University, Limpopo comedian Tsitsi Chiumya has rocketed onto the stand-up scene since the comedy bug derailed his gaming career plans. 

Named the Comics Choice Best Newcomer in 2018, Tsitsi won the 2019 Next Level Award, and hosted last year’s Savanna Newcomer Showcase. He’s also earned a SAFTA for script-writing as part of  the team behind Puppet Nation.

A master of observation and relatable, awkward stories, Tsitsi has performed across SA, in Zambia, Europe and the US, and did a 38-show tour of South-East Asia, with features in Trevor Noah’s Nationwild series and the BBC profile series, The Arts Hour with Nikki Bedi.

Christian comedian The Napsta uses music, ventriloquism and alter egos to address issues around the absence of fathers in South African society.

A election themed stand-up comedy special featuring Jason Goliath, Schalk Bezuidenhout, Chester Missing and Skhumba Hlophe.

These comics will be the funniest speed date you’ve ever had, as they open up about their love life, and love for making people laugh.

One of South Africa’s most beloved comedians, Marc Lottering, presents a stand-up comedy special covering topics ranging from how to successfully live in debt, to the dangers of a WhatsApp family group.

He could be the voice of a new generation of SA comedy … or he could be the voice of absurdity. Either way, Joey Rasdien will have you in stitches.

“When you’re the only black man at the party you go from Flavor Flav to Nelson Mandela like this!” Funny man Loyiso Gola​ is back and better than ever with his new stand-up special tackling learning and unlearning social norms.

Still struggling to pick one? Try the compilations Funny People Africa or get to know your favourite comedians better in the Showmax Original Trippin with Skhumba.