South Africa's ‘The Real Housewives Of Johannesburg’ Is Happening After All — Show Returning Under New Name ‘Divas Of Jozi’

Last summer, we reported that The Real Housewives Of Johannesburg was canned before it could even hit television screens after many production issues however it looks like the show is returning under new title and new production team. Full details below!

According to a new report, the show will return however it will no longer be associated or be part of the Real Housewives franchise. The reality show will return under Divas of Jozi.

It turns out that the reality show will feature the exact same cast as the Real Housewives of Johannesburg, with one added extra cast member to the line up. The revamped show also returns with new production company, after last year's messy drama.

As we reported last year, Real Housewives of Johannesburg was produced by Tigere Media and was struck by controversy when production suddenly stopped after filming for six months. The Sunday Times and Sowetan reported via TVSA that there were rights issues with the show and that the housewives involved wanted to sue the production after the footage ended up on the chopping room floor.

The noise died down after a different production company picked up the pieces. The series is now being produced by Bravoplex Media and it's being filmed as we speak.

How will Divas of Jozi be different from the canned show The Real Housewives of Johannesburg?

"I didn't want it to be tacky. For instance, if we were to look at the Housewives of Atlanta, there's a lot of tackiness, series creative producer Sinini Nyathi-Mati who told TVSA. "If I remember one episode vividly, when one of them said, 'It's like your VJJ has left your body,' - we don't want to portray that sort of tackiness and them going physically at each other. We wouldn't want it to go there."

"We're women and we respect each other. If you do something I don't agree with I will sit down and address you like an adult. We're not going to have bottles of wine flying at people's faces and all that. We've shot up until episode 6 and we haven't had that but we've had drama."

L-R: Stevie, Puleng, Aimme, Sorisha and Nazli

The cast consists of six successful and wealthy South African socialites, including Sorisha Naidoo, businesswoman and wife of Durban billionaire Vivian Reddy; Nazli Delport, an image consultant and the marketing manager of some of Johannesburg’s top nightspots; Puleng Mash-Spies, self-proclaimed “Dainfern Queen” and wife of a businessman; Aimee Sadie, a former model who runs an upmarket Sandton boutique; and businesswoman Christie Swanepoel. The new cast member added is Stevie French, a television presenter and actress.

Meet the Divas:

Sorisha Naidoo needs no formal introduction to South Africans. We first met this talented media personality when she took the role of Nadia Narain in Scandal! – a role she played for three years. She is currently married to Durban-based billionaire Vivian Reddy and is also a proud mother of two. The former Miss India South Africa runs a very popular aesthetic clinic nestled in the heart of Durban.

Fashion entrepreneur Aimee Sadie promises to show us a fresh Joburg through her eyes. The 30-year-old lives in Sandton and runs family owned business DESCH at Sandton City mall, where she dresses many of Joburg’s elite. She is also a yoga and meditation enthusiast and is making the tough journey of the recovering alcoholic. She has been committed to her recovery journey for two years.

Single mom Nazley Delport is a sweet person – until you cross her line! She is an image coach as well as a partner in a hair product company. While running her business ventures she also juggles studies in business management.

Known for enjoying a glass of red wine with her breakfast, as well as her blue eyes and boisterous personality, is the stylish Puleng Mash-Spies. She has two children from her previous marriage – she says she married young and divorced early – and is now happily married to her second husband, a restaurateur. They both run a charity organisation but what keeps her busiest are her affairs as the Queen of Dainfern.

Radio and TV presenter Stevie French worked as a primetime news anchor for Fox Channel in America. Her acting profile includes roles in SABC 3’s soapie Isidingo as well as political thriller Ihawu. She’s currently on Cliff.

The sixth participant is energetic mother of four boys Christie Swanepoel. She lives by the motto: “Energy, Passion and Human touch,” and runs a business with her ex-husband – although she is engaged to be married soon.

Divas Of Jozi premieres this Monday, July 4 at 20h00 on SABC 3 with a repeat on Wednesdays at 15h00.

Source/Photo Credit: TVSA, People