As South Africa dives into the month of love, it seems hearts aren’t the only things floating on people’s minds, Netflix queues are, too! With Valentine’s Day around the corner, viewers are clearly in the mood for romance with a twist, and three homegrown titles are stealing hearts (and watch hours): Yoh! Bestie, How to Ruin Love,and Love and Wine.
Whether you’re booed up, single by choice, or in a “it’s complicated” situation, these shows have become must-watch comfort viewing. The kind that makes you laugh, sigh dramatically, and side-eye your own love life just a little.
Yoh! Bestie: The Rom-Com Putting Friendship to the Test
The newly released Yoh! Bestie has everyone buzzing and it’s easy to see why. This charming romantic comedy has held the number 1 spot on Netflix South Africa’s Top 10 Movies holding strong for the past week.
Audiences have fallen in love with Thando, beautifully portrayed byKatlego Lebogang. Quirky, lovable and a little unlucky in love, she’s the kind of character who feels instantly familiar. But her world shifts when her best friend Charles (Siya Sepotokele) returns from his travels with his fiancée (Fikile Mthwalo) by his side. Suddenly, Thando is forced to confront a feeling she never expected.
Adding even more heart and humour to the story is a dynamic supporting cast, including Moliehi Didie Makobane, Kagiso Modupeand Yonda Thomas, who help bring this charming tale of friendship, love and complicated emotions to life.
How to Ruin Love: When Wedding Bells Come with Warning Labels
Having clocked in an impressive 5 weeks in Top 10 shows last month, How to Ruin Love proves that nothing spices up romance quite like chaos. The series dives headfirst into the beautiful mess of modern love, culture, and family expectations.
At the centre is Zoleka, whose walk down the aisle is anything but smooth. Between feuding families, complicated lobola negotiations, and secrets that refuse to stay buried, the big question isn’t whenthe wedding is but if it’s happening at all.
Starring Sivenathi Mabuya, Bohang Moeko, and Mapaseka Koetle, the show balances humour with heart, reminding us that love isn’t just about the couple, it’s about everyone who comes along for the ride, invited or not.
It’s relatable, unapologetically South African, and proof that sometimes the fastest way to test love… is to plan a wedding.
Love and Wine: Romance Aged to Perfection
If How to Ruin Love is chaos, then Love and Wine is the smooth sip that follows, proving viewers simply can’t get enough.
The story follows Zondi, the heir to a prestigious wine farm, who swaps lives with his down-to-earth childhood friend in an attempt to prove that his charm runs deeper than his bank balance. What follows is the exploration of identity, love, and whether romance tastes sweeter when stripped of privilege.
Led by Ntobeko Sishi, Masali Baduza, and Thandolwethu Zondi, Love and Wine blends romance, humour, and just enough drama to keep viewers reaching for the next episode, and perhaps a glass of red.
Love Month, Local Stories, Global Love
These titles dominating Netflix’s Top 10 ahead of Valentine’s Day is no coincidence. Spirits are high, feelings are tender, and South Africans are clearly enjoying seeing their own stories reflected back at them, beautifully flawed and full of heart.
Whether love is being ruined, fermented, tested, or toasted, one thing is certain: this Valentine’s season, we’re watching love unfold, one episode at a time.
To keep the romance flowing all month long, why not curate your own rom-com watchlist? Press play on other popular local films and series like Semi-Soeter, Lobola Man, A Soweto Love Story, and Seriously Single, all ready to stream on your screen.
