Must-see docs: Party islands, sports scandals and aviation mysteries land on M-Net

From swanky Mediterranean raves to one of SA’s most mysterious aviation disasters – M-Net has your next doccie fix sorted.

False Glory (from 5 June at 10pm on M-Net 101)

What would you do to win? False Glory, a gritty new three-part Showmax Original, unpacks the shocking lengths some sports stars have gone to for a shot at glory.

We’re talking body swaps in the Comrades Marathon. (Yes, really! In 1999, Fika Motsoeneng came 9th in the 90km race after allegedly switching places with his brother mid-race.) Or how about the time an entire fake Togo national team flew 3 500 miles to play in a match no one in their country knew about? And then there’s the devastating tale of four Ivorian boys lured to Italy with promises of football stardom – only to find a nightmare waiting.

This one’s from CMG, the award-winning team behind The Footballer, His Wife and the Crash and Football Fraudster, so expect top-tier storytelling. Think shocking twists, bold reveals, and the darker side of chasing fame on the field.

Ibiza Narcos (from 26 June at 10pm on M-Net 101)

Welcome to the party island you didn’t see in the brochures. Ibiza Narcos (3 episodes) takes you back to the sun-drenched 80s when the now-infamous party hub became the epicentre of a booming drug empire.

Episode 1 traces how a quiet hashish trade grew into a multi-million-dollar operation. Then it’s onto the ecstasy-fuelled rave era and the violent turf wars that followed when cocaine moved in as the new kingpin. By the final episode, you’ll see how cartel rivalries left a trail of blood that still stains the party scene today.

A fascinating mix of crime, culture and chaos and a definite must-watch if you love your true crime with a side of neon lights and techno beats.

Helderberg (now available to binge on DStv Catch Up & DStv Stream)

South Africa’s most haunting aviation mystery gets the deep-dive treatment it deserves in this gripping local docuseries.

Helderberg revisits the tragic 1987 crash of South African Airways Flight SA295, which went down off the coast of Mauritius, killing all 159 passengers and crew. Decades later, no one really knows what happened and that’s where this doc shines.

Black box recoveries deeper than the Titanic’s final resting place, explosive theories, deathbed confessions, and jaw-dropping science, Helderberg peels back the layers of one of our most enduring tragedies.

But don’t expect tinfoil hats. “We don’t lean into conspiracy,” says director Tim Apter. “We dig deeper, looking at the people, the science, and the real efforts made to find the truth. It’s emotional, forensic, and at times – unexpectedly heroic.”

There’s even a companion podcast to keep you spiralling down the rabbit hole – stream it on DStv Catch Up, DStv Stream or YouTube.