The 2012 MTN Radio Awards attracted 866 entries, in excess of double the number of entries received in 2011.

The MTN Radio Awards aims to promote excellence in radio – the medium that reaches more people in South Africa than any other medium. Lance Rothschild, CEO of the MTN Radio Awards says: “The awards banquet is the radio industry’s chance to get together as an extended family and to celebrate success, to highlight achievement and to ultimately honour those within the greater radio family whose great work ensures the longevity of this industry about which we are all so extremely passionate.”

“At MTN, radio has always played a key role in our media communications mix,” says Serame Taukobong, Chief Marketing Officer of MTN SA. “We launched the brand on radio, we have grown the brand on radio, and today we still use radio as one of the key influencers in communicating our messages to our customers. Our support for the MTN Radio Awards exemplifies our commitment to radio and underlines our intention to continue to use radio well into the future. We see the MTN Radio Awards as a driver for excellence in radio and as a motivator for stations to make increasingly compelling programmes that ensure listener enjoyment. After all, happy and fulfilled listeners remain respective category winners:

MTN Radio Awards congratulate the respective category winners:

Breakfast Show

  • Commercial: John Robbie Show – Talk Radio 702
  • PBS: Vuka Mzansi – Ukhozi FM
  • Community: Blewitt for Breakfast – Mix93.8FM
  • Campus: The FirstBeat


Breakfast Presenter

  • Commercial: Ryan O’Connor – 94.5 Kfm
  • PBS: Linda Sibiya – Ukhozi FM
  • Community: Tony Blewitt – Mix 93.8FM
  • Campus: Rob Forbes – TUKS FM


Business and Finance Presenter

  • Bruce Whitfield – 567 Cape Talk and Talk Radio 702

Business and Finance Show

  • The Money Show – 567 Cape Talk and Talk Radio 702

Community Presenter

  • Thabo Mdluli – Impact Radio 103FM

Community Project

  • Commercial: Toy Story – East Coast Radio
  • Community: Children of Heaven – Radio Islam

Content Producer – Commercial

  • Commercial: Toy Story – East Coast Radio

Daytime Presenter

  • Commercial: Saskia Falken – Heart 104.9FM
  • PBS: Dudu Khoza – Ukhozi FM
  • Community: Helen Desbois – East Rand Stereo
  • Campus: Alex Caige – TUKS FM

Daytime Show

  • Commercial: Grant and Anele – 5FM
  • PBS: Afternoon Talk – SAfm
  • Community: Butterfly Corner – Radio Islam

Drama Programme

  • PBS: Radio Vuka – SAfm
  • Community: Discrimination – Radio Khwezi

Music Presenter

  • Commercial: Marian Nyako Lartey – OFM
  • Community: Cavall Burgess

Music Show

  • Commercial: Take 40 SA – 94.5 Kfm and 94.7 Highveld Stereo
  • PBS: The Bollywood Billboard – Lotus FM
  • Community: Jubel en Juig – Radio Pulpit
  • Campus: Totally SA Show – TUKS FM

News and Actuality Presenter

  • Commercial: David O’ Sullivan – Talk Radio 702
  • PBS: Irvin Sihlope – Ukhozi FM
  • Community: Nothile Zwane – Radio Khwezi

News and Actuality Producer

  • Commercial: Glynis Crook – The Midday Report – 567 Cape Talk and Talk Radio 702
  • PBS: Veronica Fourie – AM Live SAfm
  • Community: Ejaz Khan – Radio Islam

News and Actuality Show

  • Commercial: The Midday Report – 567 Cape Talk and Talk Radio 702
  • PBS: 50 Jarige Herdenking van Umkonto we Sizwe – RSG
  • Community: The Big Picture Programme – Radio Islam

News Bulletin Reader

  • Commercial: Tessa van Staden – 567 Cape Talk
  • PBS: Karlien Kruger – Bok Radio
  • Community: Anton Meijer – TUKS FM

Afternoon Drive Show

  • Commercial: The Fresh Drive – 5FM
  • PBS: Sekunjalo the Exclusive Drive – Ukhozi FM
  • Community: The Drive Show – Bay FM

Night-time Presenter

  • Commercial: Thabiso Sikwane – Kaya FM
  • PBS: Ashraf Garda SAfm
  • Community: Sakha Isizwe – Radio Khwezi

Night-time Show

  • Commercial: That Show with Rian – Jacaranda 94.2
  • PBS: The Weekend Fix – Lotus FM
  • Community: Sakha Isizwe – Radio Khwezi

On Air Packaging

  • Commercial: Sung Intros – 94.5Kfm
  • PBS: African Renaissance – SAfm
  • Community: Jingles etc – Radio Islam

Promotion/Stunt/Event

  • Commercial: Double up – Jacaranda 94.2
  • PBS: Wafa Wafa – Ukhozi FM
  • Community: Go Green – East Rand Stereo
  • Campus: 93.36 hour Marathon – PUKfm 93.6

Sports Commentator

  • PBS: Jo Hudla – Ukhozi FM

Sports Presenter

  • Commercial: Sias du Plessis – 5FM
  • PBS: Feroz Shaik – Lotus FM
  • Community: Josie Raath – Radio Pulpi
  • Campus: Andrew Hope – UJFM 95.4

Sports Show

  • Commercial: The Discovery Sports Centre – Metro FM
  • PBS: The Sports Show – Phalaphala FM
  • Community: Sportsfire – Radio Today 1485AM
  • Campus: The Sports Network – UJFM 95.4

Traffic Presenter

  • Kgomotso Meso – Kaya FM

Weekend Radio Show

  • Commercial: The Epic Rhythm – Kaya FM
  • PBS: The Bollywood Billboard – Lotus FM
  • Community: Screaming Reels – Radio Islam

Programme Innovation Award

  • Kgomotso Meso – Kaya FM

Programme Concept Award

  • Phat Joe Morning Show – Heart 104.9FM

Documentary – Long

  • Gangsterism – The Voice of the Cape

Documentary – Short

  • Metered Taxis – 567 Cape Talk

Bursary Winner

  • Mfanafuthi Khumalo

Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Pietie Lotriet

My Station Award (as voted for by the public)

  • Most number of votes: Ukhozi FM
  • Most loyal listeners: Radio Islam

Station of the Year

  • Commercial: 5FM
  • PBS: Ukhozi FM
  • Community: Radio Tygerberg
  • Campus: TUKS FM

For further information about the judges’ comments, photographs of the winners and other interesting radio articles, please click on the April 2012 issue of On Air magazine on http://www.mtnradioawards.co.za/ebook/on-air/2012/april/.