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Good Hope FM presenter, Suga, will celebrate 12 years on air at
Good Hope FM on 1 October.
With commercial radio such a competitive environment, it is not only a big milestone to celebrate 12 years of non-stop broadcasting on one radio station; it is also a huge feat for a female presenter in the traditionally male-dominated environment.
Pint-sized Suga joined
Good Hope FM on 1 October 1997, after her introduction to radio by working at
UCT Radio, while studying for a BA in Social Sciences. Her interest in radio was tweaked after being introduced to radio legends like Nigel Pierce and also James Lennox, who was her English tutor and a
Good Hope FM presenter at the time.
On 1 October 1997, Suga hosted her first show called The Afterglow, from 02:00 to 06:00 on Fridays; Saturdays; and Sundays. On 1 April 1998, she was moved to the 18:00 to 22:00 weekday show, and called it SugaFunk. For the first time ever, this show had a daily, hour-long sponsored feature, which was quite an achievement for such a young presenter. In April 2001, she was asked to present the weekday breakfast show between 06:00 and 09:00, which was the first time a female presenter hosted a breakfast show on
Good Hope FM. In April 2002, she presented the 12:00 to 15:00 weekday show, and in April 2005, was moved to host The Cape Town Shakedown between 09:00 and 12:00 on weekdays.
“My time at
Good Hope FM has been the most rewarding years of my life, and I am very grateful to the station for all the amazing opportunities I received over the past twelve years - counting two international broadcasts as just two of the many highlights.” Says Suga, “
Good Hope FM gave me many incredible opportunities to grow and evolve as a person, and those opportunities have contributed to making me the person and presenter that I am, and what I am able to impart on air every day.”
Suga’s career highlights include her being asked to be the Master of Ceremonies at the first 46664 concert that hosted at the Green Point Stadium in 2003, where she shared the stage with Beyonce. In 2004, she shared a stage with Will Smith as co-host for 46664, held at Fancourt. In 2005, she was flown to Norway to co-host the 46664 concert in Tromsö. In 2007, she was again selected as co-host for the 46664 concert, this time hosted in Johannesburg. She also hosted her show for a week from Bali during the
Cosmo Swimwear Shoot in 2007, and again for 10 days from Mauritius, during the
Cosmo Swimwear Shoot in 2008.
Suga has hosted many interviews with various big names and stars during her career, including the likes of Nelson Mandela; Rita Marley; Beyonce; Janet Jackson; and Charlize Theron, who was interviewed in the
Good Hope FM studio shortly after she arrived in South Africa after winning her
Oscar.
Suga, born Rochelle Scheepers, is the middle of three children, with older brother Fabian (34) and younger sister Lauren (22). She was born and raised in Cape Town by mom, Rosina and dad, Sidney. She grew up in Fairways, Ottery and attended St Cyprians. Suga matriculated in 1993 from Rosebank College.
Suga currently presents “The Cape Town Shakedown” from Mondays to Fridays, from 09:00 to 12:00 on
Good Hope FM.