The MTN Radio Awards, conceptualised and founded by Future Group’s Jeremy Maggs and Richard Lendrum, 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 Ayobaness Officer of MTN. “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 loyal to their station.”

Entries in the MTN Radio Awards are reviewed by a panel of industry experts who score each entry individually. These scores are then centrally collated in order to determine the various winners. Rich Mkhondo, chairman of the MTN Radio Awards says: “We received a bumper crop of entries this year and the quality of submissions was of a very high standard. I know that the adjudicators had their work cut out for them in listening to so many entries, but I am delighted with the outcome of the awards and believe that we have exemplary winners this year. I congratulate the broader radio industry on the depth and breadth of talent within the industry and I am enthused by the passion and dedication which shone through in the body of entries.”

Award winners:

Breakfast show:
Commercial: John Robbie Show - Talk Radio 702
PBS: Vuka Mzansi – Ukhozi FM
Community: Blewitt for Breakfast – Mix 93.8FM
Campus: The FirstBeat – Tshwane FM

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: joint winners - Gary Oberholzer and JD Mostert

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 – Radio Today

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
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

Afternoon drive presenter:
Commercial: Martin Bester – Jacaranda 94.2
PBS: Ba2cada Leine – Lesedi FM
Community: Yusuf Moosagie – Radio Islam

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

News bulletin reader:
Commercial: Tessa van Staden – 567 Cape Talk
Community: Karlien Kruger – Bok Radio
Campus: Anton Meijer – Tuks 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: Sakhisizwe – 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 Pulpit
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
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:
Sedibeng – Thobela FM

Programme concept:
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

Bright Stars Club:
Amoré Truter - PUKfm 93.6
Motseki Mabuya - Thetha FM
Zaid Bhoola - Lotus FM
Zeenat Abdool - SABC Radio Channel Africa
Tim Zunkel - OFM

Hall of Fame:
Stan Katz
Peter de Nobrega
Robin Alexander
Cocky “Two Bull” Tlotlalemaje
Martin Rattle
Cyril Mchunu
Lindi Nthuli
Bob Mabena
Dan Setshedi
Dumile Mateza

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:
Campus: Tuks FM
Community: Radio Tygerberg
PBS: Ukhozi FM
Commercial: 5FM

For further information about the judges’ comments, photographs of the winners and other interesting radio articles, please visit www.mtnradioawards.com and read the latest issue of On Air magazine.