SHAYANDIMA – A new golden voice in the South African broadcasting industry is emerging with a mighty sound!

Lutendo Mphephu (24) the former Univen FM presenter who has recently joined SABC Radio (Phalaphala FM) has quickly made a name for herself in the local circles of the airwaves.

Affectionately called “Queen of the Airwaves” by her staunch listeners, Lutendo presents Weekend Fever on Phalaphala FM on Fridays and Saturdays from 21:00 to 00:00. The progaramme deals mostly with youth matters, celebrity gossip and local music.

“I fell in love with radio at a very young age and I believe I have made the right career choice. I used to mime radio programmes on my own at home. I could not resist the opportunity to join Phalaphala FM because I have wanted to expose my talent to the public for a long time. I took the bull by its horns because I am not afraid to face new challenges in life. I make sure that the listeners are also part of the show. I open the lines and give them an opportunity to put their ideas across. I also accept constructive criticism and this makes me more popular with my listeners.”

Lutendo’s road to stardom was not as smooth as her listeners might think. She matriculated from Thohoyandou High School in 1998 and the following year she proceeded to Vaal Tech to study for a Diploma in Human Resource Management.

“I dropped out and I could not complete the Human Resource Diploma as I realized that I had made a wrong choice. I worked hard and long hours to be where I am today because I have always been hungry for success. I then studied for a Diploma in Information Technology from the College Campus, which I completed in 2001.”

However, Lutendo says she is not yet satisfied by her recent success as she plans to achieve more in life. “I’m still young and there is still more to offer to my community. I have presently enrolled for a communication degree with UNISA because I need more skills to improve myself in my work environment. I want to tell the youth that it is important to take education first so that they may be able to make a significant contribution in the community in which they live. Youths must stay away from drugs and criminal activities and prepare themselves for careers that will benefit them in life.”

Asked about the recipe of her success, Lutendo was quick to say: “Perseverance, hard work, motivation and effective time management are the only secrets for success. I have always believed that, no matter how many shots I have missed, I’m going to make the next one.”