Zibonele FM presenter Lunga Mgamle brought pride and smiles to the local radio station after winning a South African Traditional Music Achievement (SATMA) Award at the Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga on Saturday 1 October.
Mgamle won on the category of Best Traditional Music Community Radio Presenter.
The news brought a lot of smiles at the station that had its license not renewed by Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) in July this year.
The popular Khayelitsha-based community radio had to only broadcast through DStv.
It has since been furnished with a temporary 45 days renewable licence.
Station Manager Mawande Jara said the news brought a lot of “excitement” at the station and were to celebrate this achievement.
“We are thrilled with the news and people need to know that such achievements must be celebrated. This SATMA award means a lot, and we thank our listeners for voting,” he said.
Jara also thanked the station’s presenters that campaigned at local taxi ranks and spread the word for Mgamle to win.
“We are really happy to have brought this award home. The presenter is a very down to earth person, very dedicated and loves his job,” said Jara.
An excited Mgamle, who hails from Exhora in the Eastern Cape and now resides in Nomzamo, Strand, said he was scared before the announcement.
“I was competing with 17 other radio stations and this was my first time being nominated on such a stage. When my name was called I was so happy and I thank everyone who voted for me,” said Mgamle.
Mgamle said he was nominated while the station had not been broadcasting on its frequency and was worried about the impact this would have on his campaign.
“I really want to thank the listeners, Maskhandi artists and the management of the station for this winner. I don’t have much words to say other than words of gratitude,” said Mgamle.