From the debating society at Hudson Park High School via varsity radio and national traffic announcements, Zanele Potelwa has hit the national daytime radio jackpot — her own lunchtime show on 5FM.
Mthatha-born Potelwa, 27, whose animated voice and effervescent laughter peals through the airwaves between midday and 3pm weekdays in the Lunch with Zanele Potelwa Show, says her aim is to be “anything but boring” and to have topical conversations that keep young listeners coming back for more.
The emphasis is on fun and her ready laugh and ability to conduct animated discussions about everything from hygiene habits to an intense aversion to atchar, ensures her slot is interactive; triggering endless banter from her audience.
The daughter of a doctor and a businesswoman, Potelwa grew up wanting to be “on every school committee”, especially those calling on her to address audiences, like acting, debating and public speaking.
I just wanted to do as much as I could, but the stage was always my main focus. I didn’t click then because I was just doing what I enjoyed most, but in hindsight, God was definitely preparing me for what lay ahead
“I just wanted to do as much as I could, but the stage was always my main focus.
“I didn’t click then because I was just doing what I enjoyed most, but in hindsight, God was definitely preparing me for what lay ahead,” says the go-getter, who was a member of a South African debate team that travelled to Australia and won a national science debate that rewarded her with a New York trip.
Still, once school was over, Potelwa considered studying health sciences, then switched to a BCom, but in her second year her destiny was clarified when she joined Tuks FM at the University of Pretoria.
A five-day mentorship at 5FM in 2016 took her closer to where she is now, but what really paid off was her tendency to “hang around” at the station and help out.
“I would go to the 5FM offices and help with anything — from guest lists to filing and sometimes making the coffee.
“This allowed me to see how this entertainment industry works and from there I fell in love.
“I started pursuing radio and even looking into opportunities in television.”
She was a runner-up in the Mzansi Insider Presenter search — a near miss — which nevertheless resulted in a call a couple of years later to fill in on Selimathunzi, SABC 1’s popular lifestyle magazine show.
“In July 2020, I was officially part of the SABC 1 family — one of the biggest honours of my career.”
For a year, Potelwa rose early to join the Roger Goode Show as the traffic presenter, along with Sureshnie Ryder and Robbie Kruse.
“Roger really allowed all of us to own our space and it was such a privilege to work with such legends.
“My biggest lesson was to always show up, always give my all and take my job and the opportunity of providing a service seriously, no matter what.”
A 5FM schedule shake-up saw her score the big time.
“I have the big job of filling the slot that was left by the legendary duo Forbes & Fix — Rob Forbes and Fix Moeti.
“The special thing is that Fix is an East London girl too. It’s such an honour taking over from them.
“The only way to be different in our industry is to be 100% yourself.
“You need to be you and I would say that Zanele is fun, outgoing, quirky and the happy pill you need to brighten any day.”
With just about three weeks under her belt, Potelwa has already had the likes of celebs DJ Zinhle, TikTok star Karl Kugelmann, satirist Coconut Kelz, actor Prev Reddy and activist Zulaika Patel behind her mic.
Being live on air for three hours straight is not for the anxious or tongue-tied, but Potelwa’s smooth, unflappable style makes it sound easy.
“It is definitely terrifying but also one of the most exciting things you can do.
“It’s like jumping in the deep end every time and the only option is to swim.
“The question is how well do you swim? That always comes down to how prepared you are and what you decide to do on that day, but it is truly exciting every time.”
In keeping with the youthful target market of the station, a popular element of her show is the Campus Conclusion, in which students nationwide get to air their views and this helps Potelwa tap into her home province via roving reporters on the ground.
“I have one or two talented Eastern Cape broadcasters who are part of this.
“We mostly speak to the youth of South Africa — scholars, students and young adults, but we always say that it’s a home for everyone who is young at heart.”
Having grown up listening to the station herself — she quips that she couldn’t get ready in the morning without Gareth Cliff’s voice — she finds it surreal that it is her voice now filling people’s cars, homes and workplaces.
“When I look back, it’s the craziest thing that I loved radio back then, but didn’t know it would play such a huge role in my life.”
Like most parents, Potelwa’s mother and father were worried when she signed up with a notoriously fickle industry, mid-degree.
“I think they definitely were worried at first, but I’m so grateful that they trusted my decision quite early.
“Even though I am making a living by talking, they are still pushing me to finish up my degree, because we all know how important education is.”
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