Limpopo’s Mamani Botes has emerged as winner of the Jacaranda FM’s presenter search campaign, meant to unearth radio broadcast talent in the South African province, bordering Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.

With its strong presence across Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the Northwest province, the talent hunt was aimed at discovering and developing local talent, to deliver hyper-local content that resonates with their regional community.

“We were looking for a curious storyteller who can connect with our diverse listener landscape and I’m very excited to say we found her,” Jacaranda FM programming manager Hennie Myburgh, said.

Botes was one of the participants who recorded a demo at The Mall of The North in Polokwane in October. After impressing the Jacaranda FM team with her warm and interesting approach, she became the winner of the presenter search campaign.

Botes says, “I was born and bred into the Tsonga culture in Limpopo province. I was raised in an Afrikaans home and went to a Sotho school. I married into a Colored community. I define myself as a culturally diverse woman who loves connecting with people from different cultures. Limpopo has such a rich diversity and so much more to celebrate and I’m excited to be part of that journey.”

“I was so overwhelmed; I had just come back from holiday, and I screamed with joy at the airport. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and winning the presenter search showed me that my dreams are still valid,” she added.

“My dad took me to the station when I was 16 years old; I vowed then that I would be part of this amazing radio station — and here I am, living the dream.”

Jacaranda FM listeners can listen to Botes between midday and 16:00 every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.