Carol Sanderson, Mpumi Mbethe, Makhosi Khoza and Thebigzill Onair.
Mpumalanga’s only commercial radio station, RISE fm , is charting a bold new course with an exciting line-up designed to strengthen its on-air presence and position itself as the preferred choice in the province.
The refreshed schedule, which officially takes effect on Saturday, November 1, 2025, signals a disruptive strategy to re-energise the station’s offering, featuring the return of beloved local personalities and the introduction of dynamic new shows.
Familiar Voices lead the charge
The revamp is headlined by the much-anticipated comeback of TheBigZill Onair, who steps in to host the station’s brand-new breakfast show, Good Morning Mpumalanga.
The breakfast team will also feature Zilungile Mnisi on news and GTZ on sports, setting a high-energy tone for the day.
Another fan favourite making a return to the station is Mpumi Mbethe, joining RISE FM from Ligwalagwala FM. Mbethe will host The Midday Escape weekdays, 11:00–14:00. She promises a segment that feels like.
“being in a coffee shop with a friend during your lunch break,” aiming for conversations that listeners won’t want to end.
New shows and strategic shifts
The afternoons will be anchored by the energetic Lilly Wa Ga Makofane on The Best Route weekdays, 14:00–17:00, joined by Andile Nkosi and Nosipho Hadebe.
The mid-morning segment will see Tlotlang Moletsane take over the newly streamlined show, The Affair 09:00–11:00, with Beauty Selala-Mdluli on news and Princess M as show producer.
According to RISE fm Station Manager, Makhosi Khoza, these changes are part of a decisive strategy to shake up the market. “We’re reclaiming our position as the cool kids everyone wants to hang out with.
These changes are not just about programming they’re about connecting deeply with Mpumalanga’s people and culture,” Khoza stated.
A sound rooted in Mpumalanga culture
A key element of the new strategy is a deliberate focus on local authenticity. “Our sound will carry a deliberate vernacular tone one that speaks to the people of Mpumalanga in the way they greet and express themselves. We’re urban, but proudly rooted in South African culture,” Khoza explained.
This rootedness will be prominently featured on Sundays with , who takes over the new Sunday mornings with Spirit Sessions 06:00–09:00.
The show is described as a blend of African traditions and Christianity, combining religion, African tradition, and customs.
The musical offering is also being refreshed, with the music catalogue now strongly biased toward contemporary South African urban sounds.
Khoza challenged the previous reliance on international sounds on Sundays, asking, “Where is our South African music? This time, we’re bringing it back to who we are local, relatable, and proudly ours.”
With a revamped line-up and a clear focus on local content and culture, RISE fm is positioning itself to be a genuinely disruptive force, ready to recapture its status among listeners and advertisers in Mpumalanga.
