About
Radio Career
Khutso Theledi was snapped up by YFM in 2012 while she was completing her Diploma in Radio and Sound Engineering at Boston Media House. Landing her first break on GP’s Youth Radio Station YFM 99.2 in April 2012 on YFM’s breakfast show.
She was a co-host and traffic presenter for the breakfast show, "Flava In The Morning" 06:00 -09:00 with Mo Flava (2012-2014), and went on to co- host and present the traffic on drive Time “The Freeway“ 15:00 - 18:00 with Mo Flava (2014-2015) and stayed on drive time to co-host and present the traffic on “The Raw Rush” 15:00 - 19:00 with Thulisa Kanzi (2015-2016) while holding it down as the host of “Coupe De Grace” 21:00 - 00:00 and in the same year, hosted a weekend show called “Charged Up“ 12:00 - 15:00.
In 2017, Khutso Theledi has grown in leaps and bounds moving to host her first weekday show “Krunch Time“ 12:00 - 15:00 as well as the “R&B Hot 9 9” chart every Tuesday from 09:00- 10:00 and voiced The YFM Gig Guide.
From 2018 - 2020, Khutso Theledi was the host of midmorning slot “Krunch With Khutso" Monday to Friday 09:00 – 12:00.
Khutso Theledi has made radio history for being the first female on Y to host an afternoon drive time show on her own. Presenting Y's afternoon drive time host, Khutso Theledi "The Lady On Drive" Monday till Friday 15:00 - 18:00.
CAREERS MAGAZINE
November 2021 Issue
In her first cover feature, radio and TV presenter Khutso Theledi shares how being teachable and authentic can be a secret weapon only in #CareersMagNov. Download this November 2021 issue of #careersmag now!
Khutso Theledi rejoins Mo Flava 10 years on to host Metro breakfast show By Masego Seemela
Many more South African are about to famaba na ( go with ) Khutso Theledi as the new host alongside Mo Flava on Metro FM's breakfast called Wake Up On Metro from today.
Theledi sees it as “full-circle moment” since she is reuniting with seasoned broadcaster Moeti “Mo Flava” Tsiki, who was the first person to spot her talent for radio while she was still a Boston Media House student over 10 years ago.
It's hard to believe that growing up in Hazyview, Mpumalanga, she didn't listen to much radio. "When I was home in Mpumalanga, I didn’t really listen to the radio, I was a very sporty person – I was a part of the South African netball team but when I moved to Joburg, I started listening to radio," Theledi says.
“In 2012, on April 2, I was a traffic presenter and newsreader at Y, formerly known as YFM, for Flava In The Morning with Mo Flava.
"My duties at the time were traffic and news but I slowly grew into the co-host position and what I loved about that was it gave me the opportunity to understand the key dynamics of radio hosting but most importantly, who Moeti Tsiki was before he was known as Mo Flava.
“Fast forward to 2022 , I am excited about reuniting with the person who first saw potential in a Boston Media House voice-over student and asked her to join his show, and of course, hosting our first show on a national radio station together."
As much as Theledi is excited about her reunion with Tsiki on the airwaves, her integral anticipation is how different they both will sound during their first show after many years of growth in the broadcasting space.
With a big brother and little sister element to their relationship, Theledi hopes she and Tsiki will bring a youthful energy that will be more mature and different to the show they had back in the day.
“It’s an unpredictable feeling where you ask yourself, where is this going to go? How good is this going to sound? And that’s the most exciting thing for me," Theledi says.
"In the 10 years of growth we’ve both had, him leaving YFM to pursue his career at Metro FM and me landing a drive time show at Y, I think we will both bring a different kind of flair to the show that will be exciting to the listeners."
Theledi hosted her very last drive time radio show on March 18, where she emotionally said goodbye to her listeners and fans who had followed her 10-year journey.
In April 2021, Theledi took over the driver’s seat and became Y’s first female to independently host a drive-time show.
“There is no feeling that I can pinpoint to describe how it feels… you know when you’re afraid to take that leap where everything changes and you’d need to step out of your comfort zone? Somehow that makes it hard for one to comprehend all that’s happening,” Theledi describes the feeling around her major move to a national radio.
“It’s a feeling of how it is to genuinely trust God with your life. With everything that’s happened in the past 10 years, I’ve been so blessed to have been in a position where I can see and feel my transformation.”
Since she was a little girl, Theledi had always dreamt about being a television presenter.
She was hell-bent on being in the entertainment sphere and decided to move to Johannesburg to study at Monash Univesity where she studied media communications and then went to Boston Media House to major in journalism, public relations and radio (specifically sound engineering).
Radio was not particularly Theledi’s initial plan but she soon found herself in love with radio broadcasting after being an avid listener of YFM.
“Before going to Boston Media House, I wanted to be an air hostess… the very same day I was offered a job to become an air hostess, Mo Flava called me to send him my demo, little did I know that radio would be my calling,” she remembers.
As Theledi assumes a new position that will pave a new way in her life, she hopes her brand monetises and grows in spaces no one saw coming. She plans to diversify herself and grow into a different person who’ll look back in 10 years and be proud of herself.
“It’s very wonderful for my mother, my aunts and family members from Mpumalanga who will be able to listen to their daughter on a national radio platform which has always been a big dream of mine. Metro FM has always been the second place I had set my eyes on, and when I received the call I knew this was a sign to hang up my mic at Y," Theledi says.
“However, I am grateful for the time at Y, it helped groom me into the broadcaster that I am today.”
Getting to Know Khutso Theledi By Sisonke Labase
My fondest childhood memories are of me going back home from boarding school. My dad died when I was two years old, and I went to boarding school from the age of five. My highlight was going home to my mom, brothers and sisters. Family time will always be a priority for me.
I love my dad so much, even though I didn’t know him. I do all my shows with his picture in the studio. He is always with me, even in my car. This is weird to explain, especially in my relationships. I have a spiritual connection with him, and I can’t do anything without the presence of his image.
This is my ninth year at YFM. It feels like the kind of attachment one has to their first love. I know that in God’s timing, change will happen and it will be big. Mo Flava and Tumelo Diaho-Monaheng poached me while I was studying at Boston Media House. I didn’t know that I would ever do radio, but YFM opened that door. I’m growing within the company, and still in love with the listeners.
My energy and gratitude for the listeners keep me going. Regardless of the show’s listenership, it’s about that one person. I can only credit God for showing up each day, whether I’m going through heartache or family problems. Just the fear that it could be my last (show) is why I’ll always bring my best energy.
My dad is my greatest inspiration. I want to leave a legacy. I don’t want to be known only as DJ Khutso. I am Khutso Theledi – people need to know where I come from as well as what I’m about. I don’t just represent myself; I also represent my family, legacy and the next generation.
If I was allowed a do-over, I would go back to the day that my dad was murdered. That is the only do-over I always pray for, even though I can’t turn back the hands of time. I would go back to the man who decided to kill him, and I would do anything to change his mind, or even wish that my dad was somewhere else.
I don’t involve myself in negative conversations or comparisons within the industry. I prefer to work in silence, doing what I know best. Additionally, I am grateful for my industry mentor Mo Flava, who made me see who I was from the onset. Although comparisons do exist, I quickly learnt to distance myself from them and block out all the noise. I am more about motivation and inspiration – and that’s helped me find my own voice.
Being God-fearing helps me understand my purpose. I know that my purpose is speaking to people, otherwise I wouldn’t be here. I am quite certain that I am following my purpose, and that I’m on the right path. I am very grateful for that.
Our industry and society need a bigger platform where young women can share their stories. Every time there is a conversation about gender based violence, it peaks and then quickly dies down. We need a safe space and haven for women to vocalise their true stories and concerns without criticism or judgement.
OFF THE CUFF
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Are you a texter or caller? Caller.
One thing you’d love to master? Cooking – my man cooks for me
every day [chuckles].
Which country are you dying to see? Italy is number one on my list
of must-see countries.
What’s your vice? Adrenaline; anything that gives me a rush from
spinning cars to bungee jumping.
If you could make a one-minute call to heaven, who would you
ring? My dad. I would tell him to never leave me again.
How do you spend your Sundays? In praise and worship.
We need to let go of the notion of perfection. As public figures, we need to let young people, in particular, see and know that life is not always rosy. You will occasionally experience bad days and phases. This is why I applaud all those who share about their struggles while at their lowest.
What people don’t know about me is that I’m an introvert. You would think that I would rather steal the spotlight, but I’m actually a listener. I watch people and gauge their energy because I genuinely believe that it doesn’t lie. I’m also a God-fearing person. I praise and worship daily. I listen to 30-minute prayers, and have a circle of women who I regularly pray with.
I did a cameo on Rhythm City, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The producers then started calling me back for more, and I asked if they wanted me to join [chuckles]. I would love to get into acting because I did drama in high school, even though I didn’t study acting. I have respect for the craft, and understand what goes into it. I hope it happens organically. If it’s meant to be, then it will be.
What I love most about my partner is that he chose me, and continues to do so daily. We started dating after he slid into my DMs on Instagram. I asked a mutual friend if he was serious because I was shocked. At the time, I had been single for so long. And yet here we are! I’m very happy with my Italian man who is a few years younger than me; I absolutely love him!
Once you date in the spotlight, people start talking. Fortunately, or unfortunately for me, I’m dating a white man. Whenever I post anything about us on Instagram, I mute the comments because I don’t care about people’s opinions. It’s our love, and when I want to, I’ll share on it.
I would love to host a reality show in the next five years. I would also like to go national in radio, and start a foundation for women empowerment and create change by opening more doors.
Khutso "Mary-Go-Round" Theledi Via Cars.co.za
My love for cars started back in primary school. When my dad passed away, he left behind what I didn’t then imagine would become my dream car and not only that, but a car that would literally spin my world around until this day his red "Gusheshe", a BMW 325i Coupe! Dad’s Gusheshe taught me what performance meant before I could even understand the meaning or feeling of a high-performance car. We would get so much attention from people whistling and turned every head when we drove past. That car will forever have a special place in my heart.
My favourite motoring memory has to be the first time I got to spin a Gusheshe and the moment everyone witnessed me doing a figure 8 in 2013. That moment would not have happened if it wasn't for Pule (Soweto Drift Aacademy) as well as the amazing professional qualified spinners who equipped me with all that I know today about this type of motorsport.
The spinning journey all started with a phonecall from Pule, who called into the breakfast show I was co-hosting at that time with Mo-Flava on YFM. Pule asked Mo-Flava to come try out spinning, he said yes, and I wasn’t included in the conversation live on air, but I jumped at the opportunity and invited myself to try spinning as well. I walked onto a spinning ground for the first time, sat in the Gusheshe and started spinning and immediately felt like I was born to do it.
If I had all the money in the world what car would I buy? One of them, without any doubt, would be BMW’s iconic locally-developed (E30) 333i. The second is much tougher. As much as I would love to drive and own one of the world's most expensive cars (Lamborghini Veneno Roadster) I would have to say any of the following, BMW M2 Coupé Competition, Range Rover Evoque or Sport SVR, a Rolls Royce Sweptail or Mercedes-Benz Maybach Exelero.
Woman Power By Andile Mthimkhulu
What are some of the challenges that you have faced in the entertainment industry?
Staying relevant and remaining consistent, presenting my content on and off air in ways people want to consume it and most importantly, excelling in a male dominated industry.
How were you able to overcome these challenges?
By doing things that make me feel more like myself. Being brave enough to take off the mask I kept wearing out there and allowing people to get to know who I am underneath. Being vulnerable enough to accept my flaws and by doing my best with what I’ve got. Lastly, there’s something so beautiful about a woman who dominates in a man’s world.
What measures do you think should be put in place so that other women do not face the same challenges you faced?
I truly wish for myself and many of the women I’ve been honoured to meet to be introduced to techniques for developing self-confidence. I’ve grown to learn that women in particular, often have a number of self-limiting beliefs that prevent us from taking steps forward. Young girls generally leave adolescence behind taking with them a poor self-image, low expectations from life and much less confidence than young boys.
I believe we need to challenge this negative self-narrative and replace it with more compassionate and positive self-love.
What are your views on the current situation in our country regarding gender-based violence?
Societies free of gender-based violence do not exist, and South Africa is no exception! Gender-based violence is a massive human rights violation with major social and personal impact for the survivors of violence.
In many parts of our country, there is frighteningly poor access to psychosocial or even medical support, which means that many survivors are unable to access the help they truly need. There is a massive need to address the underlying causes of course and this needs to be supported with prevention programming and policy development.
I would love to take this moment to thank a Non-profit Child Protection Organisation called Women and Men Against Child Abuse, who over the past 8 months have assisted with 3500 children’s therapy sessions, 90 parent sessions and 120 family sessions. Their services are free to all children and parents.
I have personally witnessed how WMACA challenges the inadequacies in our justice system and raises awareness about the many complicated issues around child abuse and its effects on the victims. Not all wounds are visible. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. May we never be silenced. Gender-based violence is not a women’s issue, it is a human rights issue.
You are the host of the Bernini Squadcast Series – tell us more about it?
What Bernini has done with this powerful platform is to pay tribute to the achievements of women in our society. The team behind Bernini has essentially stepped up to support female progress and empowerment with the launch of the Squadcast Series – a platform that gives a voice to confident, strong, empowered women, allowing them to share their stories of triumph over struggles, and how they have progressed to take up high-powered, successful positions, with the support of their squad – their girls, sisters.
This has touched me personally, and even up until this moment, I am blown away at how Bernini has stepped up to enable these thought-provoking conversations, unapologetically so. I can’t express how grateful I am to Bernini for inviting me to drive these important conversations. It’s amazing to experience Bernini’s vision and to align my vision and then bring this to life through this podcast series.
It’s such an honour to lead conversations with women about their professional and personal life – each and every woman who has been a guest of the Squadcast Series has made me realise that “if not now, then when will it ever be the right time to SPEAK your truth”. I thank them for it. The podcasts are all accessible on Spotify. The conversations are real and the topics of discussion are relevant to women right now and geared to offer real solutions and inspiration. I encourage women to take a listen.