Kaya 959 Reporter
The nation is saddened by the passing of Veteran Ukhozi FM radio presenter Winnie Busisiwe Mahlangu, who passed away on Thursday 27 January at the age of 88.
Mahlangu will be remembered as the first black women broadcaster at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).
She started her career at the then Radio Bantu back in 1962.
Born in Witbank, Mpumalanga in 1934, Mahlangu worked at the SABC at height of apartheid, a time when discrimination against women was rife.
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She was known by her nickname, “uMafungwase”, a name she got from former radio presenter and Mahlangu’s colleague KE Masinga.
MEDIA STATEMENT | THE SABC MOURNS THE PASSING OF THE LEGENDARY WINNIE MAHLANGU
— SABC (@SABCPortal) January 27, 2022
For more: https://t.co/lJtBDErAgi pic.twitter.com/TSv9agXg2g
The SABC released a statement where they spoke fondly of her influence in the broadcast space, and how she championed the cause for female broadcasters.
“She was well known for her warm nature, her meaningful influence to the station as well as her contribution to the empowerment of female counterparts in the industry. She retired from the Corporation in 1993.”
“In her honour and for a continued involvement beyond her tenure at the SABC, Ukhozi FM launched the Winnie Mahlangu Female Presenter Search as part of women’s month commemorations in 2020.” read the statement.
In 2015, she received the Order of Ikhamanga in Silver for her unmatched contribution to broadcasting.



