Penny Lebyane


Penny Matsidiso Lebyane is a South African radio and television presenter, disc jockey and media entrepreneur. She rose to prominence as a Metro FM DJ and E.tv breakfast show host, served as a judge on Idols South Africa in 2002, has fronted lifestyle and breakfast shows including Motswako and Sunrise and has since fronted both community-focused talk series and relationship-advice programmes on Moja Love.

Early life and education

Lebyane was born on 25 December 1976 in Bushbuckridge, Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga, and later moved with her family to KwaZulu-Natal. She matriculated from Thaba Jabula High School before earning a National Diploma in Public Relations, Communication and Media Studies at the University of South Africa in 1997.

Career

Radio

Lebyane began broadcasting at age 17 on Soweto community stations. Initially, she as a newsreader on The Voice of Soweto and was recruited by Metro FM in November 1998. Over nearly twelve years at Metro, she hosted flagship slots and became known for her outspoken style. In 2011, she joined Thobela FM to host Madiboga a Gauta between 11am-1pm.

Television

In 2010 she joined SABC 2's Motswako as both a host and producer, focusing on women's empowerment, before signing on to E.tv's breakfast show Sunrise, where she led daily interviews and current-affairs debates.
Since 2022, Lebyane has hosted BET Africa's social-issues series The Big Secret and currently presents Moja Love programmes including Let's Talk Papgeld, 360° Insight on the Impact of Child Maintenance SA and the relationship-therapy show UnBreak My Heart.

Entrepreneurship

In November 1997, Lebyane founded the Penny Lebyane Company, a media production house through which she develops and hosts community-driven content across radio and television.

Personal life

Lebyane has two children. In 2008, during a high-profile contractual dispute with Metro FM, she separated from her then-husband, Ali Naka, and briefly returned to live with her parents in Soweto. She has public said that Ali Naka is a deadbeat father. She is based in Randburg, Gauteng. Lebyane also used to date DJ Fresh.

Filmography