Meet Bongani Mtolo
East Coast Urban is a no-holds barred take on life in KZN and the issues that trendy, go-getters face every day. “It’s honest radio. This is just me being me,” explains Bongani. “I say it like it is and I talk about real issues affecting all of us like family, love, money, friendship, things that make you angry, things that make us laugh, traffic and what celebrities are getting up to.”
There’s plenty of star power on the show as Bongani’s famous friends to come over to chill. Da Les, Nandi Mngoma, Jessica Nkosi, Kay Sibiya, Locnville, DJ Dimplez, Nomuzi Mabena and Kwesta have already dropped in while other celebs are scrambling to hang out with Bongani.
With his catwalk cool personality, Bongani has notched up a huge following in KZN. It’s this I’m-not-afraid-to-say-what-I-think attitude that makes his WTF feature so popular! WTF sees women from across the province venting. Whether it’s eyeing out their girlfriend’s man or having a run-in with the boss, Bongani always dishes out brutally honest advice – and you may not always agree with him! “One of the things I love about myself is that I’m not easily offended. I can find humour in most things in life.”
Born in Richmond in the KZN Midlands, Bongani’s love for radio started early. “I've dreamed about this since I was a child!” he says. Now that he’s got KZN’s attention, there’s no stopping this 33-year-old rising star, who grew up in ‘Maritzburg and now lives in Durban. “I am so blessed to be doing what I love for a living.”
Bongani is passionate about South African music and he is super-excited to host The SA Music Show on Sunday evenings from 6pm to 9pm. “Two years ago, you’d go to a club and you’d be lucky if you heard a local song. Now DJs play a whole set with SA music. It’s fantastic!” Right now Bongani is loving KO’s latest offering, Skhanda Republic. He also thinks Cassper Nyovest is “quite dope!”
Music may be Bongani’s first love, but fashion comes a close second! He always turns heads with his cool threads and is fast becoming a style icon in KZN. “Life is too short to wear ugly clothes!” he explains, adjusting his trendy hat. He has more than 30 hats by the way, and the collection is growing. “I don’t plan what I’m going to wear. It’s based on my mood at the time. I do love style though. Style is everything.”
So is family. When Bongani is not making waves on regional radio, he hangs out with his family – wife Zamathe and their two boys, two-year-old Khwezi and seven-year-old Lwazi. Sport is a big part of his life. “It builds character!” he says, adding that he loves cycling, skating and basketball with his boys. And Bongani’s a pro too! He played basketball at school at Maritzburg College and went on to represent the province in the sport.
Catch Bongani Mtolo on East Coast Urban, Monday to Thursday, 6pm to 9pm; and on The SA Music Show on Sunday evenings, 6pm to 9pm.