Munghana Lonene FM is an SABC (South African Broadcasting Cooperation) radio station broadcasting in Tsonga language in South Africa. In Tsonga, "Munghana Lonene" means "a true friend." Munghana Lonene FM is geared to listeners who understand Xitsonga. Munghana Lonene FM is branded as an "infotainment" radio station with a 50% split of music and talk. It offers an environment interactive with its listeners, providing a mixture of news, music, current affairs, talk shows, education, sport, weather and traffic. The music repertoire consists of Jazz, R&B, Kwaito, House, Gospel music and African music. Munghana Lonene FM's broadcast areas includes Gauteng, Limpopo, eastern Mpumalanga and Mozambique.

History

On 1 February 1965, initial programmes in the Tsonga language were broadcast for listeners in the then Northern Transvaal, from the Johannesburg studios of the South African Broadcasting Corporation, at that time situated in Broadcast House, Commissioner Street. This service later became known as Radio Tsonga. On 1 February 1984 Radio Tsonga was also broadcast on medium wave from Pietersburg (now Polokwane). On 1 May of the same year, coverage was extended to listeners in Soweto via a low power FM transmitter atop the SABC building at Auckland Park. Amongst those who managed the station is former presenter and Radio 2000 manager, James Shikwamabane after Tsakani Baloyi left the station in 2011. Former sports presenter James Swikwambane has won more National and International Awards; he was the station manager from May 2012 to September 2016. From 1 December 2016, Lawrence Ubisi was the station manager till March 2021. Vongani Nkanyane is the station's marketing manager. On 1 September 2018 the station announced Tebogo Jacko Magubane as its new Programmes Manager. Tebogo Jacko Magubane, Rose Tshabalala and Ruth Maphophe are the station's current Top Management, managing the station with Rudzani Mashamba who is the Marketing Manager for the Limpopo Combo consisting of Munghana Lonene FM, Phalaphala FM and Thobela FM. As of 4 February 2020, OVHD is adding SABC Radio stations on its audio banquet and Munghana Lonene FM is now part of the stations on the banquet on Channel 622.

Coverage and frequencies

Programming

Monday – Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Broadcast time

Social media

Listenership Figures