Local radio presenter’s incredible life journey

Cosmo FM radio personality Leboang Mdlalana had to overcome significant challenges, to become the man he is today. One of those challenges was getting involved with drugs as a young student. He started taking dagga when he first arrived at college, then switched to Kat- the street name of Ketamine but later felt it was not strong enough and eventually switched to crystal meth also known as Tik.

This was due to the fact that he wanted to be well-known on campus, attract girls and make friends with students who were famous and using drugs. That didn’t work out for him, though, as he developed an addiction and began the road to recovery.

Thankfully his addiction didn’t last for long because as time passed, he eventually came to the realization that he needed to stop even though it was difficult for him to escape from the path on his own. He didn’t finish his first year and dropped out of college in 2014.

The former drug user who is now a radio host enjoys being behind the microphone and connecting with people over the airwaves.

The 30-year-old, better known to his listeners as Cable da Connector, was born in Ntabamhlophe Village, in the Eastern Cape and he told the Randburg Sun that growing up without electricity made him fall in love with radio.

“We relied on radio to get to know what’s happening around the world.”

He loves to cook and growing up he wanted to become a chef. Although being a chef was always in the back of his mind, “People kept telling me that I have an amazing voice for radio.”

This is where his love for radio began.

“I was a drug addict and what I can say is that I made mistakes and learned from that.”

He was employed in 2017 and started to work as a chef without having the necessary qualifications. He later resigned from his work in 2020 to start an organisation that concentrated on educating teens about the risks associated with drug use.

“Simunye Global Organization seeks to keep youngsters between the ages of 6 and 16 off the streets. We provide them with acting, singing and dancing classes as well as helping them with their schoolwork.”

His love for radio was reignited at the beginning of 2022 and he decided to join Cosmo FM, a community radio station.

“I was inspired by the likes of Mo Flava and Tbo Touch.”

“Radio allows me to say anything that I want. I enjoy talking and touching other people’s lives through the airwaves. It makes me happy.”

During the interview he mentioned that he presented shows from the graveyard shows to the afternoon drive and expressed the hope that one day he will join big stations like Metro FM and YFM.