Munghana Lonene FM is anSABC (South African Broadcasting Cooperation) radio station broadcasting inTsonga language inSouth 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 ofJazz,R&B,Kwaito,House,Gospel music andAfrican music.
On 1 February 1965, initial programmes in theTsonga language were broadcast for listeners in the then NorthernTransvaal, from theJohannesburg studios of theSouth 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 onmedium wave fromPietersburg (now Polokwane). On 1 May of the same year, coverage was extended to listeners inSoweto via a low powerFM transmitter atop the SABC building atAuckland Park.
Amongst those who managed the station is former presenter andRadio 2000 manager, James Shikwamabane[1] 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 announcedTebogo 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 andThobela 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.
