Melanie Bala is a 50-year-old South African broadcaster with decades of experience in television and radio. She was born on 20th May 1973.
Bala is one of the country’s favorite broadcasters and event hosts. An accomplished and seasoned media personality, she has worked with notable personalities in the media industry, including Bob Mabena and Glen Lewis. She is an inspiration to many people, having overcome some personal tragedies in her life.
Summary of Melanie Bala’s Biography
- Full name: Melanie Bala
- Gender: Female
- Date of birth: May 20, 1973
- Melanie Bala’s Age: 50 years old
- Ethnicity: Black
- Nationality: South Africa
- Zodiac Sign: Taurus
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Religion: Christianity
- Marital Status: Divorced
- Melanie Bala’s Ex-Husband: Zwai Bala
- Melanie Bala’s Children: 2
- Melanie Bala’s Net worth: $5 million
- Famous for: Being a news anchor at Metro FM
- Melanie Bala’s Instagram: melzinbala
- Twitter: @MelBala
- Facebook: Melanie Bala
How Old Is Melanie Bala?
Melanie Bala is 50 years old and was born on May 20, 1973 in Pretoria, Gauteng Province. She was raised in her hometown in a large family that is closely knitted and has sisters who share a close bond with her.
Sadly, she has lost two members of her family. Her older brother died on 29th October 2005 from complications of lung cancer at the age of 35. She lost her beloved father in October 2017 while dealing with her battered marriage.
Due to the amazing bond Melanie shared with her father, his death dealt a big blow to her and even caused her to slip into depression.
The broadcaster attended the University of South Africa. However, she dropped out after two years to focus on work. The course she briefly studied at the institution is not publicly known.
What is Melanie Bala’s Maiden Name?
Melanie Bala hasn’t mentioned her maiden name publicly. She’s been known with the surname ‘Bala’ ever since she became a public figure. Bala is her ex-husband’s surname, and ever since they divorced, she has continued to use the name.
She is a Seasoned TV and Radio Broadcaster
Bala is a veteran broadcaster with over two decades of experience in TV and radio. She began her career with SABC, and in the course of her career with the outfit, she worked as both an on-air talent and a member of production teams for various entertainment, music, news, and talk programs.
Besides TV and radio, she has written brief op-eds for Marie Claire and the Mail & Guardian online. In 2013, she also contributed to Jacana’s “From Me To Me: Letters To My 16 and a-Half-Year-Old Self,” a collection of letters by South African celebrities that was compiled by Samantha Page.
The Pretoria-born broadcaster has also served as the host of the talk show “Let’s Chat” (2010), which earned her the SAFTA Best Talk Show award in 2011.
Her popularity soared after she joined Metro FM. She has been with the media outfit for over a decade. She is currently the news anchor of the station’s breakfast drive show, ‘The Avenue’.
Bala’s beauty, talent, and expertise have also earned her several hosting jobs in the entertainment industry, including the SA Music Awards (Samas) in Sun City.
Is Melanie Bala Still Married?
Melanie Bala is not married presently. She has been a divorcee since 2017, when she and her former husband ended their marriage. There are no indications that she is dating anyone, as she hasn’t been linked to any man since her divorce.
The broadcaster has been really focused on her family and her thriving job since she suffered the heartbreak. It’s not clear if she has plans to get married for the second time; Bala always shies away from talking about her private life, and remarrying is one subject she has never opened up about.
Who Is Melanie Bala Married To?
Melanie Bala was previously married to Zwai Bala, a South African celebrity Kwaito and gospel singer, rapper, and actor.
The two dated for seven years before they eventually tied the knot. Zwai and Melanie’s marriage crashed after 10 years together following several failed attempts to make peace between them.
They amicably separated and divorced later. In a statement released on her Instagram page in October 2017, the seasoned broadcaster announced that she and her ex-husband decided to call it quits amicably for the sake of their children.
She later slipped into depression as she couldn’t put up with everything happening around her, including the death of her father, who passed on during the same period.
Zwai is a Celebrity Kwaito Singer and TV Personality
Zwai became a professional Kwaito singer in 1997 and first tasted fame as a member of the Kwaito group TKZee in the same year. He formed the music group alongside his schoolmates, Kabelo Mabalane and Tokollo Tshabalala.
Born Mzwandile Bala on 15th February 1975 in Uitenhage, Eastern Cape, he appeared on the first season of the SABC 2 reality competition Strictly Come Dancing in 2006 as a celebrity contestant.
As a music director and producer, Melanie’s ex-husband has featured as a soloist at the Classical FM–Lexus Soiree at the Sandton Intercontinental, produced singles for the two-time Grammy award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir, as well as worked on musicals featuring Ali Campbell of UB40.
Some of his hit songs are Soccer, Gux Duo, Niceland-Guguletu, Everyone Can Drum, Noble Peace, and Noyana, while the following TV shows are some of his professional credits – All You Need Is Love (Season 2 as Host), Popstars (Season 2, 3 and 4 as Judge), Clash of the Choirs South Africa – Season 1 & 3 as Choir Master and Guest Judge respectively).
Zwai was honored with a SAMA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019 alongside his fellow TKZee members. He won his first SAMA award in 2002 for his single “Lifted”. It emerged in September 2020 that the gospel singer was expecting his third child with his new partner. She was born shortly after. Further information about his personal and family life is under wraps.
Melanie Bala’s children
Melanie Bala and her ex-husband share two children together, a son and a daughter. Their son was born in November 2006. The children are being raised by the broadcaster with the support of their father.
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas y’all – stay safe🎄💫❤️ #Christmas #ChristmasEve2020 pic.twitter.com/Sii7VbY98v
— Threads: melzinbala (@MelBala) December 24, 2020
Though Zwai and Melaine are no longer together, he has a cordial relationship with his two kids.
He has severally shared photos of himself with his son and daughter bonding at various places on his Instagram page.
