Masechaba Ndlovu (Birth name: Masechaba Khumalo; Born 10th September 1983; Age: 40 years old) is a South African TV and radio broadcaster, communicator, presenter, actress, and musician. She is also currently the spokesperson for the Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa.
Masechaba has anchored several high-profile events and shows in the entertainment industry, including Weekend Live, Into Africa, “One Day Leader” (twice) on SABC1, and Afro Showbiz. The two-time divorcee appeared in Generations – Season 1, 1 Love South Africa – Season 1 and 2, and Backstage – Season 1.
Summary of Masechaba Ndlovu’s BiographyÂ
- Full name:Â Masechaba Ndlovu
- Nickname:Â Masechaba
- Gender: Female
- Date of birth: 10th September 1983
- Masechaba Ndlovu’s Age: 40 years old
- Nationality:Â South African
- Zodiac Sign:Â Virgo
- Sexual Orientation:Â Straight
- Religion:Â Christianity
- Marital Status: Divorced
- Masechaba Ndlovu’s Ex-Husbands: Vusi Ndlovu, Mfundo Ntsibande
- Masechaba Ndlovu’s Children: Lungelo, King Itumeleng
- Masechaba Ndlovu’s Height in Inches: 5 feet 5 inches
- Masechaba Ndlovu’s Height in Centimetres:Â 165 cm
- Masechaba Ndlovu’s Net worth: $1.5 million
- Famous for:Â Being a TV and Radio presenter
- Masechaba Ndlovu’s Instagram: masechabandlovu
- Twitter:Â @MasechabaAfrica
- Facebook:Â MasechabaA Ndlovu
How Old Is Masechaba Ndlovu Now?
Masechaba Ndlovu is 40 years old. She was born to South African parents in Lusaka, Zambia, on 10th September 1983. Her parents were born in Soweto and were anti-apartheid activists.
The name of her mother is Sibongile Promise Khumalo (born on 16th October). However, the particular year she was born and the name of Masechaba’s father is not known publicly. The media personality reportedly has a sister who is five years younger than her. Unfortunately, there is no available information about her personal life, profession, and whereabouts.
Ndlovu spent her first five years in Zambia, after which she moved to Zimbabwe. She also spent some time with her grandmother after she left Zimbabwe while her parents were undergoing military training in the then Soviet Union.
The presenter left South Africa for the US at the age of six to live with her parents. She was enrolled at California, Oakland, where she schooled for 7 years. Masechaba completed her high school studies in the year 2000 after she returned from the US in 1995.
Ndlovu had her tertiary education in one of the prestigious higher institutions of learning in the country. She studied journalism, video broadcasting, and public relations, thereby fulfilling her dream of becoming a top-notch media personality.
What Work Is Masechaba Ndlovu Best Known For?
Masechaba is best known for her work with the South African commercial FM radio SAFM and for presenting several interesting local shows such as Into Africa, Weekend Live, eNews, and Afro Showbiz.
As an actress, she starred in the famous TV soapie, Generations, as a supporting actor, after which she played a leading role in the show “Backstage” in 2003. She also played an undercover cop in season 1 of the TV series Snitch and as her herself in season 4 of Zaziwa.
Though Masechaba has made a couple of appearances in TV series, she has achieved more success and wealth as a broadcaster, presenter, and TV host.
The List of Ndlovu’s works as an actress
- Backstage – Season 1 as Cast Member
- Snitch – Season 1 as Undercover Cop
- Generations – Season 1 as Upmarket Escort
- Zaziwa – Season 4; Herself
The Presenter Has Done Well For Herself Regardless Of Her Age
Masechaba is considered one of the successful women in the entertainment industry. She is a natural hustler and someone who excels in all the arts she has ventured into. At her age, she has achieved many things some of her peers can only dream of.
Her love for media and entertainment began in her childhood. While in the U.S, she used to write children’s short stories, which were subsequently published in children’s magazines. It was still her passion for media that influenced the course she did at the university.
Since she graduated, she has worked with numerous organizations in South Africa. From excelling as a broadcaster, she began hosting and presenting shows and events across several regions of the country.
In her early days, she worked with one of the finest recording studios in the country, Urban Brew Studios. She was a force to reckon with at the entertainment content provider facility during her time there.
While still at Urban Brew Studios, she was unveiled as the co-host of the SABC Africa show “Into Africa” alongside Hlomla Dandala in 2006 as a studio anchor and video journalist. The travel show took her across the continent, including Nigeria, Uganda, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Egypt, Uganda.
She was also the show’s content producer, researcher, and scriptwriter. However, she later resigned and became a story-liner and freelance writer. The mother of two has also hosted a wrestling show called WWP, after which she joined SABC1 on the show “Reliable Slamdown.”
In addition to that, she also made some appearances on Friday Night Live on SABC1. The year 2006 was an amazing one for Masechaba Ndlovu. It was the year she pioneered the “Afro Showbiz” on SABC, and following the brilliant performance, things began to fall in perfect places for her as a showbiz personality.
The Zambia-born South African star would go on to become the face and host of the 2007 Old Mutual Vukani Fashion Awards. She also hosted the African Pride Awards in the same year. Masechaba was unveiled as the host of the SABC Africa On-screen film festival in 2007 and 2008.
She also hosted the largest gathering of African journalists worldwide, the Highway Africa Awards ceremony, which took place in 2008. In 2019, Ndlovu became the new host of ‘The Big Secret” on BET Africa, and it was a successful gig in the long run.
She also hosted the SABC1 reality competition One Day Leader in 2011 and for the second time in 2013. In 2012, Ndlovu successfully hosted the SABC2 reality competition series Big Break Legacy, and in 2014 she hosted the e.tv game show, I Love South Africa.
Masechaba began hosting the talk show Eksê: Let’s Talk with Masechaba Lekalake with Tol A$$ Mo and Refilwe Modiselle on the OpenView HD channel eKasi+ in the year 2013. She was also the host of the e.tv talk show, The Big Debate, in 2015.
Ndlovu also worked as a TV and radio host at Power FM. However, she resigned with immediate effect without an explanation from the media firm in early 2017. Not long after, precisely in 2018, she joined Metro FM to host a Drive Time show with Sowetan-born media personality, Mo Flav.
Ndlovu was appointed as the spokesperson for Sports, Arts, and Culture minister Nathi Mthethwa in March 2020.
I am pleased to welcome @MasechabaNdlovu to the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture as my newly appointed Spokesperson. As a Department, we know that you will play an integral part in executing our motto of "laying the foundation for greatness". pic.twitter.com/na0TlqpLkj
— Min. Nathi Mthethwa (@NathiMthethwaSA) March 12, 2020
For her outstanding contributions and roles in the South African entertainment space, Masechaba has been nominated for several awards in the past years.
Here’s a list of Masechaba Lekalake’s nominations:
- Golden Horn Award for Best Presenter in an International Show (2015)
- Golden Horn Award for Best TV Presenter (2017 and 2015)
- Golden Horn Award for Best Talk Show Host (2018 and 2015)
I am supremely honoured to be the facilitator of today's 'Community Conversation Dialogue' taking place in Orlando East, Soweto. The focus of today's debate: "Drawing parallels between the youth of '76 and the youth of today". Join the conversation online!#YouthMonth2022 pic.twitter.com/RG03MEk0lu
— Masechaba🇿🇦 (@MasechabaAfrica) June 23, 2022
However, she won her first award at the Liberty Radio Awards at the Sandton Convention Centre in 2014. Her show (Metro FM’s Drive Time with Masechaba and Mo) won Best Afternoon Drive Show in the commercial category.
The actress launched her music career in 2022 when she released her first single song titled: Vela in March of the same year.
A recap of all the TV shows and events Masechaba has hosted, presented, or anchored:
- I Love South Africa – Season 1; Host – Herself
- The Debate – Host
- Eksê: Let’s Talk with Masechaba Lekalake with Tol A$$ Mo and Refilwe Modiselle
- Reliable Slamdown
- The Big Debate – Season 6; Host – Herself
- Friday Night Live on SABC1
- The Big Secret” on BET Africa; Host
- The Big Debate – Season 7; Host – Herself
- Big Break Legacy
- I Love South Africa
- Kings of Jo’burg – Season 1 as TV Presenter
- One Day Leader – Season 1; Host – Herself
- Eks̻ Zwakala РSeason 1; Host РHerself
- Eks̻ Zwakala РSeason 2; Host РHerself
- SABC Africa’s “Into Africa” show; co-host
- Red Cake – Not the Cooking Show – Season 2; Celebrity Guest – Herself
- SAFTAs – Season 11; Presenter – Herself
- The Big Secret – Season 2; Host – Herself
- I Love South Africa – Season 2; Host – Herself
- Highway Africa Awards ceremony; Host
- One Day Leader – Season 2; Host – Herself
