She interviews Hollywood, has anchored a World Cup, hosts a drive-time radio show and appears on major television stages, moving seamlessly between worlds few people ever bridge. Zanele Potelwa is booked, bold and becoming.
Not every presence needs to announce itself to be felt. Long before she became one of South Africa’s most recognisable voices,
Zanele Potelwa had already learned how to carry herself with quiet certainty. Her comfort in studios, on sets and on stages does not feel performed. It feels lived in.
Raised in a large, vibrant family where excellence was expected and faith was central, she developed a confidence that now allows her to move fluidly between radio, television and live broadcasting without ever feeling conflicted.
That fluidity is supported by discipline and intention. What looks effortless on screen is built on years of preparation, purpose and a deep understanding that authenticity is her greatest asset. In an industry obsessed with the performance, Zanele chose presence – and that choice changed everything.
The house that raised her
Born into a home full of personalities, she learned early how to listen, speak up and belong all at once. She grew up surrounded by different interests, different temperaments and different influences that quietly shaped her range. Conversation never ran dry and energy was constant.
“I’m number five of six children. We were always loud, always having fun and only ever had an example of excellence,” she says. “I always say that being part of a big family is the reason I can relate to so many different people, and why I adore so many different things.”
She credits her sisters for her love of pop culture and entertainment, and her brothers for her love of sport – a combination that now reads like early preparation for the career she would step into. It explains how she can move between interviewing film stars and anchoring major sports broadcasts without needing to reinvent herself for either.
Zanele grew up wanting to be like her older sisters and mom – “boss queens with a great work ethic”. Her father and brothers also continue to inspire her in the way they approach their work and their lives – “focused, driven and always in it to win”.
But beyond the personality, the ambition and the joyful chaos of that environment, there was something grounding at the centre of it all.
“The best thing my family ever gave me, though? It’s definitely got to be my faith.” That is not a background detail to her life. It is the foundation that steadies everything else, the quiet constant beneath the noise, and the root system from which every part of her story continues to grow.
The quiet building years
Before the legacy shows and red carpets, there were quiet rooms and uncertain beginnings – moments where belief had to exist without confirmation. For Zanele, the turning point wasn’t external validation but internal conviction.
“My defining moments were the beginning stages that taught me that I didn’t need anyone else’s applause except God’s and my own.”
That mindset became her anchor in an industry where visibility is often mistaken for value. She learned to stay steady when recognition wasn’t guaranteed. “In the beginning, it can be difficult to believe in the vision when no one else can see it,” she says. Instead of folding, she refined her focus – not on the crowd, but on alignment.
Then came the stages that changed everything. Backstage-hosting for the Metro FM Music Awards and SA Music Awards exposed her to a different kind of pressure – the kind that comes with national attention. But it also brought affirmation. “The country was watching and they had such kind things to say.”
Soon after, the doors opened wider: 5FM Drive Show, Selimathunzi, Expresso and Tropika Island of Treasure. Not as auditions, but as ownership of spaces already shaped by icons.
@zanele_potelwa We’re LIVE on your television 🥹🥰 #ExpressoShow #fyp #ZanelePotelwa #Television #TVPresenter ♬ original sound – KHADEAIR
What you don’t see on screen
If there is one environment that reduces performance to pure instinct, it’s got to be Tropika Island of Treasure. Zanele was the host for Season 11 of this reality-TV show in 2024, set in Zanzibar. “It was one of the greatest experiences of my life. It was hot, it was fun, it was exhilarating! We got through those challenges together… That’s the only way you can pull off a production as grand as that.” While it might seem like a dream gig, for her, the experience requires far more than what audiences see. “It demands long hours, it demands a whole lot of preparation and constantly wanting to be the best. The pace leaves no space for autopilot. Anything can happen. You’ve always got to be on your toes.” She met that unpredictability with alertness and precision, and a deeper level of focus and discipline. It’s an experience that stands out in her mind for the personal growth it demanded and the reward that followed. (She’s returning for Season 12, set on Réunion island; auditions for contestants closed in May this year.)
That same attentiveness carries into the way she presents herself off-screen. Her approach to style mirrors her approach to everything in life: considered and expressive. Her wardrobe holds a clear point of view. She enjoys experimenting along with designers who understand her visual language and sense of self.
“I would describe my fashion evolution as grown-up and gorgeous, while also being adventurous.
I love looking like I’m about to step into a multi-million-dollar deal meeting,” she states, offering a glimpse into how she approaches structure, layering and silhouette. Jackets rest lightly on shoulders, textures are considered, and every detail is placed with care. The result is a visual confidence that arrives before she says a word. Winter, in particular, becomes an opportunity to lean into mood and texture.
“You can never go wrong with a beautiful coat, especially one with faux fur. Pair it with a cute pair of boots and a hat – always a hat! And then there’s the power of colour.
Winter colours are always a winner. Burgundy, the number-one colour for this winter… your olives, your beiges and creams. These colours scream sophistication and luxury.”
And when she speaks about luxury, her focus turns local. “For me, true luxury is wearing South African brands and designers.”
She values the process of creating alongside designers and “seeing a vision come to life” through fabric and construction. The designers she consistently champions include HOSS By SASS (Sasa Thabete, Otiz Seflo (Otsile Sefolo, often styled in collaboration with Mr. Suave), IMPRINT ZA (by Mzukisi Mbane), Gert-Johan Coetzee and BMashilo Designs.
“It’s so important for us to champion local designers because these are our stories to own,” she says. “We are so unique in everything we do, and our local designers consistently put us on the map, while continuing to inspire and grow the economy by creating jobs and telling our stories with their work. We owe it to them to consistently be their biggest cheerleaders, and I feel honoured every time one of them trusts me to express myself through their creativity.”
In her world, luxury is personal, thoughtful and proudly homegrown.
Legacy in motion
Over the years, Zanele’s sense of style and self has been shaped by women whose presence defined what visibility can look like in South African media – naming Thando Thabethe, Bonang Matheba, Anele Mgudlwa (née Madoda), Bontle Modiselle-Moloi and Kim-Jayde Robinson. “I don’t take that for granted. I’m so grateful.”
At the core of that influence sits something more personal. “My first style icon ever was my mother – that woman has dressed up for every occasion since I was a baby, even going to the grocery store!” In a public-facing career, Zanele has learnt the importance of keeping close circles that feel grounding and real. “I protect myself by constantly having people around me that remind me of who I am… people I know are around me because they love me, whether I have make-up on my face or I’ve got sweats on.” These relationships create a space where life exists beyond work, image and expectation.
Having presented at many an awards show, she has picked up a fair number of awards herself.
Recent accolades (in 2025) include the Basadi in Music Music TV Presenter of the Year’ and ‘Next Big Thing’ at the SA Style Awards.
@zanele_potelwa THANK YOU JESUS 🥹😭❤️ I’m in constant AWE 🥹😭❤️ #fyp #ZanelePotelwa #ThePeoplesChampion #Blessed #ThankYouJesus ♬ Oluwatosin – Tkeyz & Stevehills
“It feels like both validation and responsibility. What a blessing to be trusted with the titles, while also being told that you’re doing a good job. You’ve got to be a true example, and you’ve got to give it your all.”
Her approach to social media follows the same thread of intention.
“I balance it by always trying to remain true to who I really am,” she explains. That honesty appears by way of small, intentional windows into her life, moments that reflect both ease and challenge. “Life is like that -it’s perfectly imperfect!” Through this, her audience sees her journey as one that remains grounded and evolving.
Outside of work, her focus turns towards service, connection and faith. Travel and church are steady anchors in her world, offering both reflection and renewal. “When Zanele isn’t working, she’s trying to pour into her loved ones,” she says. “Another one of my dreams and passions is to make the lives of those less fortunate a little bit easier in any way that I can. It’s offering service.” Her vision for what comes next is grand, spanning continents and industries: a global presence in media, expanding into business, mentorship and storytelling platforms that reflect both her own journey and that of others. There is also a clear intention to create space for more creative African voices within the industry. In three years’ time, she says, “I hope to be truly living in the purpose that God has put me on this Earth for.”
@zanele_potelwa You owe yourself that much 🥹❤️🙏🏾👑 We owe God that much 🥹❤️🙏🏾 #fyp #sama28 #ZanelePotelwa #ThankYouJesus ♬ original sound – LLOYISO
Her final message carries the same groundedness she returns to throughout her story. “Please trust God and trust yourself. There is so much waiting for us in this crazy world. You deserve to give yourself and your dreams a chance.”
Read all about Zanele’s story when you subscribe to Club Magazine today!
Words: Emma Mbuthuma
Photography: Zhann Solomons
Photography assistants: Austin Taylor & Yasser Abdul.
Styling assistants: Mia-Tess Smith & Lethabo Mncwanga.
Hair & make-up: Jaqui Viljoen/Supernova
Text Courtesy of Club Magazine
