Centurion native’s debut book and new radio show
“This dream of doing radio all started when I was back in high school, so to finally get my own weeknight commercial radio show is a teenage dream come true.”
Award-winning TV presenter, broadcaster, producer, and radio host, Renaldo Schwarp has become a regular on the airwaves of South Africa but he still has his roots in Centurion.
Schwarp was born and raised in Irene and attended Hoërskool Centurion. After completing his drama studies in Stellenbosch, his media career took off.
He has a brand new weeknight radio show on OFM. The radio station broadcasts across central South Africa.
About Centurion, he said, a lot has changed since he left, but much has stayed the same.
“I sense a wonderful spirit of friendliness about the people living in Centurion, then and now. But, of course, nowadays there is a lot more to keep one busy with.”
He said one of his favourite memories is that of weekly high school hangouts at the Centurion Mall.
“Although the mall changed a lot over the years, it remains a pleasant venue to meet up with friends or just to make a quick stop at after work.”
Lately, he said, his schedule does not permit him a lot of hanging out with, or visiting people, including last year with Covid-19.
But when he does have time, he loves to entertain people at home.
“What I enjoy most is a braai and good wine.”
In April this year, Schwarp stepped behind the microphone as the host of OFM Nights with Renaldo Schwarp, which airs weeknights from 19:00-22:00.
OFM is a commercial radio station that broadcasts across the Free State, North West, South Gauteng and the Northern Cape.
Schwarp has previously hosted radio shows on CapeTalk, Smile 90.4 FM, and more recently, Jacaranda FM. Afrikaans TV audiences will recognise him as presenter and producer of various lifestyle and actuality shows on kykNET & Kie, VIA TV, and Showmax.
“Radio is part of my DNA. I can’t wait to spend my evenings and weekends connecting with the wonderful people of South Africa.
“This dream of doing radio all started when I was back in high school, so to finally get my own weeknight commercial radio show is a teenage dream come true.”
His Afrikaans debut book, titled Skeef, is set to be published by Lapa in September this year.
He said it is a self-help memoir that is roughly based on his critically acclaimed Showmax documentary, Skeef.
“The book details various aspects of my life, one of the touchpoints is my teenage years in Centurion and how that shaped the way I see the world as a brown, gay, Afrikaans person.”
In 2019, Schwarp was listed as one of Mail and Guardian’s Top 200 Young South Africans.
He also received a Koker Youth Award at the Afrikaanse Taalraad (ATR) Koker Awards. In 2020 he was awarded the 2020 SRC Award for Exceptional Achievement by an SU Alumnus at Stellenbosch University’s Rector’s Awards.
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