Palesa scoops Sunshine award

Palesa Mokoena of VOC FM in Ermelo was recently crowned Best Female Community Radio Presenter in the Mpumalanga Sunshine Media Awards hosted in Middelburg.

During an exclusive interview with the Highvelder, the bubbly and energetic “Ms Sunshine”, as she’s affectionately known to her friends, fans and in the media fraternity, opened up about her journey.

Born and raised in Standerton,the youngest daughter of George Mokoena and the late Sibongile Mokoena, Palesa has a vague recollection of her mother, who passed on while she was still young.

She grew up in the care of her father and elder sister, Promise Nhleko.

She explained how over-protective her father and sister were of her as the last born and that she never fell short of anything in her childhood.

Her schooldays in English Primary School were bright and exciting.

“I was one of those naughty yet bright kids at school, actively involved in debates and anything that required standing up in front of the class,” explained Palesa.

In 2008, she went to the then Boston City Campus and Business College now known as Boston Media House in Pretoria, where she enrolled for Media Studies and in her final year she specialised in Marketing and Advertising as her majors.

Palesa recalls how she fell in love with radio when she was asked to fill in on an afternoon drive show.
Upon completion of her studies, she had a stint on Y-FM where she acquired experience, which she applied at the University of Johannesburg Campus Radio where she did an afternoon drive, later moved to a morning show and also produced most of the shows on radio.

In 2014 she auditioned for a presenter position with VOC FM in Ermelo after a friend had told her about the new station. She has since been actively involved in and committed to the station and has worked hard to better herself.

Reflecting on the awards, she said the station manager entered some of her clips for the awards without her knowledge and she only found out about it when she was nominated as one of the finalists.

The outspoken Palesa attributed her love for speaking to her father, who was a financial advisor and, according to her, did very well. Despite losing her mother at a tender age, she remembers how her mother used to encourage her when she would mimic television personalities.

She said the journey to winning the award has been rough, but her sister’s support has been key.

“My sister was married to a soccer star and lived overseas for some time, but she never failed to support me and what I did. She is one of the people to whom I dedicate the award,” said Palesa.

When asked how she felt about the award, she said it’s a great feeling and a reflection of her hard work and the amazing team at VOC FM.

“It’s confirmation that everything is possible; your background and childhood don’t define who you are.

“I draw inspiration from various people and my job inspires me. I wish everyone could do what they love and makes them happy. Life in general also inspires me,” said Palesa.

Palesa is also involved in charity work such as the Gift of Love Project that collects and donates personal toiletries to girls at school. She also runs a public relations company, specialising in branding and artist management.

She emphasised the fact that she is over being popular and wanting to be relevant. She wants to influence people, especially the youth, to greater things using the one tool she has and knows well: the media. She hopes to start a project to mentor young girls for whom life has lost meaning and are seeking assistance.

For all her success, Palesa gives the glory to the Creator of her gift.

The provincial Sunshine Media Awards are aimed at honouring and recognising media talent in, among others, news, sports. entertainment and personalities in radio, newspaper, music.