Thato Sikwane, widely recognized as DJ Fresh, is set to take on the role of host for Kaya 959’s prominent weekday breakfast show starting Monday, 1 July 2026.
In collaboration with his longtime on-air partner and reliable producer, Thato Mataboge, DJ Fresh aims to deliver his vibrant energy, humor, authority, and a genuine connection to listeners in Gauteng each weekday morning from 06:00 to 09:00.
Having a career that has lasted over thirty years, DJ Fresh has significantly influenced the landscape of breakfast and drive-time radio through platforms such as YFM, 5FM, and Metro FM, while also establishing a remarkable reputation as a DJ, music producer, entrepreneur, and live performer.
David Tiltmann, Acting Managing Executive at Kaya 959, remarked: “DJ Fresh is one of the most influential broadcasters South Africa has ever produced. His ability to connect with audiences is unmatched, and his arrival represents an exciting new chapter for Kaya 959.
“We are investing in exceptional talent, exceptional content, and exceptional audience experiences. Fresh brings all of that and more. Together with Thato Mataboge, he will create a breakfast show that is intelligent, entertaining, culturally relevant, and impossible to ignore.”
DJ Fresh’s thoughts on the transition
For DJ Fresh, this transition signifies a return to the breakfast time slot that played a pivotal role in his career, presenting a chance to forge a new bond with the Kaya 959 audience: “Breakfast radio has always been special to me because it allows you to become part of people’s daily lives.”
“Kaya 959 has cultivated something exceptional – a robust brand, a devoted audience, and a strong connection with Gauteng. Thato and I are eager to join an already impressive team of broadcasters and to develop a show that is entertaining, warm, insightful, and infused with energy.
“This is a reunion 20 years in the making. That’s the last time Mpho Maboi, Thato, and I were on air together, which makes this a full-circle moment for us. We feel as though we’re returning home collectively, and we aim to make mornings on Kaya 959 unmissable. We want listeners to feel informed, inspired, entertained, and connected every single day.”
The refreshed breakfast show will seamlessly integrate great music, engaging dialogues, topical discussions, humor, lifestyle features, and the distinctive charisma that has solidified DJ Fresh as one of South Africa’s most enduring media figures.
