Renowned broadcaster and beauty queen Manani Botes has revealed her exit from Jacaranda FM, marking the end of a remarkable journey with the Midrand-centric commercial radio station.
Botes made a name for herself in commercial radio after clinching the competitive Jacaranda FM Limpopo Presenter Search title.
Her inviting personality, rich cultural background, and innate talent for storytelling rapidly captured the hearts of listeners in the region.
Throughout her time at the station, she played a crucial role in the station’s regional daytime content, co-hosting the weekday midday segment from 12:00 to 16:00 with industry icons Barney Simon and Sascha van Gelder.
While Simon and Van Gelder entertained audiences across Mpumalanga, Botes focused on serving the Limpopo audience, covering local news, community happenings, and fostering listener interactions.
In addition to her achievements on air, Botes has made notable strides in the South African pageant world.
She was named Mrs Limpopo Province 2024 and successfully reached the semi-finals in the esteemed Mrs South Africa 2025 competition.
When reflecting on her journey into broadcasting, Botes once shared how surreal her experiences have been, calling her presenter search win a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” that validated her aspirations.
Jacaranda FM has yet to appoint a permanent replacement for the Limpopo regional position, and Botes has not disclosed her next career move.
Listeners’ reactions to her announcement underscore the strong bond she developed with the station’s regional audience during her time on air.
