Azania Mosaka is taking the radio world by storm and social media was thrilled and excited for her new role on the most sort after spot in talk radio.
This was a surprise move to many and the press release from 702 station manager Pheladi Gwangwa had this to say: “We have loved hearing Sam find her voice as the driver of her own talk show. With her natural affinity for lifestyle and entertainment topics and her ability to have fun on air, we felt she was better suited to the weekend show and know she will bring her energy to our listeners each weekend morning. We constantly assess the sound of the station and believe that this change puts both Azania and Sam into time channels that play to their strengths and will allow them to shine, and to deliver the best to our audiences,”.
Mosaka joined 702 talk radio in January 2015 and has taken the station by storm. Her initial role as a breakfast co-host on weekend radio, with Africa Melane was clearly a stepping stone to greater things. In just six short months Azania has proven herself and is now taking the role Jenny Crwys Williams held the spot for 22 years, being the afternoon slot 1-3pm. Samantha Cowen took over this slot in mid January 2015 after leaving her 16 year role as a weekday breakfast co-host slot on 94.7 with Darren Simpson.

Cowen will return as a co-host of Breakfast Radio but to the weekend slot 6am to 10am, Mosaka’s old role. Cowne will be co-hosting the Weekend Breakfast with Africa Melane. The changes take effect on the 1 August 2015.
Mosaka was born in Pimville, Soweto in 1977, going on to complete a B-Com degree at Wits University. As most young people do, Mosaka went to live in the UK for three years. In true diaspora fashion, Mosaka returned to South Africa with those experiences and has been involved in television and radio broadcasting ever since.
Mosaka started her career in 1996, co-hosting a youth talk show called The Joint on CCV, the SABC’s now defunct Contemporary Community Values channel.
Upon returning to South Africa after her living in London, Mosaka debuted on the SABC 1’s music show Basiq. 2003 saw Mosaka host Backstage Live on e.TV, a daily live programme interviewing TV soap stars and taking audience calls.
Mosaka then started as a producer at Metro FM for the Glen Lewis’ show The Ride. After a short while of proving herself, Mosaka was given a show and was on the air on the Metro FM’s midnight to 3am slot, called Midnight Oasis. Before long Mosaka had yet again on her way up as bosses at Metro FM moved her to her first drive time slot Route 326 followed soon after by the move to the breakfast slot on Metro FM The Sound of Breakfast. Mosaka’s final promotion at Metro FM was to the 9-12 slot Total Bliss.
Mosaka moved into a totally new area in 2012, when appearing on SABC in her own food lifestyle series Cooking with Azania.
A move by Mosaka in April 2013, to newly formed and privately owned Power FM, from her long and established career at Metro FM saw new challenges. This new role turned came to an end during what seemed to many a difficult time at Power FM, and allowed Mosaka to focus on her new businesses as well as her children. The change shortly after her leaving, brought Mosaka to her new home of 702, in January 2015. Cowen rejoined 702 around the same time Mosaka did.
When leaving Power FM Mosaka said “I never declare finality on anything I do in my career, so after leaving Power FM I knew I would be back on radio at some point. It’s the same with television, I haven’t been on screen in a long time, but if the right opportunity comes I won’t say no.” It is clear Mosaka has a determination to make things work and a her track record shows it will be a success.
Mosaka was divorced, after 6 years of marriage, in 2011 from Zimbabwean born Super Sport Rugby presenter Tony Ndoro. As a busy mom, Mosaka took back control of her life, and her name, and in 2012 was introduced using her Mosaka surname at the 2012 South African Music Awards instead of Ndoro that she had become so popular within her marriage.
This YouTube clip shows what appears to be the core of Mosaka’s ethos in life.
Mosaka appears to be a leading light in the radio world inspiring many as she goes. Radio is not the only place where Mosaka is leading the way. Having opened her own nail salon, Miss Salon London – in Parkhurst, Johannesburg, Azania has shown to be an astute business person and even had articles written about her and how she feels businesses should be run.
Mosaka is an ambassador for South African National Book Week as well as Citroen, has appeared on covers of most SA magazines, scooping awards such as Cosmopolitan Awesome Woman of the Year 2003 and being nominated for the Olay Iconic Woman in Media Award nominee. Mosaka was a judge on the third (2004) and fourth (2011) seasons of the reality competition Popstars.
Social media was buzzing with tweets that were thrilled Mosaka was taking over and tweets sad Cowen for being moved to a different slot.
When Mosaka joined 702 in January 2015 she was reported as saying she was “ecstatic” to be joining a station Mosaka considers to be “the big league”. Mosaka added, “I grew up listening to 702; my mother was a listener. It was all those old voices that made me fall in love with and appreciate talk radio.” Mosaka will now be one of those new voices young people of today will listen to and aspire to.