What began with a call for entries that drew a response from across the Mother City and beyond, followed by a day of auditions earlier in March, has now culminated in one presenter stepping into the spotlight on Cape Town's Original.
Since the entries opened, aspiring presenters flooded the Good Hope FM app with submissions, each hoping to claim their moment. The auditions that followed faced the judging panel made up of station management, The Roger Goode Breakfast's Roger Goode, The Great Drive's Celest Anthony and The Lunch Club's Carissa Cupido. The Great Drive's Kyeezi was the master of the ceremony, says the station.
Five finalists were selected to move into the next phase of the competition: Sasha Japtha, originally from Cape Town, raised in Durbanville and now living in Blue Downs; Dineo Lekometsa, originally from Bloemfontein; Caleb Alonzo, originally from Cape Town with roots in Table View, Gordon's Bay and Somerset West, now studying at Stellenbosch University; Clifford Demas, originally from Westlake in the Southern Suburbs and now based in Parow; and Anslin Gysman, originally from Philippi.
Listeners got to know the Top 5 better as each finalist joined The Great Drive for live interviews, sharing their stories with Cape Town, adds the station.
The SABC Auditorium was filled with family and friends to support the Top 5. The finalists were interviewed live on air by the judges before delivering their final links, says the station.
Every moment built toward the final announcement, where the judges returned from deliberation and revealed the winner of the Good Hope FM Presenter Search 2026: Sasha Japtha.
Along with the title, Japtha won a prize package that includes R5 000 cash, a R3 000 Tiger's Milk voucher, a range of Good Hope FM branded items and the opportunity to undergo radio training from experienced industry professionals, adds the station.
Reflecting on the journey and the incredible talent showcased throughout the competition, Masi Mdingane, Business Manager for Good Hope FM and 5FM, says,
"Every single person who stepped up to that mic showed us just how much talent the Mother City holds. This Top 5 in particular reminded us why Cape Town continues to produce some of the freshest, most exciting voices in the country. They are a perfect fit for Cape Town's Original, a station that brings you the biggest interviews, the stories that matter, the causes that change lives and the tunes that soundtrack your world. It has been an honour to open this platform to the next generation of broadcasters. A huge congratulations to Sasha."
The winner of the R3 000 Tiger's Milk voucher for predicting the winner will be announced on air on Monday, adds the station.
For more information, visit www.goodhopefm.co.za. You can also follow Good Hope FM on Facebook, X, Instagram, or on TikTok.
*Image courtesy of contributor