Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma (born 6 July 1986) is a South African radio personality, event organiser, and community activist. She has worked as a presenter at Vibe 94.7 FM, Inanda FM, and Gagasi FM.
| Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal Details | |
| Name: | Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma |
| Born: | 6 July 1986 (age 39 years old) |
| Place of birth: | KwaMashu, KwaZulu-Natal |
| Nationality: | South African |
| Education: | University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) |
| Occupation: | Radio personality, event organiser, and activist |
| Major Award: | MTN Radio Award (2014) |
| Movement: | Founder of March and March |
| Spouse: | Xolani Zuma (m. 2024) |
| Children: | Adunyiswe (daughter) Lwandile (son) |
Early Life
Jacinta Ngobese was born on 6 July 1986 in KwaMashu, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Her mother had her at a young age, and she grew up with her grandparents. She has never met her biological father, who separated from her mother before her birth.
Education
Ngobese is a graduate of supply chain management from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Career
Ngobese started at a campus radio station after attending an audition and was selected. In 2009, she moved to Vibe 94.7 FM, based in Durban. The next year, she joined Indana FM.
In 2011, she joined Gagasi FM as a producer and member of the on-air crew of the Alex & The Morning Crew show with Alex Mthiyane and Kini Shandu. She had her own on-air slot on Gagasi FM, Fresh Start.
Ngobese won the Best Radio Producer at the 2014 MTN Radio Awards for her work on Gagasi FM’s Alex & The Morning Crew show. She also bagged the Best Radio Presenter Female award at the KZN Entertainment Awards in 2020.
She joined the KZN-based commercial radio station Vuma FM in 2019 and presented the weekday mid-morning show, Cruise. She left in 2025, after her contract was not renewed. She was selected by the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) to participate in the International Visitor Leader Programme (IVLP) in 2023.
Ngobese was nominated for the Ladies in Media Awards (LIMA) in Ghana, in the African Female Radio Entertainment Show Host and Voice-Over Artist of the Year categories, in March 2024. She has also won Best Radio Presenter and Best Influencer at the Sebenza awards.
After her departure from Vuma FM, Ngobese launched a new podcast, ‘Zoom in with Jacinta MaNgobese Zuma’.
Aside from radio, Jacinta participates actively in community activism. She is the leader of ‘March and March’, for prioritising South African citizens in healthcare and campaigns against illegal immigration. She has led peaceful marches in the Durban streets against illegal immigrants.
She was praised for organising a successful ‘provincial wedding’ for her listeners in 2023.
Personal Life
Jacinta married her lover, Xolani Zuma, on 10 August 2024. The wedding began at her home in KwaMashu E section and ended at Princess Magogo Stadium, KwaMashu. She has two children, a daughter, Adunyiswe, and a son, Lwandile.
References
- Jabulani Langa. “PICS: Top presenter marries Zuma!”. Daily Sun.
- Drum Digital. “Meet radio’s best producer Jacinta Ngobese”. Drum.
- Nqobile Masimula. “Durban media personality chosen for prestigious programme in the US”. IOL.
- Jabulani Langa. “EXCLUSIVE: Dumped ex-Vuma FM presenter to fight on!”. Daily Sun.
- Lutho Pasiya. “Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma’s comeback: new podcast launches after Vuma FM exit drama”. IOL.
- Jabulani Langa. “Big win shows Jacinta’s growth”. Daily Sun.
- Jabulani Langa. “Presenter starts year on a high note!”. Daily Sun.
