PUKFM SHINES AT TELKOM RADIO AWARDS 2025

Awethu Khumalo & Mhlengi Khumalo

@awe2s_righttoe & @into.mbiyakwakumalo

 

Making waves from the North-West University (NWU) Potchefstroom campus, PUKfm 93.6 has been recognized as one of the country’s top broadcasters. The student-run station was recently named a finalist for Station of the Year in the Campus category.

The selection committee highlighted the station’s consistent on-air excellence, stating that PUKfm’s impressive performance across various categories has positioned the station among the best in the country. This prestige is backed by four individual show nominations in this year’s Telkom Radio Awards 2025:

• Afternoon Drive Show: Cruise Control

• Breakfast Show: Pukfm Breakfast

• Night-time Show: The Night Flight

• Sports Show: Pukfm sports show

 

The Telkom Radio Awards 2025 aim to honour outstanding achievements in the South African radio industry and set a benchmark for excellence. Established in 2010, the awards recognise talent, skill, and dedication that keeps listeners engaged. Over the years, participation and entries have grown steadily, reflecting the evolving media landscape.

 

For many students, campus radio serves as a first step into the media world or as a way to discover a passion for radio. This responsibility creates pressure to maintain a high standard and compete with well-established stations. Katlego Nkwe, PUKfm’s Station Manager, explains that nominations are crucial for talent retention and student recruitment. “For those already in the station, it shows the value of being part of a recognized team. For prospective students, it makes them want to join a nationally acknowledged station,” he says. On the topic of pressure, he adds that it keeps everyone sharp.

 

The Afternoon Drive and Breakfast Show categories are highly competitive, raising the question: how did PUKfm stand out against heavyweights like UJFM and Tuks FM? Nkwe attributes it to the station’s ‘X-factor’: talent. “The teams on Cruise Control and PUKfm Breakfast are diverse, and that diversity is reflected in the content, music, and energy on the mic. The hosts bring a natural, student voice that’s fresh and relevant. Their consistency and preparation allow them to genuinely connect with listeners. That’s what sets PUKfm apart.”

 

How the Nominations Work

 

Each year, judges for the Telkom Radio Awards 2025 are selected based on their expertise and take linguistic diversity into account. Judges work independently to score submissions, ensuring fairness, with results audited by a professional firm. Top entries are shortlisted as finalists, and winners are announced at the Awards gala dinner, scheduled for 6 December 2025.

 

Judges assess a show’s structure, the chemistry between presenters, technical execution, transitions, and overall content management. Scores are not determined by popularity or listener numbers but by creativity, presentation, quality, and how effectively the show achieves its purpose.

 

PUKfm stands as proof that campus radio is the ultimate incubator for talent and a vital launchpad for the next generation of media professionals. It is within this environment that students master the rigorous discipline, communication skills, and production nuances needed to compete on a national stage, but the station’s impact extends far beyond the studio walls. PUKfm is dedicated to amplifying student voices and creating a culture of discovery for the NWU community — whether it is facilitating important conversations or playing that perfect new track just as you walk past the Amphitheatre.

 

 

 

Edited by Simoné de Witt