TZANEEN TO THE AIRWAVES: HOW GIVEN MKHARI BUILT FOUR RADIO STATIONS FROM SCRATCH

TZANEEN / JOHANNESBURG — While most investors buy into radio, Given Mkhari built his.

From a small town in Limpopo to owning Gauteng’s most influential talk station — the untold blueprint of a true media mogul.

The Tzaneen-born media entrepreneur has quietly done what few have managed in South Africa’s tough broadcasting industry — build four commercial radio stations from the ground up.

Through his company SHILUMANA Group, formerly MSG Afrika, Mkhari owns Capricorn FM in Limpopo, Power 98.7 in Gauteng, Rhythm FM in the Eastern Cape, and Beat 105.2 in the Free State.

It is a footprint that stretches from rural Limpopo to the heart of Johannesburg.

IT STARTED IN TZANEEN

Mkhari’s love for radio didn’t start in Sandton boardrooms. It started in Tzaneen.

That passion followed him to the University of the North, where he co-founded a campus radio station — learning the craft with limited resources and big dreams.

Determined to understand media at a global level, he later studied at Bard College in New York, before returning home to lay his own foundation. In 1998, he founded MSG Afrika.

BUILDING, NOT BUYING

In an industry where licenses are scarce and costs are high, Mkhari took the hardest route: applying, licensing, and launching.

Capricorn FM launched in 2007 and quickly became Limpopo’s biggest commercial voice — a station rooted in the province that raised him.

Then came the big gamble: Power 98.7 in 2013. Gauteng is South Africa’s most competitive radio market, and Power had a difficult start. Many would have sold. Mkhari didn’t.

He held on, restructured, and grew it into one of Gauteng’s most respected talk stations — home to hard news, business, and unfiltered conversation.

Rhythm FM and Beat 105.2 completed the national picture, giving SHILUMANA Group a presence in four provinces.

THE BLUEPRINT

Mkhari’s story is more than radio. It is a lesson for every young broadcaster at AfriMerits Academy:

You don’t need to be from Johannesburg to own Johannesburg media.
You don’t need to buy an existing station to be powerful — you can build one.
Holding on during the hard years is part of the business.

From a campus studio at the University of the North to a four-station commercial network — Given Mkhari proves that African media can be owned, built, and led by Africans.

AfriMerits Live salutes a true Tzaneen-bred mogul.