MFM 30 Years Podcast: Simangele “Sima” Mashazi — Where Voice Meets Story
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From early mornings on campus radio to opening major festivals and lecturing at Stellenbosch University, Simangele “Sima” Mashazi is a rare kind of multi-hyphenate — and her story is one of deep artistry, curiosity, and connection.
In this rich new episode of our 30 Years of MFM podcast series, Sima sits down with Bellz Sbuda Ndudula on Lunch Club to reflect on her time behind the mic at MFM 92.6 between 2012 and 2015, where she hosted shows like Morning Glory, the Sunday Breakfast Show with Bhoteke Mbombi, and the ever-iconic FrequenC. A natural communicator with a love for language, Sima quickly became one of MFM’s most beloved voices.
Since then, she’s built a remarkable career as a singer-songwriter, voice-over artist, and multilingual storyteller. Her powerful performances have graced stages across South Africa and beyond — from the Cape Town Jazz Festival to the KKNK, Suidoosterfees, and most recently, the 2025 FynArts Festival, where she performed alongside Timothy Moloi and Magdalene Minnaar.
She has shared the stage with legends like Sibongile Khumalo, Gloria Bosman, and Louis Mhlanga, and received critical acclaim for her lead roles in Mama Africa The Musical and My Miriam Makeba Story. Off-stage, Sima is also a dedicated academic: a PhD candidate and lecturer in Linguistics, focusing her research on humour and identity in South African social media.
In this interview, she speaks about the power of performance, navigating dual careers in music and academia, and how MFM helped her find and trust her voice. She also shares the meaning behind her latest single “Bashadile”, her collaborations with the Vibrancy Collective, and how it feels hearing her voice in ads for brands like Sasko and JC Le Roux.
More than just a voice, Simangele is a presence — and this episode is a celebration of where passion, language, and purpose collide.
In this rich new episode of our 30 Years of MFM podcast series, Sima sits down with Bellz Sbuda Ndudula on Lunch Club to reflect on her time behind the mic at MFM 92.6 between 2012 and 2015, where she hosted shows like Morning Glory, the Sunday Breakfast Show with Bhoteke Mbombi, and the ever-iconic FrequenC. A natural communicator with a love for language, Sima quickly became one of MFM’s most beloved voices.
Since then, she’s built a remarkable career as a singer-songwriter, voice-over artist, and multilingual storyteller. Her powerful performances have graced stages across South Africa and beyond — from the Cape Town Jazz Festival to the KKNK, Suidoosterfees, and most recently, the 2025 FynArts Festival, where she performed alongside Timothy Moloi and Magdalene Minnaar.
She has shared the stage with legends like Sibongile Khumalo, Gloria Bosman, and Louis Mhlanga, and received critical acclaim for her lead roles in Mama Africa The Musical and My Miriam Makeba Story. Off-stage, Sima is also a dedicated academic: a PhD candidate and lecturer in Linguistics, focusing her research on humour and identity in South African social media.
In this interview, she speaks about the power of performance, navigating dual careers in music and academia, and how MFM helped her find and trust her voice. She also shares the meaning behind her latest single “Bashadile”, her collaborations with the Vibrancy Collective, and how it feels hearing her voice in ads for brands like Sasko and JC Le Roux.
More than just a voice, Simangele is a presence — and this episode is a celebration of where passion, language, and purpose collide.
