DJ Fresh's been in the industry for more than 30 years. He started deejaying at the age of 13 and had his own radio show at the age of 19. He's one of the most sought-after DJs in Africa. Everything you need to know about him is in this DJ Fresh biography.
DJ Fresh whose real name is Thato Sikwane was born on 15 October 1972 in Gaborone, Botswana. His parents took him to a boarding school in Maru-a Pula and then moved to South Africa in 1994 for further studies after he walked out of law school in Botswana.
His father wanted him to be a lawyer but DJ Fresh pushed back and went to Boston Media House in Johannesburg where he concentrated on advertising and journalism.
DJ Fresh on the decks | Source: Instagram
DJ Fresh started his career in Botswana when he worked for RB2, the first commercial radio station in the country. He went on to build his career in South Africa when he joined Boston Media House.
While at it, he sent demos of his work to multiple stations - Jozi FM, Metro FM, and Radio Soweto unsuccessfully.
One day after his campus radio show ended, his friend told him about auditions for a new radio station. Out of 600 people, DJ Fresh was amongst the top 50.
He was asked to go back for the second round of auditions and went on to get the drive show on YFM.
DJ Fresh on radio | Source: Instagram
DJ Fresh spent eight years at the station before he jumped ship to SABC’s 5FM in 2006. His exit was controversial but he said that eNCA’s news chief Kanthan Pillay was the prime reason he took the decision.
“His becoming hands-on at YFM was the reason I jumped ship, and why it was so easy to leave!!! He is not a nice person at all.”
At 5FM, he hosted the drive show Fresh at 5. He spent almost more than ten years (2006-2017) at the station before he moved to Metro FM where he hosted the breakfast show.
Almost two years after his stay at Metro FM, DJ Fresh got suspended on grounds that he used ‘foul language during a live call-in with a listener.
DJ Fresh was sacked from Metro FM | Source: Instagram
After three weeks of unsuccessful talks, DJ Fresh was fired by SABC on grounds that he brought the broadcaster into disrepute.
On Podcast and Chill, DJ Fresh claimed that he was fired for not apologising than using the word itself. He further claimed he was not paid for the month he was suspended.
It didn’t take long before DJ Fresh found a new job as the host of the drive show on 947. Again, his exit from the station was shrouded in controversy.
Source: Instagram
DJ Fresh left 947 in 2021 after rape allegations were brought against him and Euphonik. DJ Fresh and Euphonik were accused of rape by an unnamed woman who claimed that the pair took advantage of her more than 10 years after a night out.
Currently, DJ Fresh is not on the radio.
When he was on mainstream radio, DJ Fresh was one of the highest-paid radio presenters in South Africa. He reportedly attracted an hourly pay of R3,600 when he worked at Metro FM.
DJ Fresh spinning on the decks | Source: Instagram
DJ Fresh has over 32 albums which have put him at the top of the industry. He carried his love for deejaying when he was on the radio. He is one of the DJs who brought mixed music on the radio.
Some of his songs include AfroBlue, Goddess, Stay Real, Afro Samba, and Amazing.
His most recent albums include The Evolution, The Final Definition, Definition of House and Surge & DJ Fresh.
DJ Fresh and his wife Thabiso Sikwane | Source: Instagram
After more than 20 years of marriage, DJ Fresh and his wife divorced. Far away from the drama usually associated with celebrity break-ups, their separation is amicable.
In fact, DJ Fresh said that they still love one another but had to split because they weren’t communicating as husband and wife.
DJ Fresh even said that they separated two years before they officially parted ways. They got married in 2002 after they met at YFM.
DJ Fresh has five kids, two sons and three daughters. He shares three of his children with his now ex-wife Thabiso Sikwane while two are from his previous relationships.
DJ Fresh's tattoo | Source: Instagram
People get all kinds of tattoos on them but how many of the African continent with heroes and leaders? Well, that’s DJ Fresh.
Some of the African leaders tattooed on his back include Nelson Mandela, Julius Nyerere, Patrice Lumumba, and Samora Machel. He went on to add DJ Cleo.
DJ Fresh was one of the few people who got a chance to eulogise the late Shona Ferguson during his memorial service.
He reflected on their childhood days and remembered him as a man who always celebrated life.
“There’s so much we can say about his friends, his influence etc. But what’s important is for us to celebrate his life, because to him, life is a celebration. Shona was life, and therefore, let’s forever celebrate the life that was Shona.”
Source: Instagram
In 2019, an unnamed woman accused DJ Fresh of rape through an unknown Twitter account that named a list of rapists.
The accuser claimed that the incident happened in 2011 in Pretoria but the DJ always maintained his innocence over the matter.
During his appearance on the MacG podcast, DJ Fresh said that he has never forced himself on a woman.
In 2021, the National Prosecuting Authority dropped the case on grounds of insufficient evidence which limited the possibility of a successful prosecution.
Following the withdrawal of the case, DJ Fresh and Euphonik filed a case of defamation against their accuser.
In a related incident, DJ Fresh’s ex-girlfriend Penny Lebyane moved to court over posts made by poet Ntsiki Mazwai which linked her to DJ Fresh’s rape allegations.
Lebyane claimed that she was abused by a former lover and Ntskiki Mazwai concluded that the man she referred to was DJ Fresh.
DJ Fresh suspected that Penny Lebyane was behind the tweet that alleged he was a rapist and included her name in his affidavit for a case he filed against Ntsiki Mazwai. The court barred Ntsiki Mazwai from publishing any information about DJ Fresh.
Despite having been cleared by the courts over rape allegations, DJ Fresh couldn’t catch a break from the court of public opinion.
After he called his rape accuser a pathological liar, the family of the woman refuted the claims, called DJ Fresh to retract his words and said they would still pursue the case further.
DJ Fresh has admitted that he loves cars. In fact, he said that he used to buy a car every year until his mentor DJ Oskido advised him to invest his money instead.
The most recent car DJ Fresh bought is a Mercedez Benz AMG C63 S couple which is said to have cost him R1.4 million.
DJ Fresh car | Source: Instagram
Previously, DJ Fresh’s car collection included a Jeep Wrangler, Saab station wagon, Chevrolet Tahoe, Audi RS 6 Avant, and a Grand Cherokee SRT V8
Instead of buying a car every year, DJ Fresh invested in properties. Unfortunately, the location of his properties remains unknown.
DJ Fresh’s SA net worth is estimated to be $2 million or 30 million rands He has accumulated this amount over the years from his work as a radio presenter, deejay, and businessman.
2020: Best Afternoon Drive Presenter Award at the 2020 Radio Awards
2011: Best Night Time Presenter at the MTN Radio Awards
1994: Radio DJ of the Year for Lemon TWIST
DJ Fresh Instagram: @DJFreshSA
DJ Fresh Twitter: @DJFreshSA
DJ Fresh Facebook: DJ Fresh (SA)
DJ Fresh was born in Botswana and spent part of his childhood there. He moved to South Africa in 1994 for further studies at the Boston Media House after he left law school.
Born on 15 October 1972, DJ Fresh’s age is 50.
DJ Fresh’s wife is also a media personality but she hasn’t revealed much of her private information thus we can’t ascertain her real age. Reports indicate she might be in her early 40s.
DJ Fresh left 947 after he was accused of sexually assaulting an unnamed woman. In a MacG podcast, DJ Fresh said he left to concentrate on clearing his name but later, the station terminated his contract.
DJ Fresh divorced his wife Thabiso Sikwane of 20 years on grounds that they no longer communicate as husband and wife. DJ Fresh revealed that they separated two years ago and are now just making it formal.
On MacG podcast, DJ Fresh denied the rape accusations brought against him. He said he’d never forced himself on any woman.
DJ Fresh's been in the industry for more than 30 years. He started deejaying at the age of 13 and had his own radio show at the age of 19. He's one of the most sought-after DJs in Africa. Everything you need to know about him is in this DJ Fresh biography.
DJ Fresh whose real name is Thato Sikwane was born on 15 October 1972 in Gaborone, Botswana. His parents took him to a boarding school in Maru-a Pula and then moved to South Africa in 1994 for further studies after he walked out of law school in Botswana.
His father wanted him to be a lawyer but DJ Fresh pushed back and went to Boston Media House in Johannesburg where he concentrated on advertising and journalism.
DJ Fresh on the decks | Source: Instagram
DJ Fresh started his career in Botswana when he worked for RB2, the first commercial radio station in the country. He went on to build his career in South Africa when he joined Boston Media House.
While at it, he sent demos of his work to multiple stations - Jozi FM, Metro FM, and Radio Soweto unsuccessfully.
One day after his campus radio show ended, his friend told him about auditions for a new radio station. Out of 600 people, DJ Fresh was amongst the top 50.
He was asked to go back for the second round of auditions and went on to get the drive show on YFM.
DJ Fresh on radio | Source: Instagram
DJ Fresh spent eight years at the station before he jumped ship to SABC’s 5FM in 2006. His exit was controversial but he said that eNCA’s news chief Kanthan Pillay was the prime reason he took the decision.
“His becoming hands-on at YFM was the reason I jumped ship, and why it was so easy to leave!!! He is not a nice person at all.”
At 5FM, he hosted the drive show Fresh at 5. He spent almost more than ten years (2006-2017) at the station before he moved to Metro FM where he hosted the breakfast show.
Almost two years after his stay at Metro FM, DJ Fresh got suspended on grounds that he used ‘foul language during a live call-in with a listener.
DJ Fresh was sacked from Metro FM | Source: Instagram
After three weeks of unsuccessful talks, DJ Fresh was fired by SABC on grounds that he brought the broadcaster into disrepute.
On Podcast and Chill, DJ Fresh claimed that he was fired for not apologising than using the word itself. He further claimed he was not paid for the month he was suspended.
It didn’t take long before DJ Fresh found a new job as the host of the drive show on 947. Again, his exit from the station was shrouded in controversy.
Source: Instagram
DJ Fresh left 947 in 2021 after rape allegations were brought against him and Euphonik. DJ Fresh and Euphonik were accused of rape by an unnamed woman who claimed that the pair took advantage of her more than 10 years after a night out.
Currently, DJ Fresh is not on the radio.
When he was on mainstream radio, DJ Fresh was one of the highest-paid radio presenters in South Africa. He reportedly attracted an hourly pay of R3,600 when he worked at Metro FM.
DJ Fresh spinning on the decks | Source: Instagram
DJ Fresh has over 32 albums which have put him at the top of the industry. He carried his love for deejaying when he was on the radio. He is one of the DJs who brought mixed music on the radio.
Some of his songs include AfroBlue, Goddess, Stay Real, Afro Samba, and Amazing.
His most recent albums include The Evolution, The Final Definition, Definition of House and Surge & DJ Fresh.
DJ Fresh and his wife Thabiso Sikwane | Source: Instagram
After more than 20 years of marriage, DJ Fresh and his wife divorced. Far away from the drama usually associated with celebrity break-ups, their separation is amicable.
In fact, DJ Fresh said that they still love one another but had to split because they weren’t communicating as husband and wife.
DJ Fresh even said that they separated two years before they officially parted ways. They got married in 2002 after they met at YFM.
DJ Fresh has five kids, two sons and three daughters. He shares three of his children with his now ex-wife Thabiso Sikwane while two are from his previous relationships.
DJ Fresh's tattoo | Source: Instagram
People get all kinds of tattoos on them but how many of the African continent with heroes and leaders? Well, that’s DJ Fresh.
Some of the African leaders tattooed on his back include Nelson Mandela, Julius Nyerere, Patrice Lumumba, and Samora Machel. He went on to add DJ Cleo.
DJ Fresh was one of the few people who got a chance to eulogise the late Shona Ferguson during his memorial service.
He reflected on their childhood days and remembered him as a man who always celebrated life.
“There’s so much we can say about his friends, his influence etc. But what’s important is for us to celebrate his life, because to him, life is a celebration. Shona was life, and therefore, let’s forever celebrate the life that was Shona.”
Source: Instagram
In 2019, an unnamed woman accused DJ Fresh of rape through an unknown Twitter account that named a list of rapists.
The accuser claimed that the incident happened in 2011 in Pretoria but the DJ always maintained his innocence over the matter.
During his appearance on the MacG podcast, DJ Fresh said that he has never forced himself on a woman.
In 2021, the National Prosecuting Authority dropped the case on grounds of insufficient evidence which limited the possibility of a successful prosecution.
Following the withdrawal of the case, DJ Fresh and Euphonik filed a case of defamation against their accuser.
In a related incident, DJ Fresh’s ex-girlfriend Penny Lebyane moved to court over posts made by poet Ntsiki Mazwai which linked her to DJ Fresh’s rape allegations.
Lebyane claimed that she was abused by a former lover and Ntskiki Mazwai concluded that the man she referred to was DJ Fresh.
DJ Fresh suspected that Penny Lebyane was behind the tweet that alleged he was a rapist and included her name in his affidavit for a case he filed against Ntsiki Mazwai. The court barred Ntsiki Mazwai from publishing any information about DJ Fresh.
Despite having been cleared by the courts over rape allegations, DJ Fresh couldn’t catch a break from the court of public opinion.
After he called his rape accuser a pathological liar, the family of the woman refuted the claims, called DJ Fresh to retract his words and said they would still pursue the case further.
DJ Fresh has admitted that he loves cars. In fact, he said that he used to buy a car every year until his mentor DJ Oskido advised him to invest his money instead.
The most recent car DJ Fresh bought is a Mercedez Benz AMG C63 S couple which is said to have cost him R1.4 million.
DJ Fresh car | Source: Instagram
Previously, DJ Fresh’s car collection included a Jeep Wrangler, Saab station wagon, Chevrolet Tahoe, Audi RS 6 Avant, and a Grand Cherokee SRT V8
Instead of buying a car every year, DJ Fresh invested in properties. Unfortunately, the location of his properties remains unknown.
DJ Fresh’s SA net worth is estimated to be $2 million or 30 million rands He has accumulated this amount over the years from his work as a radio presenter, deejay, and businessman.
2020: Best Afternoon Drive Presenter Award at the 2020 Radio Awards
2011: Best Night Time Presenter at the MTN Radio Awards
1994: Radio DJ of the Year for Lemon TWIST
DJ Fresh Instagram: @DJFreshSA
DJ Fresh Twitter: @DJFreshSA
DJ Fresh Facebook: DJ Fresh (SA)
DJ Fresh was born in Botswana and spent part of his childhood there. He moved to South Africa in 1994 for further studies at the Boston Media House after he left law school.
Born on 15 October 1972, DJ Fresh’s age is 50.
DJ Fresh’s wife is also a media personality but she hasn’t revealed much of her private information thus we can’t ascertain her real age. Reports indicate she might be in her early 40s.
DJ Fresh left 947 after he was accused of sexually assaulting an unnamed woman. In a MacG podcast, DJ Fresh said he left to concentrate on clearing his name but later, the station terminated his contract.
DJ Fresh divorced his wife Thabiso Sikwane of 20 years on grounds that they no longer communicate as husband and wife. DJ Fresh revealed that they separated two years ago and are now just making it formal.
On MacG podcast, DJ Fresh denied the rape accusations brought against him. He said he’d never forced himself on any woman.
