Once a shy teenager, Lerato Kganyago is a household name in the South African TV and media industry. This beauty chased her dreams and worked hard to get to where she is today. One of South Africa’s most coveted TV and radio personalities, a talented emcee, deejay, model and social media influencer, Lerato Kganyago, is definitely making all the right moves. Here’s how she did it.
Lerato was born on 22 July 1982 in Johannesburg’s Soweto township and grew up there. She attended Ipolokeng Primary School and finished her secondary education at Boksburg High School.
As a young girl, Lerato Kganyago aspired to become a lawyer or a doctor. She went on to study Public Relations and Travel and Tourism at Damelin College.
She worked as a flight attendant at Qatar Airways and also worked on Soweto TV. She eventually quit flying on SA Express to pursue a television career.
In the midst of all this, Lerato was struggling with her image. In several interviews, Lerato Kganyago talked of how she grew up feeling like an ugly duckling.
Lerato Kganyago hosting project runway | Source: Instagram“Throughout high school, I always thought I was the ugly duckling. I never thought I was pretty. I was tomboyish, quiet and reserved,” Lerato told Anele Mdoda on Real Talk.
She entered the Miss Soweto beauty pageant to prove a point to herself and her family. Lerato never thought she would win. However, the star built up her confidence and self-esteem and ended up winning Miss Soweto and Miss Jam Alley.
Lerato Kganyago’s career kick-started in 2002 when she was crowned ‘Miss Jam Alley’ and Miss Soweto in 2005.
Lerato Kganyago TV Presener | Source: InstagramThe Miss Soweto pageant helped her land her first big break on Soweto TV.
“When we got there, they were going on-air and had a presenter missing. A lady from Urban Brew came to me and said, ‘listen, we are missing a presenter… I heard you are Miss Soweto; can you do this?’. I had never done television, live television for that matter,” she told MacG on his YouTube talk show.
Lerato juggled between her work on Soweto TV (which she did for about four years) and her job as a flight attendant.
Lerato Kganyago TV Presenter | Source: InstagramDuring that time, Lerato Kganyago became one of South Africa’s biggest TV presenters. She appeared on popular shows like The LKG Show, LIVE AMP, and The Link.
With a television career that was on an upward trajectory, Lerato Kganyago widened her scope within the media industry. She started her radio career on the community station, Jozi FM. This became her stepping stone to commercial success. She later secured a slot on Metro FM, one of South Africa’s biggest stations.
Lerato Kganyago on the decks | Source: Instagram“My DJ career got a boost after joining Metro FM. Everything just fell into place,” she told the Jet fashion magazine.
Lerato Kganyago deejaying | Source: InstagramLerato Kganyago also doubled up in acting. She did comedy skits like The Phat Joe Show. Since then, Lerato has appeared on Muvhango, Play: Sex Tips for Girls, and The Wild.
Lerato Kganyago's Flutter bt LKG | Source: InstagramLerato is also a businesswoman. The star owns an event management company called Black Angel. In addition to this, she recently launched her eyelash line, Flutter by LKG.
Not much is known about Lerato Kganyago’s parents, as the star keeps her personal life under wraps. Lerato is the only child of her mother Rae. Her father's name is unknown.
The screen siren admits that she is close to her mother, who is her best friend. However, she does not share the same closeness with her father, a man she considers absent on an emotional level.
After Lerato Kganyago suffered a miscarriage, she expected her father to be there for her. He did not visit and she's been angry at him ever since. In 2018, Lerato Kganyago opened up about the grudge she had against her father.
“I was in the hospital for three days. I waited for him to show up. He didn’t. We went for months without speaking. I didn’t go home because I was very angry at him.”
In a Twitter thread, she also revealed that in letting go of the grudge, she found healing.
“The day I let go of hurt, betrayal, pain, grudges, there was a major shift in my life… God speaks to me through so many ways, through my work, through my people, even the ones I’ve never met.”
“Rebuilding my relationship with my father was the best thing I ever did for my soul. We don’t have a perfect relationship, but letting goes of what happened in the past freed me up! For many years I longed for a father's love though he was present physically… he wasn’t emotionally.
No, Lerato Kganyago does not have a child. Unfortunately, she’s suffered two miscarriages in the past but still wants to be a mom. She hasn’t ruled out adoption as an option.
Katlego Mashego was Lerato Kganyago’s boyfriend. The two dated for four years and announced their engagement in 2013 but called it off in 2015.
The star later revealed that she suffered a miscarriage that devastated her and needed time to heal.
In a 2017 interview on Real Talk, Lerato Kganyago revealed how the miscarriage made her feel less of a woman. It was then that she revealed she’d suffered two miscarriages.
“I have only spoken about the (most recent) one because it was the one that affected me the most. That was when I really wanted to have a child," Lerato said.
She further shared this on the Behind the Story show with Pearl Thusi. Lerato Kganyago recalled the moment tearfully when she found out she lost her baby.
“She [the doctor] kept looking for the heartbeat and she was looking everywhere. I remember I was not looking at the monitor… I kept asking her if everything was okay… But, I won’t lie, at some point, I felt like a lesser woman. All I want is someone to hold in my arms,” she said.
Despite her loss, Lerato Kganyago has not given up on the dream of becoming a mom. Adoption could be on the cards. She uses her social media platforms to educate people about adoption, and in a Twitter post in 2017, she declared that adoption is “not a white thing.”
Thami Ndlala and Lerato Kganyago | Source: Instagram
In March 2020, Lerato Kganyago got married to the wealthy Gauteng businessman Thami Ndlala, two months after a breakup from a low-key relationship that lasted four years. The Metro Fm presenter got hitched during a ceremony at her mother’s house in Boksburg.
Reports said that lobola negotiations and ceremonies accompanied the traditional Thami Ndela - Lerato Kganyago wedding. However, the marriage didn’t last very long.
The two called it quits within weeks. Lerato Kganyago even moved out of the marital home. However, it wasn't over for the two.
They got back together and are now very happily married. Lerato Kganyago’s husband, Thami Ndlela, was born in 1980 and is 41 years old as of 2021.
Lerato Kganyago’s got engaged again. Already! After her messy breakup with Thami Ndlela, Lerato got another ring on her finger.
This left many wondering who the lucky guy was. Lerato posted a video of her engagement on Instagram. If it's anything to go by, that must have been a dream engagement.
Mzansi suspected that she got back with her ex-husband Thami Ndlala based on a personalized balloon in one of her photos with his surname.
Lerato Kganyago works hard, plays hard, and certainly spends hard. Her love for posh cars has been evident over the years.
Lerato Kganyago's Car | Source: InstagramLerato Kganyago's cars include a Mercedes Benz C200 Coupe which she purchased in April 2019. A year before that, she was driving around in a brand new Range Rover.
Lerato Kganyago's Porsche Carrera | Source: Instagram
In 2022, her husband Thambi Ndlala bought her a Mercedez Benz G550 worth R5.2 million. She's also been on the news for buying a Porsche Carrera.
Lerato Kganyago's Mercedez Benz | Source: Instagram
Exterior view of Lerato Kganyago's house | Source: Savanna News
Lerato Kganyago lives in a state-of-the-art mansion in Sandton Johannesburg bought for her by her husband. The property reportedly cost R10 million and has six bedrooms, a swimming pool and other high-end features expected of such a home.
Lerato Kganyago's House | Source: Savanna News
Lerato Kganyago's House | Source: Savanna News
Lerato Kganyago's House | Source: Savanna News
Lerato Kganyago's House | Source: Savanna News
Lerato Kganyago's House | Source: Savanna News
Lerato Kganyago has made it big on TV and radio, and in addition to this, her businesses are doing very well. The star also has a thriving YouTube channel and is one of South Africa’s highest-paid social media influencers. In 2020, Lerato Kganyago's net worth was estimated to be around $2million.
Some of the accolades that Lerato Kganyago has won:
Lerato Kganyago's receiving the Golden Horn Award | Source: Instagram The Golden Horn Award for Best TV presenter at the 15th SAFTAs.
She was nominated for the Top Female DJs in the World Awards on DjaneTop, the top online magazine dedicated to female DJs.
Lerato Kganyago's YouTube: Lerato Kganyago
Lerato Kganyago's Instagram: @LeratoKganyago
Lerato Kganyago's Twitter: @LeratoKganyago
How old is Lerato Kganyago? She’s 38 years old. The entertainer was born on the 22nd of July, 1982.
Lerato Kganyago’s husband Thami Ndlala was born in 1980 which means he is 42 years old as of 2021.
No, Lerato Kganyago does not have a child. Unfortunately, she’s suffered two miscarriages in the past but still wants to be a mom. She hasn’t ruled out adoption as an option.
Once a shy teenager, Lerato Kganyago is a household name in the South African TV and media industry. This beauty chased her dreams and worked hard to get to where she is today. One of South Africa’s most coveted TV and radio personalities, a talented emcee, deejay, model and social media influencer, Lerato Kganyago, is definitely making all the right moves. Here’s how she did it.
Lerato was born on 22 July 1982 in Johannesburg’s Soweto township and grew up there. She attended Ipolokeng Primary School and finished her secondary education at Boksburg High School.
As a young girl, Lerato Kganyago aspired to become a lawyer or a doctor. She went on to study Public Relations and Travel and Tourism at Damelin College.
She worked as a flight attendant at Qatar Airways and also worked on Soweto TV. She eventually quit flying on SA Express to pursue a television career.
In the midst of all this, Lerato was struggling with her image. In several interviews, Lerato Kganyago talked of how she grew up feeling like an ugly duckling.
Lerato Kganyago hosting project runway | Source: Instagram“Throughout high school, I always thought I was the ugly duckling. I never thought I was pretty. I was tomboyish, quiet and reserved,” Lerato told Anele Mdoda on Real Talk.
She entered the Miss Soweto beauty pageant to prove a point to herself and her family. Lerato never thought she would win. However, the star built up her confidence and self-esteem and ended up winning Miss Soweto and Miss Jam Alley.
Lerato Kganyago’s career kick-started in 2002 when she was crowned ‘Miss Jam Alley’ and Miss Soweto in 2005.
Lerato Kganyago TV Presener | Source: InstagramThe Miss Soweto pageant helped her land her first big break on Soweto TV.
“When we got there, they were going on-air and had a presenter missing. A lady from Urban Brew came to me and said, ‘listen, we are missing a presenter… I heard you are Miss Soweto; can you do this?’. I had never done television, live television for that matter,” she told MacG on his YouTube talk show.
Lerato juggled between her work on Soweto TV (which she did for about four years) and her job as a flight attendant.
Lerato Kganyago TV Presenter | Source: InstagramDuring that time, Lerato Kganyago became one of South Africa’s biggest TV presenters. She appeared on popular shows like The LKG Show, LIVE AMP, and The Link.
With a television career that was on an upward trajectory, Lerato Kganyago widened her scope within the media industry. She started her radio career on the community station, Jozi FM. This became her stepping stone to commercial success. She later secured a slot on Metro FM, one of South Africa’s biggest stations.
Lerato Kganyago on the decks | Source: Instagram“My DJ career got a boost after joining Metro FM. Everything just fell into place,” she told the Jet fashion magazine.
Lerato Kganyago deejaying | Source: InstagramLerato Kganyago also doubled up in acting. She did comedy skits like The Phat Joe Show. Since then, Lerato has appeared on Muvhango, Play: Sex Tips for Girls, and The Wild.
Lerato Kganyago's Flutter bt LKG | Source: InstagramLerato is also a businesswoman. The star owns an event management company called Black Angel. In addition to this, she recently launched her eyelash line, Flutter by LKG.
Not much is known about Lerato Kganyago’s parents, as the star keeps her personal life under wraps. Lerato is the only child of her mother Rae. Her father's name is unknown.
The screen siren admits that she is close to her mother, who is her best friend. However, she does not share the same closeness with her father, a man she considers absent on an emotional level.
After Lerato Kganyago suffered a miscarriage, she expected her father to be there for her. He did not visit and she's been angry at him ever since. In 2018, Lerato Kganyago opened up about the grudge she had against her father.
“I was in the hospital for three days. I waited for him to show up. He didn’t. We went for months without speaking. I didn’t go home because I was very angry at him.”
In a Twitter thread, she also revealed that in letting go of the grudge, she found healing.
“The day I let go of hurt, betrayal, pain, grudges, there was a major shift in my life… God speaks to me through so many ways, through my work, through my people, even the ones I’ve never met.”
“Rebuilding my relationship with my father was the best thing I ever did for my soul. We don’t have a perfect relationship, but letting goes of what happened in the past freed me up! For many years I longed for a father's love though he was present physically… he wasn’t emotionally.
No, Lerato Kganyago does not have a child. Unfortunately, she’s suffered two miscarriages in the past but still wants to be a mom. She hasn’t ruled out adoption as an option.
Katlego Mashego was Lerato Kganyago’s boyfriend. The two dated for four years and announced their engagement in 2013 but called it off in 2015.
The star later revealed that she suffered a miscarriage that devastated her and needed time to heal.
In a 2017 interview on Real Talk, Lerato Kganyago revealed how the miscarriage made her feel less of a woman. It was then that she revealed she’d suffered two miscarriages.
“I have only spoken about the (most recent) one because it was the one that affected me the most. That was when I really wanted to have a child," Lerato said.
She further shared this on the Behind the Story show with Pearl Thusi. Lerato Kganyago recalled the moment tearfully when she found out she lost her baby.
“She [the doctor] kept looking for the heartbeat and she was looking everywhere. I remember I was not looking at the monitor… I kept asking her if everything was okay… But, I won’t lie, at some point, I felt like a lesser woman. All I want is someone to hold in my arms,” she said.
Despite her loss, Lerato Kganyago has not given up on the dream of becoming a mom. Adoption could be on the cards. She uses her social media platforms to educate people about adoption, and in a Twitter post in 2017, she declared that adoption is “not a white thing.”
Thami Ndlala and Lerato Kganyago | Source: Instagram
In March 2020, Lerato Kganyago got married to the wealthy Gauteng businessman Thami Ndlala, two months after a breakup from a low-key relationship that lasted four years. The Metro Fm presenter got hitched during a ceremony at her mother’s house in Boksburg.
Reports said that lobola negotiations and ceremonies accompanied the traditional Thami Ndela - Lerato Kganyago wedding. However, the marriage didn’t last very long.
The two called it quits within weeks. Lerato Kganyago even moved out of the marital home. However, it wasn't over for the two.
They got back together and are now very happily married. Lerato Kganyago’s husband, Thami Ndlela, was born in 1980 and is 41 years old as of 2021.
Lerato Kganyago’s got engaged again. Already! After her messy breakup with Thami Ndlela, Lerato got another ring on her finger.
This left many wondering who the lucky guy was. Lerato posted a video of her engagement on Instagram. If it's anything to go by, that must have been a dream engagement.
Mzansi suspected that she got back with her ex-husband Thami Ndlala based on a personalized balloon in one of her photos with his surname.
Lerato Kganyago works hard, plays hard, and certainly spends hard. Her love for posh cars has been evident over the years.
Lerato Kganyago's Car | Source: InstagramLerato Kganyago's cars include a Mercedes Benz C200 Coupe which she purchased in April 2019. A year before that, she was driving around in a brand new Range Rover.
Lerato Kganyago's Porsche Carrera | Source: Instagram
In 2022, her husband Thambi Ndlala bought her a Mercedez Benz G550 worth R5.2 million. She's also been on the news for buying a Porsche Carrera.
Lerato Kganyago's Mercedez Benz | Source: Instagram
Exterior view of Lerato Kganyago's house | Source: Savanna News
Lerato Kganyago lives in a state-of-the-art mansion in Sandton Johannesburg bought for her by her husband. The property reportedly cost R10 million and has six bedrooms, a swimming pool and other high-end features expected of such a home.
Lerato Kganyago's House | Source: Savanna News
Lerato Kganyago's House | Source: Savanna News
Lerato Kganyago's House | Source: Savanna News
Lerato Kganyago's House | Source: Savanna News
Lerato Kganyago's House | Source: Savanna News
Lerato Kganyago has made it big on TV and radio, and in addition to this, her businesses are doing very well. The star also has a thriving YouTube channel and is one of South Africa’s highest-paid social media influencers. In 2020, Lerato Kganyago's net worth was estimated to be around $2million.
Some of the accolades that Lerato Kganyago has won:
Lerato Kganyago's receiving the Golden Horn Award | Source: Instagram The Golden Horn Award for Best TV presenter at the 15th SAFTAs.
She was nominated for the Top Female DJs in the World Awards on DjaneTop, the top online magazine dedicated to female DJs.
Lerato Kganyago's YouTube: Lerato Kganyago
Lerato Kganyago's Instagram: @LeratoKganyago
Lerato Kganyago's Twitter: @LeratoKganyago
How old is Lerato Kganyago? She’s 38 years old. The entertainer was born on the 22nd of July, 1982.
Lerato Kganyago’s husband Thami Ndlala was born in 1980 which means he is 42 years old as of 2021.
No, Lerato Kganyago does not have a child. Unfortunately, she’s suffered two miscarriages in the past but still wants to be a mom. She hasn’t ruled out adoption as an option.
