Thato " Dj Fresh" Sikwane

Thato Sikwane, born on 15 October 1972 and widely known as DJ Fresh, is a Motswana DJ, producer and media entrepreneur whose career has played a defining role in South Africa’s urban radio and dance music culture.

Born in Botswana, Sikwane developed an early interest in DJing before relocating to South Africa in 1994 to further his studies. He earned a Media Studies diploma from Boston Media House in Johannesburg, a move that opened the door to his entry into radio. While still studying, he secured an opportunity at YFM, where he spent eight influential years and became one of the station’s standout voices.

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, DJ Fresh also made his mark as a recording artist, releasing a popular series of house music compilations titled Fresh House Flava. The projects cemented his reputation as a tastemaker within South African house music and club culture.

His profile rose even further when he joined 5FM, where he hosted the flagship Drive Time show for over a decade, becoming one of the most recognisable radio personalities in the country. In 2017, he moved to Metro FM, where The Fresh Breakfast Show quickly became one of the station’s most popular programmes.

In 2019, DJ Fresh’s time at Metro FM came to an end following a broadcasting standards complaint. He later joined 947’s Drive Time show, from which he was subsequently dismissed following serious allegations, which he has publicly addressed. Despite controversy, his impact on radio and music culture remains significant.

Beyond radio, DJ Fresh has appeared on major television platforms including Idols SA, SA’s Got Talent and Tropika Island of Treasure, serving as a guest judge and mentor. In 2022, he returned his focus more firmly to music, co-founding Domboshaba Records alongside Zimbabwean-born producer Shona SA. The label focuses on Afro House, and the pair also formed the Domboshaba Duo, releasing their collaborative album The Beginning in October 2022.

In 2023, DJ Fresh released his studio album Voices of Hope 2, a 13-track project featuring a range of Afro House collaborators, further reaffirming his commitment to music production and artist development.

In his personal life, Sikwane married Thabiso Sikwane in 2002, and the couple had three children together before separating in 2020. Thabiso Sikwane passed away in August 2024 at the age of 50.

With a career spanning radio dominance, club culture and music entrepreneurship, DJ Fresh remains one of the most talked-about and influential figures in South African entertainment, with a legacy that continues to spark conversation across music and media.