Moroke Sekoboto
RENOWNED radio personality Relebohile Mafatle, better known as Rated R, has officially stepped down from his role as a radio presenter after more than two decades in the industry.
The Moshoeshoe II-born veteran resigned from Bokamoso FM last Thursday, marking the end of an era in radio presenting. However, his passion for the medium remains undiminished as he intends to shift his focus to production.
Rated R is one of the radio presenters who played a significant role in uplifting the local music scene through airplay and interviews.
Reflecting on his career, Rated R said he started in radio way back in 2002 at the now defunct Joy FM, where he worked for four years.
“From there, I joined People’s Choice (PC) FM for three and a half years, hosting the programme Anything Goes from 12:00 to 15:00, and a Sunday show called Groove Connections from 15:00 to 18:00. During that time, I also hosted Urban Jamz on national television until 2018,” Rated R said.
“I then joined Sky Alpha (online radio) in 2018 to 2019, before joining Bokamoso in 2020. At Bokamoso I first hosted the Sunday show from 6am-9am, then did the Monday to Friday show from 12 midday to 15:00 and also held down the 22:00 to midnight slot.”
Like many who grew up in the township, Rated R was inspired by iconic South African radio personalities.
“I grew up listening to Metro FM, where Thomas Msengana, a.k.a Bad Boy T, hosted the morning drive. He was my hero. I also admired Glenn Lewis, who hosted the afternoon drive. They were witty and made listeners laugh effortlessly, showing that being a radio personality isn’t about mastering the English language but about being genuinely entertaining. These two inspired my love for radio.”
Despite his departure from presenting, Rated R emphasised that he’s not quitting radio entirely.
“I just want to take a step back and recharge after doing this for 23 or 24 years. I won’t be on air anymore, but I would want to shift to behind the scenes, such as producing a show or running a station. In Lesotho, radio isn’t always taken seriously. Many people get into it without passion or proper training; they just show up, learn the basics, and start talking without delivering meaningful content.”
He also praised the structure of South African radio, where presenters are supported by a team of scriptwriters, music compilers, and content creators.
“In Lesotho, it’s a one-man show, which can be exhausting.”
He added: “Radio plays a crucial role. They are making positive strides, but there’s always room for improvement. I admire what MoAfrika is doing under Ntate (Sebonomoea) Ramainoane’s leadership. He stays true to his vision, and I can say MoAfrika stands out as the leading station in the country.”
Rated R also reflected on his impact on the local entertainment industry during his time on Urban Jamz.
“We initially played international music, but my producer and I decided to localise the content. We started interviewing local artists and playing their music. At first, the quality of their music videos was poor, but we encouraged them to improve. Eventually, artists like Juvenile, Dunamis, and Chocolate Soul began producing high-quality videos,” he said.
