Sizwe Dhlomo Quits Kaya 959 After Six Years On Air

Wednesday morning felt a little different for thousands of South African commuters who tuned into Kaya 959 only to hear Sizwe Dhlomo announce he is walking away from the station.

The veteran broadcaster delivered the news live on air on 27 May 2026, confirming that his departure from the popular Siz the World breakfast show is likely happening at the end of June. It was the kind of announcement nobody saw coming — at least not this soon.

Dhlomo has been the anchor of the station’s coveted 06:00–09:00 weekday breakfast slot since joining Kaya 959 in 2020, building one of the most loyal morning audiences in South African radio.

He acknowledged that the decision was not easy, describing the station as a home, but was clear that the time had come for a new direction. He also confirmed that when he does eventually return to radio, it will not be with Kaya 959.

What surprised many was his admission that he had actually made the decision back in 2025, meaning he has been sitting with this for months. He used the moment to encourage his co-hosts to get behind whoever the station brings in to replace him — a gesture that spoke to the kind of professional he has always been.

Sizwe Dhlomo’s Resignation From Kaya 959 Comes With A Major Sony Deal In Tow

The burning question on everyone’s lips is: what’s next? Dhlomo kept his cards fairly close to his chest, but he did reveal that he has a significant project with Sony that will require his full attention for the next six months.

He described it as the kind of opportunity that demands complete focus, which is a large part of why he chose to step away from radio now rather than later. Whether the Sony project points to music, television, or something else entirely remains to be seen.

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What did not go unnoticed, however, was a social media post he shared on 21 May, where he highlighted a lyric from Drake’s Make Them Pay off the Iceman album — “I’m better off independent, they should let him leave.”

 

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A post shared by @sizwedhlomo

At the time it seemed like casual music appreciation, but in hindsight, it reads a lot more like a man who already knew what was coming.

Days before the announcement, DJ Maphorisa was also spotted at Sizwe’s newly-built recording studio, adding further fuel to speculation that something substantial has been in the works behind the scenes for a while.

The End Of An Era For A Show That Consistently Dominated Morning Radio

Siz the World has been a fixture on South African trends lists for years, driven largely by Dhlomo’s ability to frame national conversations in a way that felt both intelligent and accessible.

His sharp commentary and unfiltered takes turned the breakfast show into daily appointment listening for a wide cross-section of Mzansi. Losing that voice from the morning lineup is something Kaya 959 will need to think carefully about replacing.

The show has already had its share of change. In September 2025, co-host Sol Phenduka was dismissed from the station following a defamation case involving Minnie Dlamini and MacG of Podcast and Chill.

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Sizwe carried the show forward following that exit, but now the breakfast lineup faces a far more significant rebuild. Social media reaction was swift and warm, with listeners, celebrities, and industry peers all pausing to acknowledge what Dhlomo has contributed to South African radio over the past six years:

@SolPhenduka: Wow, bro, @SizweDhlomo. Gone, just like that?

@PulseOnlineInfo: Listening to Kaya959 and people are crashing out because @SizweDhlomo dropped a bomb on them. People love this dude.

@palesa_moleko: @SizweDhlomo, we, your loyal supporters, are going to miss you. Your show is so informative, your laughter is contagious, and we’re going to miss your smart brain over anything else. Good luck with your future endeavours, and we will follow you wherever you go. #TeamDinangwe.

@presmhlts: The show goes on, @SizweDhlomo.

@Ndex_M: Why am I feeling sad about this news? The most chilled breakfast show ever! The Show Goes On is not helping. Thank you, Sizwe, on the street, on the air, everywhere.

@Aaron_JamesZA: Sizwe Dlomo playing Bruce Hornsby’s ‘The Show Goes On’ right after casually dropping the bomb that he’s leaving Kaya FM. Yeah, that might be one of the saddest moments I’ve ever heard on the radio.