Mark Jennings

I joined the SABC in 1983 as a sound operator after completing my National Service and spent 13 very happy years working in just about every aspect of radio… from assisting presenters putting together radio documentaries to doing live radio, magazine shows, radio dramas and outside broadcasts.

In the early 90’s, in addition to this full-time job, I joined Radio Kfm as a freelance weekend presenter in the 09:00 to 12:00 slot on Saturdays and Sundays. In the mid 90’s Radio Kfm was sold off from the SABC, along with other regional radio stations, in a bid to diversify broadcasting. Kevin Savage, who with the Crescent Consortium had won the bid to buy Kfm, asked if I would join as Studio Manager. I immediately said yes and was thrown headlong into a whirlwind of project-managing the building of the new studios, sourcing the broadcast equipment and looking after the on-air infrastructure. Very exciting and enjoyable times!

In 1999, Pick n Pay approached me to start a new satellite-based radio station for its stores in the Western Cape. And so began the live in-house radio station, “Fresh FM”, playing calming and uplifting music to customers and staff in-store.

More recently I moved into the marketing and promotions side of retailing which is extremely interesting and rewarding, but have yearned to be back in broadcasting. So when Victoria Cawood and Rodney Trudgeon said OK, I jumped at the opportunity to present the Classic Breakfast on Friday mornings between 06:00 and 09:00.