- Lerato “LeeLove” Matlou celebrated at She is Boss Market Expo.
- Recognised for 10 years of impact in community radio.
- Tribute aligns with Women’s Day theme: Building Resilient Economies for All.
As South Africa commemorates Women’s Day on Saturday, 9 August 2025, one woman’s journey stands out as a testament to consistency, courage, and creative freedom: Lerato Matlou, affectionately known as LeeLove.
Earlier this month, LeeLove was honoured at the She is Boss Market Expo hosted by Ladies in Business Network SA (LBN) at Atlyn Mall in Pretoria. She received the prestigious She Is Boss Award for her outstanding contribution to broadcasting and her commitment to community upliftment.
LeeLove has been the voice behind The Capital Lunch Show on Pheli FM, an anchor of deep house, meaningful conversation, and bold opinion. She is a Public Relations and Event Management graduate, a voice-over artist, a deep house music DJ, a three-time South African Radio Awards nominee, and now an award-winning radio personality.
Mahlogonolo Lediga, founder of Ladies in Business Network SA, said, “We really wanted to take a moment to celebrate LeeLove! Her phenomenal work as a presenter on Pheli FM, and her dedication over the past 10 years, has not gone unnoticed. To LeeLove, you’ve been a consistent voice and influence in your community, and that is something truly worth honouring.”
Lediga said they were honoured to celebrate LeeLove with a She Is Boss Award. “As part of our appreciation, we also made it our mission to pamper and uplift her throughout the month of July, because women like her deserve to be celebrated while they’re still alive and making an impact.”
A journey of growth and grace
Matlou describes herself as a calm and gentle soul with a free-spirited nature. She is an avid music lover, fiercely focused, and known for her sharp opinions and deep connection to her listeners. Her journey into broadcasting was not an easy one; she started off uncertain, often overlooked by senior co-hosts, and unsure of her place in the industry.
“I’m absolutely honoured and proud of how far I’ve come,” she reflected. “The amazing thing about this award is that it comes at a time when I celebrate 10 years in broadcasting. I started in radio not knowing what I was doing, and I was often overlooked. I’m honoured.”
Her Women’s Month message is one of empowerment and faith in the journey: “Whatever a queen wants to do, she should do it. Do it scared, do it unsure, do it unready, but just start. Your higher powers will shape the path. Just do it.”
Women’s Day 2025: honouring resilience, driving change
This year’s Women’s Day main event is at Nkowankowa Stadium in Limpopo, under the theme Building Resilient Economies for All. The programme is led by Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, focussing on increasing women’s leadership, promoting financial inclusion, and tackling gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
“Women’s Month is not only a celebration to honour the resilience and contribution of women in all their diversity, but a call to action to ensure women’s full and equal inclusion in shaping South Africa’s future,” the Minister said during a recent media briefing.
As part of the commemorations, the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster will host a GBVF prevention imbizo in Ga-Kgapane on Friday, 8 August, bringing together civil society, traditional leaders, and government departments to confront the ongoing crisis of violence against women.
From the march of 1956 to the mic of today
Women’s Day honours the historic 1956 march by more than 20,000 women to the Union Buildings in protest against apartheid pass laws. That act of bravery continues to inspire modern heroines like LeeLove, women who rise, speak, and refuse to be silenced.
Her story reminds us that real impact doesn’t always begin with applause. Sometimes, it begins in quiet, uncertain steps, taken by women bold enough to begin.
Conviction.co.za
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