What happened to Pearl Shongwe? Death, partner and Metro FM
Pearl Shongwe, a well-known television and radio host from South Africa, was a popular newsreader on SABC's radio station, Metro FM. Sadly, Pearl passed away in November 2022, leaving her fans wondering about the cause of her death.
Source: UGC
Pearl Shongwe was a multi-talented media personality in South Africa. She worked as a television presenter, voice artist, newsreader, scriptwriter, and facilitator on some of the country's most prominent television stations and radio broadcasters, including Metro FM and YFM station.
Profile summary
| Full name | Pearl Ntombifuthi Shongwe |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | 3 January 1987 |
| Died on | 8 November 2022 |
| Age | 35 years old (at the time of her death) |
| Zodiac sign | Capricorn |
| Place of birth | Soweto, South African |
| Place of death | Polo Fields north of Johannesburg |
| Nationality | South African |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height in feet | 5'6" |
| Height in centimetres | 167 |
| Weight in pounds | 114 |
| Weight in kilograms | 52 |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Black |
| Profession | TV presenter, radio presenter, newsreader, voice-over artist |
Who was Pearl Shongwe?
Pearl Shongwe was a celebrated radio broadcaster and TV presenter born on 3 January 1987 in Soweto as Pearl Ntombifuthi Shongwe.
Pearl Shongwe's career
Source: UGC
Pearl's journey to broadcasting and television success was one filled with immense passion and determination. At the mere age of twelve, she had already started auditioning for television commercials to star in. She was also among the Miss Soweto 2011 finalist.
She was also the co-founder of the NGO Sakha-Isizwe. Together with Nhlanhla Khumalo, a literacy specialist, their NGO seeks to uplift and empower marginalized communities in South Africa by promoting social justice via education.
The top presenter officially started her career in 2010 when she found herself seated behind an anchoring mic on a South African commercial youth radio station called YFM. Here, she worked as an entertainment news reporter, sharing her working space with top DJ Mo Flava.
In 2011, she found herself at SABC, where she debuted as a sports news anchor. She tried her hand at SABC on various platforms under the broadcasting corporation's umbrella. She anchored the news on SABC's 24-hour news channel and SABC's radio broadcasting station, Metro FM, as a newsreader. She also co-hosted the Daily Thetha.
What happened to Pearl Shongwe?
Pearl Shongwe's family confirmed that Pearl died on 8 November 2022 at the age of 35 when she was asleep in her Johannesburg home. She was found lying down on her bed facing down.
What's the cause of Pearl Shongwe's death? The radio presenter is suspected of having died from excessive drug intake. This comes after drugs were found in her bedroom.
Where was Pearl Shongwe buried?
Pearl Shongwe from Metro FM was buried at the Nasrec Memorial Park. Her funeral service took place at the Welfare Centre, where many people paid tribute to her, including Kgopedi Lilokoe.
In Kgopedi Lilokoe's tribute, she expressed how she was deeply saddened by the news of Shongwe's passing. She also added that:
None of us are getting out of this life thing alive, so live, say things you mean, mean the things you say, don’t concern yourself about what people will say about you. Do everyone a favour and just live.
Was Pearl Shongwe married?
Pearl was very private, so details about her personal life were never made public. During her burial, her sister, Nonhlanhla Shongwe, said she was hoping to speak at Pearl Shongwe's wedding and not at her memorial service.
Did Pearl Shongwe leave Metro FM?
At the time of her death, Pearl was a newsreader on Metro FM and co-hosted the Daily Thetha, an educational TV talk show that empowers the youth through engaging dialogue.
Pearl Shongwe was a South African radio and television presenter who died in November 2022. She worked hard every day to leave a lasting impression on the people of South Africa.
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Source: Briefly News
Lynn Kandie Lynn Kandie is a reporter with 5 years of experience in writing. Before joining the team in 2018, Lynn wrote for Kenyan media platforms and several other websites. She graduated from the University of Nairobi in 2019 with honours after pursuing a BSc. in Meteorology. She is currently studying for a Master's degree in the same field. Lynn specialises in writing celebrity biographies, listicles and teasers for popular TV shows. Contacts; +254707596322, lynnkandie27@gmail.com
Adrianna Simwa (Lifestyle writer) Adrianna Simwa is a content writer at Briefly.co.za, where she has worked since mid-2022. She has written for many periodicals on a variety of subjects, including news, celebrities, and lifestyle, for more than three years. She has worked for The Hoth, The Standard Group and Triple P Media. Adrianna graduated from Nairobi University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in 2020. In 2023, Adrianna finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her through her email: adriannasimwa@gmail.com
