Pastor Nozewu: From radio pioneer to family man, his journey through love and controversy

Pastor Nozewu transitioned from shaping the airwaves as a radio pioneer on Umhlobo Wenene FM to captivating millions of listeners across South Africa over two decades. Beyond his legendary career, his relationships have also grabbed headlines, alongside social media controversies.

Key takeaways

• Pastor Nozewu's real name is Sisanda Phiwe Nozewu.
• He is a South African radio personality, DJ, MC, content producer and businessman.
• The radio personality began his broadcasting journey in the late 1990s and later became a leading voice on Umhlobo Wenene FM.
• Pastor Nozewu married Phumza Nozewu in 2019 after dating her for seven years. They are reportedly not together currently.
• He has three children from his previous marriage.

Profile summary

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DJ Pastor Nozewu's biography

Pastor Nozewu, whose full name is Sisanda Phiwe Nozewu, is a South African radio presenter and DJ. He is popularly known as Pastor The DJ and has built a long career in broadcasting, music, event hosting and content production.

He became particularly popular through the Breakfast Eyondlayo Ekuseni (B.E.E.) show on Umhlobo Wenene FM. In a 2021 interview with Drum Magazine, Nozewu said he had spent more than two decades in radio and could count the number of times he had missed a show.

What is DJ Pastor Nozewu's age?

DJ Pastor Nozewu was born on 30 November 1975 in East London, Eastern Cape. He will be 51 in November 2026 and is 50 years old as of September 2026.

DJ Pastor Nozewu's parents

Information about his parents is limited. Available biographical accounts indicate that his parents divorced when he was young and that his mother raised him as a single parent.

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After the divorce, Nozewu and his elder brother spent much of their childhood with their grandmother. He has spoken warmly about his grandmother's influence and credited her with teaching him practical skills at home.

He described himself as his grandmother's child and said she taught him how to cook and clean. He told Drum Magazine in 2021.

I am my granny's child, so much so that my wife hardly does much around the house. My granny taught me to cook, clean, and I became domesticated.

How did Pastor Nozewu become interested in radio?

Radio was part of Nozewu's life from an early age. His mother regularly listened to Radio 5, now known as 5FM, and Capitol Radio at home and in the car. His interest became stronger after DJs from C.K.I. FM attended his matric farewell. That experience convinced him that broadcasting could become his career.

He studied audio-visual communication at Thuthuka Casting in Johannesburg in 1997. He subsequently studied radio presenting and radio production at the Classic FM Radio Institute.

Pastor Nozewu's radio career

Nozewu began his professional broadcasting journey at C.K.I. FM, where he initially volunteered at the station's youth service. He later secured a five-year contract with the station.

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His profile grew steadily, and in 2005 listeners voted him C.K.I. FM's Best On-Air Personality. His breakfast show also received recognition at the MTN Radio Awards. He later joined Umhlobo Wenene FM in 2009 as a content producer and presenter. His B.E.E. breakfast programme became one of the station's best-known shows.

A 2023 Sowetan report described the show's appeal as a combination of information and humour. Nozewu explained that the programme was deliberately unscripted and called it an "organised chaos."

Nozewu has repeatedly spoken about his attachment to broadcasting. In 2021, he told Drum that even when he was in a bad mood, going to work usually made him feel better. He also revealed that radio helped him cope after the death of his mother.

Rather than staying away from work for an extended period, he returned to his listeners because the programme helped him deal with his grief. At the time, he was already considering what life would look like after radio. He said he planned to eventually retire from broadcasting and concentrate more on his family and business interests.

Pastor Nozewu's career beyond radio

Although broadcasting remains his best-known profession, Nozewu has explored several areas of entertainment. He has worked as a DJ and MC and has also been involved in music production, content creation and artist management.

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During the 2020 lockdown, he returned to music production and recorded several songs. He explained that he had previously experimented with music but became more serious about it when the pandemic stopped live gigs. He told Drum;

"I want to make music for fun and not as a full-time career."

He has also been associated with Umdabho Entertainment and a production business, while continuing his work as an event host and media personality.

Who is Pastor Nozewu's ex-wife?

The name of his ex-wife remains unknown since he has kept her a secret. They had three children together before their relationship ended.

Pastor Nozewu's new wife?

The father of three married his second wife, Phumza Nozewu, in 2019 after dating for approximately seven years. However, the two are reportedly no longer together after their marriage collapsed. Therefore, Nozewu does not have a wife, and he is believed to be single as of September 2026.

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Phumza is also involved in the media and entertainment industry. She has been described as a radio personality, MC and speaker and is associated with Due Cloud Media, a company involved in talent management and bookings.

Pastor the DJ's divorce

Pastor the DJ's first marriage ended after a highly publicised dispute. The marriage reportedly became strained in the late 2010s. In 2018, his then-wife publicly discussed their marital problems on social media and sought a divorce.

Reports at the time centred on allegations of infidelity and disagreements over the divorce process. However, Nozewu disputed parts of the account. He reportedly maintained that he was the person who had left the marriage and denied claims that he had taken another wife.

Because the accounts differed, the exact reason for Pastor Nozewu's divorce cannot be established solely from the public claims made at the time.

In an interview on The NayFul Podcast in March 2026, Nozewu revealed that he had parted ways with his second wife, Phumza, while discussing second marriages. He was quoted as saying:

The biggest mistake I made was rushing into a second marriage without giving myself the proper time to heal from the first one.

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He added:

Because of that haste, it created an artificial environment of pressure on both sides, which eventually led to the marriage failing. Today, I understand that you cannot rush healing, and being single is necessary for me to learn who I am before ever trying to lead a household again.

Pastor Nozewu's controversy

Nozewu has experienced controversy during his long broadcasting career. One of the most notable incidents occurred in November 2020, when he was suspended from his radio duties after a social media post about an incident involving protesters outside Brackenfell High School.

The radio host reacted to a viral photo on X (Twitter) showing a resident assaulting an Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) protester. He sub-tweeted the image with laughter emojis and used local slang that did not help his case.

The comment drew criticism, including from the EFF, which called for him to be removed from the air. The SABC subsequently suspended him for two weeks. Nozewu later described the post as a "silly joke" and said the experience taught him to be more careful about what he posted online.

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The controversy did not end his broadcasting career. He continued working in radio and remained a familiar voice to Umhlobo Wenene FM listeners.

Pastor Nozewu's life in 2026

As of August 2026, Nozewu remains active in broadcasting and entertainment. A recent profile by Mamelodi Sundowns' digital magazine described him as a radio veteran with 27 years of experience and featured his reflections on 2025 and his plans for 2026.

His career has therefore evolved considerably from his early days at C.K.I. FM. He has built a reputation not only as a radio presenter but also as a DJ, MC, producer and family man.

FAQs

1. What is Pastor Nozewu's real name? His real name is Sisanda Phiwe Nozewu.
2. Who are Pastor Nozewu's children? He is a father of three children from his previous marriage: Lwethu, Phawu and Hluhlelunje.
3. Is Pastor Nozewu still married? No, Pastor Nozewu is currently single after going through two divorces.
4. How old is Pastor Nozewu? He is 50 years old. He was born on 30 November 1975.

Pastor Nozewu's journey has stretched from a childhood fascination with radio to nearly three decades as one of South Africa's recognised broadcasting personalities. His career has weathered professional controversy, while his personal life has seen the end of his two marriages. Today, he continues to balance broadcasting and entertainment with co-parenting.

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Source: Briefly News