South Africa\u2019s favourite national youth radio station, 5FM, and Grammy winning global superstar, Tyla, pulled off the surprise of a LIFETIME to make a Joburg matriculant\u2019s wildest \u00a0dream come true: The South African born international sensation joining him at his matric dance.<\/p>\n
When Mollwane (\u201cMo\u201d) Madiba posted a TikTok video in February, using the hash tag #MOandTYLAForMD and asking Tyla to be his date, he had no idea how this clip and those that followed would capture the hearts of people around South Africa and the globe, or that it would end up on the radar of SA\u2019s favourite youth radio station.<\/p>\n
Inspired by his sheer guts, charm, big dreams and the passionate support from his friends, 5FM reached out to Mo and began following his story \u2013 interviewing him on air, sharing his journey with listeners, rallying behind him and doing what 5FM does best: giving power to young South Africans and making magic happen.<\/p>\n
#MOandTYLAForMD spread like wildfire on-air, social media and the news, but this dream was still ambitious at best. After weeks of persistence on 5FM, Mo and the South African public\u2019s part, the word eventually came that Tyla had taken keen notice of Mo\u2019s request and was genuinely touched by it, but that she unfortunately wouldn\u2019t be able to attend. Mo was still super stoked about the fact that he had managed to get the star\u2019s attention with some amazing help from the 5 Nation.<\/p>\n
On the night of the dance, held in the grand Mears Hall at St. Stithians Boys\u2019 College, it was an evening of glitz and glam as is the Saints custom. Mo was styled to the tee, and, in true 5FM fashion, the station stepped in to make sure his big night was nothing short of EPIC and unforgettable \u2013 following him every step of the way to cover the occasion and bring some serious sparkle to the celebration. It was a red carpet affair for the history books!<\/p>\n
After the VIP guests enjoyed welcome drinks and taken their places, and the speeches were done, there was one more announcement to be made, and it had to do with the thing that was on everyone\u2019s lips: \u201cAfter the ambitious hope that had inspired so many across Mzansi, after rumours of Tyla being spotted in Sandton, but then the news that she couldn\u2019t make it to his matric dance, would she at least do SOMETHING to let Mo know that she was there in spirit?\u201d<\/p>\n
The answer to that question came soon enough as Tyla\u2019s brand-new song, \u201cIs it\u201d – getting one of its very first live plays at the St. Stithians Boys\u2019 matric dance of 2025 – boomed over the speakers to electric excitement, loud cheers and a roaring round of applause.<\/p>\n
This would have been HIGHLIGHT enough, but 5FM had one more trick up its sleeve.<\/p>\n
It turns out that 5FM isn\u2019t only great at playing banging tunes from across the globe, but also VERY good at keeping beautiful secrets \u2026 telling very strategic white lies \u2026 AND getting a pretty girl from Joburg in on it \u2026 South Africa\u2019s hottest export, Edenvale local turned global megahit, Tyla, was THERE, IN THE FLESH \u2026 and the crowd absolutely ERUPTED at the announcement. A dream that the whole of Mzansi got behind, one that touched the hearts of countless people, one that stated in February of 2025, finally became reality.<\/p>\n
Mo was invited to come forward and met Tyla in a moment that was nothing short of absolutely magical \u2013 goosebump stuff.<\/p>\n
Even given her highly demanding schedule, she reached out to others in the crowd to say hi and also spent a good 15 minutes just relaxing and partying things up with an elated Mo and a charged-up crowd, before saying a heartfelt goodbye and heading off to her next commitment.<\/p>\n
Mollwane was absolutely buzzing with electric energy, saying, \u201cFrom the USA to South Africa! I\u2019m so\u00a0grateful to the 5FM team – you guys honestly revived this moment for me. It\u2019s just been an amazing thing.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s going down in the history books! I was literally dateless BECAUSE I asked Tyla\u2026 and then Tyla pulled through! I\u2019ll never forget it! On the dancefloor she said, \u2018Come, we\u2019re singing!\u2019 and shouted \u2018Mollwane and Tyla for MD!\u2019 I heard her say that I\u2019m a gentleman, by the way. Thank you, Tyla!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we saw Mo\u2019s video, we knew we had to get involved and pull all the strings we can,\u201d says Masi Mdingane, Business Manager for 5FM and Good Hope FM. \u201cThis is what 5FM is about \u2013 moving the youth of SA, celebrating their courage, and amplifying the voices and stories that inspire the nation. If it means asking Tyla for one EPIC surprise, then that\u2019s what we do. Thank you to Tyla, her family and her team for making this happen \u2026 and to Mo and Saints for starting a fire that\u2019ll burn in many hearts for a long time to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
This also inspired 5FM to launch #5FMPROMPOSAL on Monday, 30 June.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re in matric and plotting how to ask your matric dance date in the most iconic way possible, 5FM\u2019s got you covered. Whether you want to shut down the school hall, flash mob at break, or do a full-on TikTok-worthy moment, the Ministers of Promposal – a.k.a. 5FM jocks Jodell Tantij, Tom Hele and Mtha Agbiriogu – are here to help you shoot your shot! More details will be shared on air, online<\/a>, on the 5FM app for iOS and Android and across all social media.<\/p>\n