There is no better launchpad for a broadcasting career than campus radio, as Refilwe Palagangwe can confirm.
Better known as “Thee Iron Lady” because of her unshakable strength, discipline, and purpose, Refilwe has used her voice to chart a course through the intersecting worlds of radio, marketing and public speaking.
“Everything I do is rooted in message delivery,” she says. “Whether on stage, on air or behind a campaign, if it connects, it works.”
Her career began at North-West University (NWU) FM, where she learned the basics of broadcasting while studying BCom Marketing at the Mahikeng Campus.
She also wrote for The Album campus newspaper and held leadership roles, including marketing head of the Black Management Forum.
From there, she moved to community radio at Kopanong FM before landing a spot as a producer on YOU FM, a commercial station where she used to contribute to the Business Hour programme. The show offers market insights and conversations with entrepreneurs. “It’s not just about airtime, it’s about creating value for the listener,” she says.
Off-air, Refilwe’s voice has found new arenas. As a voice-over artist, she works on corporate narrations and commercials. As an MC or programme director, she’s led national events such as the NBA Royal Bafokeng Gala Dinner and panel discussions for Women’s Day. “Each platform demands something different,” she says. “What stays constant is clarity.”
Behind the scenes of some big brands
Her marketing credentials include stints at Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa, the Mahikeng Digital Innovation Hub and the North West Parks and Tourism Board. These roles, she says, shaped her understanding of brand communication and strategy. “Being behind the scenes gave me insight into how brands operate and how they speak to their audiences.”
She credits the NWU not just as the starting point of her career, but as a space that cultivated her confidence. “Speaking to first-year students at the NWU about self-leadership felt like coming full circle.”
Refilwe sees voice work not only as a service, but as a business. She manages bookings, partnerships and productions under her own brand, Thee Iron Lady. “It’s not about waiting for opportunities,” she says. “It’s about building your own platform and being ready when people start listening.”
In addition to her commercial radio work, Refilwe produces and hosts Business Time with Refilwe Palagangwe, a show that airs every Monday on Mahikeng FM. The programme highlights entrepreneurship and economic issues relevant to local communities.
She also serves as sales and marketing coordinator for the North West Parks and Tourism Board’s Hotel Schools Division, overseeing operations in Mahikeng and Taung.
Most recently, she qualified for the prestigious Voice of Cepacol® search, a milestone she sees as another step in building one of South Africa’s most recognised voice brands.
