It was a call that hooked the nation – Mollwane (“Mo”) Madiba posted a TikTok video in February, using the hash tag #MOandTYLAForMD and asking Tyla to be his date. However, he had no idea how this clip and those that followed would capture the hearts of people around South Africa and the globe.
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 – 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.
#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’s part, the word eventually came that Tyla had taken keen notice of Mo’s request and was genuinely touched by it, but that she unfortunately wouldn’t be able to attend. Mo was still super stoked about the fact that he had managed to get the star’s attention.
On the night of the dance, held in the grand Mears Hall at St. Stithians Boys’ 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 – 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!
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’s lips: “After 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’t make it to his matric dance, would she at least do SOMETHING to let Mo know that she was there in spirit?”
The answer was YES! Tyla surprised Mo at his dance and made his dream come true. 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.
Mollwane was absolutely buzzing with electric energy, saying, “From the USA to South Africa! I’m so grateful to the 5FM team – you guys honestly revived this moment for me. It’s just been an amazing thing. It’s going down in the history books! I was literally dateless BECAUSE I asked Tyla… and then Tyla pulled through! I’ll never forget it! On the dancefloor she said, ‘Come, we’re singing!’ and shouted ‘Mollwane and Tyla for MD!’ I heard her say that I’m a gentleman, by the way. Thank you, Tyla!”
“When we saw Mo’s video, we knew we had to get involved and pull all the strings we can,” says Masi Mdingane, Business Manager for 5FM and Good Hope FM. “This is what 5FM is about – 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’s what we do. Thank you to Tyla, her family and her team for making this happen… and to Mo and Saints for starting a fire that’ll burn in many hearts for a long time to come.”
