Pearl Shongwe, a revered voice of radio, has died at 35. Here’s all you need to know about the cause of death, her biography and reactions.
Pearl Shongwe dies: What’s the cause of death?
In a statement quoted by News24, Shongwe’s family confirmed that the MetroFM newsreader’s lifeless body was found on her bed on Tuesday.
Details about what happened to Shongwe are still unclear. From what we understand, concerned neighbours from her Waterfall apartment block conducted a welfare check on the 35-year-old on Tuesday morning.
According to reports, the radio newsreader was discovered lying face down in her bed. It still remains unclear what the cause of death was at this juncture.
As reported by IOL News, Midrand police spokesperson Colonel Noxolo Kweza confirmed an inquest has been opened to determine what happened to the 35-year-old, and more importantly. to rule out foul play.
Pearl Shongwe biography
Ntombifuthi Pearl Shongwe was born in Soweto, Gauteng, in 1987.
According to her agent, Owen S Management, Shongwe always had a penchant for broadcasting. Her first introduction to media came in 1999 at the age of 12, when she scored several TV commercial bookings.
By 24, Shongwe was a booked and busy commercial model and a 2011 Miss Soweto finalist.
At the time, she juggled her pursuit of dominance in modelling with a professional career in radio broadcasting.
Her first radio gig was at YFM in 2010, where she started out as an entertainment reporter, working alongside legends of the airwaves like DJ MoFlava. Following a two-year stint at YFM, Shongwe left the radio station and took up an MC gig at Silverstar Casino in Krugersdorp, Gauteng.
Thereafter, the ambitious presenter was scooped by SABC Sport to provide voiceover work as a reporter on the children’s show, Sports Buzz. This is where Shongwe saw the most growth in her professional career. Very quickly she rose up the ranks at the public broadcaster.
From her humble beginnings, providing voiceover work for a children’s sports show, Shongwe soon found a place as a sports host on SABC‘s 24-hour news channel. Her stellar work on Sports Live saw her recruited by Morning Live, where she covered sports on weekends.
At the time of her death, Shongwe worked as a newsreader on MetroFM‘s mid-morning show, The AM Edition, and anchored the weekend lunchtime news on SABC News.
Reactions to Shongwe’s death
News of Shongwe’s death sent shockwaves across social media on Tuesday. Here are some of the reactions from fans and peers of the revered newsreader.
