Jozi student wins 2012 MTV Base VJ search

Communications science student Nomuzi Mabena has her head in the clouds after winning the 2012 MTV Base VJ Search.

The 20 year old, Benoni-born, Randburg-based student beat Cape Town’s Naledi Radebe and Durbanite Nomzamo Mbatha during the Grand Final of the nationwide talent search, which culminated at Taboo in Fourways, Johannesburg on Saturday night. 

Nomuzi’s victory will see her join Sizwe Dhlomo on MTV Base and featuring regularly on e.tv’s top music show Club 808 alongside Dineo Ranaka and Mo Flava.

Nomuzi takes up her presenting role on MTV Base from Friday 26 October and will make her first appearances on Club 808 on the same day.

Celebrity judges Bonang Matheba, HHP, Azania Mosaka and Tim Horwood were on hand to watch as the three finalists learned their fate, revealed to them by Sizwe Dhlomo, who won MTV Base’s first ever VJ Search in Africa in 2005.

Among the celebrity artists appearing at the MTV Base VJ Search Grand Final were L-Tido, AKA and Toya Delazy, who performed some of their hottest tracks.

Creative Director of Viacom International Media Networks Africa, Tim Horwood said: “We are thrilled to welcome Nomuzi to MTV Base as our newest VJ! Not only does she have talent, beauty and brains but she a strong sense of personal style and attitude that’s going to strike a real chord with youth audiences.”

“It’s a pleasure to welcome Nomuzi to the e.tv family. We look forward to the new and fresh vibe that she will bring to Club 808 and wish her all the best with her new venture, “ said Keshni Rajoo, Manager: Local production and programming, e.tv.

Talking about her victory, a stunned Nomuzi, said, “I felt excitement, happiness and release all at the same time...  I’ve been working on this for such a long time, standing in audition queues, practising in the mirror.  To everyone out there who has a dream, I want to say: you can make it happen!”

Continued Nomuzi, “Living your dream is the crazy, exciting part and working alongside Sizwe Dhlomo, Mo Flava and Dineo Ranaka is going to be just unbelievable... I got a taste of this career during the VJ search and now it’s going to be my life!”