An African youth icon, brick by brick

Since 2001, the DJ Sbu brand has been a defining force in shaping youth culture and thought leadership across South Africa. Rising from a challenging upbringing in Tembisa, he built a national media career that has reached millions, establishing himself as one of the country's most versatile and influential media personalities first through music and entertainment, and later expanding across radio, television, publishing, business and podcasting.

His first venture, TS Records, co-founded in 2001 with business partner TK Nciza, served as the launchpad for some of South Africa's most celebrated recording artists. As executive producer, he played a pivotal role in the success of Prokid, Nhlanhla Mafu, Mzekezeke, Ntando, Mapaputsi, Brickx, Brown Dash, Izinyoka, Riot, Lungelo, Zahara, and his own DJ Sbu projects — cementing TS Records as a cornerstone of the South African music industry.

Keynotes & stages

DJ Sbu is a sought-after public speaker, keynote address and serial entrepreneur who has shared stages with global icons and headlined institutions on three continents.

He has delivered two keynotes at Harvard Business School (2016 & 2018), and spoken at MIT, Stanford University and the University of Westminster. He has also hosted award shows, gala dinners, summits, conferences and seminars around the world.

TS Records

Founded at 21 years old, TS Records became one of the defining independent labels in South African music — discovering artists and building them into brands in their own right.

A career made on air

From a graveyard slot in Tembisa to Africa's biggest breakfast shows — a radio history that runs parallel to the story of South African radio itself.

From the game show floor to the boardroom

Two very different television eras: mainstream entertainment on SABC1, then business television built to speak to a different kind of viewer.

The Hustlers Corner SA Podcast

Built on the same instinct that started Massiv Metro — long-form, unfiltered conversation with entrepreneurs, artists and thinkers, distributed straight to the audience.

MOFAYA

Co-founded in 2014 with business partner Siphiwe Likhuleni Shongwe, MOFAYA Energy Drink has grown over more than a decade into one of South Africa's most recognised homegrown energy drink brands — the same brand whose on-air launch cost DJ Sbu his job at Metro FM.

SLEF — Sbusiso Leope Education Foundation

The vertical that puts everything else to work for the next generation: bursaries, scholarships, feeding schemes, and motivational talks delivered in person.