PUKfm station manager Charonike Nel leaves after 13 years

PUKfm station manager Charonike Nel will leave the station by the end of April 2022 after serving for 13 years. Nel is leaving the station because of a new venture.

“It was never on my radar to do radio at all,” said Nel. After 13 years with the station, Nel said the biggest disappointment of her life was not becoming a residence house committee member. She then turned to radio, which became her ultimate love.

When asked why she decided to explore new adventures this year, Nel said, “when I started as station manager in 2014, I told myself the minute that I feel like I, even if it is just a little bit, that I am stagnating or not giving my 100 percent, that means I have to leave.” She said that as difficult as it is to admit, the station needs new blood. 

Barrie Ferreira (22), an honours in advanced corporate communications student and current PUKfm presenter, said, “It is going to leave a massive gap at the station because Charonike Nel is PUKfm, like they are inseparable, but at the same time, I am very glad for the opportunity that she has received”. 

It is evident that Nel was highly regarded as a leader, a friend, and a mother who created a family for the PUKfm crew. Nel, who has dedicated her life to the station, has been in every position, from presenter to programme manager to liaison to station manager to MC of some of the PUK’s biggest events, such as Varsity Cup. 

She bagged 21 radio awards nominations, winning five. She won breakfast presenter of the year last year, as well as a “Mediaveertjie”. Nel said an obvious highlight would be sitting in the Sandton Convention Centre and hearing that PUKfm won radio station of the year in 2018. “Very few things have come close to that moment, I watch that video at least once a month.”

Former PUKfm marketing manager Anchen Bisschoff (22) said that one thing Nel has taught her is to believe in yourself fully. “She is a super accepting person, even if you fail or things just don’t work out. She encourages you,” said Bisschoff.

A message that Bisschoff wants Nel to hear would be how much Nel means to so many people, “Not just in terms of radio but the way she just shows up to work and how she just knows everyone personally.”