Good Hope FM Morning Show host, Leigh-Anne Williams, was raised by a single parent in the suburb of Belhar. Williams, today a cherished television and radio presenter, spoke with SMF News’ Zeta Soule about finding her way to the microphone.
The restaurant is quiet except for the soft clink of chopsticks against ceramic plates. Across the table, Leigh-Anne Williams laughs as she recalls childhood memories that shaped the voice millions of South Africans now recognise on radio and television.
As a longtime presenter on the lifestyle show Expresso, and a radio host, Williams is used to the camera, studio lights and early morning broadcasts.
Storytelling had however always played a role in her life. When she was a young girl growing up in Belhar, stories, including through hand-drawn comics, were a way to escape, she recalls.
Williams grew up with her mother and grandparents. Money was tight. Williams and her mother shared a room in her grandparent’s home. She remembers those years with gratitude.
“A lot of my storytelling was a way of escaping the situation I was in,” she says. “I would dream of something better for myself and for my family.”
Good Hope FM radio presenter Leigh-Anne Williams enjoys heading to Asami’s after a long day of work. PHOTO: Zeta Soule
A childhood shaped by imagination
As a child, Williams would dress up in her mother’s petticoat and pretend she was a television presenter. She says in the imaginary moments she saw herself as a news anchor, actress or talk show host. These are roles that she would later take on in real life.
Williams attended Belhar High School, where arts and culture were the main focus. She spent hours working on hand-drawn comic-style books filled with characters and stories she created in her mind. Classmates at school would even wait for the next “edition” of her drawings, she recalls.
“I lived in my head a lot of the time,” she says. “That imagination got me through some of the hardest times of my life.”
Those early experiments with storytelling planted the seeds for the career that would eventually follow.
Becoming a broadcaster was, however, far from the obvious path for Williams. Most of her family members found themselves in more traditional careers such as economists, teachers, nurses, diplomats and engineers.
“When I got into broadcasting my family didn’t really understand it,” she says. “At first they thought it was cute. But they kept asking: ‘When are you going to get a real job?’ ”
Her mother, Denise Williams, says Leigh-Anne’s ability to remain grounded and determined was visible long before her career in broadcasting began.
“She never cowers away from responsibilities, setbacks, or difficulties. These moments may stun her for a moment, but she quickly finds her equilibrium,” her mother says.
Radio host and television presenter Leigh-Anne Williams spoke candidly about her childhood. She grew up in Belhar, and while life wasn’t always easy, she remembers her childhood with a sense of gratitude. PHOTO: Zeta Soule
‘I just shot my shot’
Williams obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communication and Media Studies at the University of the Western Cape, followed by a BA Honours in English and Journalism at the same university in 2004. She specialised in early digital media before the field became widely recognised.
Breaking into the industry required determination, she says.
Her first opportunity came when she walked into Good Hope FM and offered to do anything, even make tea, just to gain experience.
“I just shot my shot,” she says.
Two weeks later the station called her back for a voice test. Within days she was reading the news for Good Hope FM.
That moment marked the beginning of a career that would grow far beyond the radio studio where she first started. She built a reputation for her warmth, professionalism and ability to connect with audiences.
Now – two decades later – Leigh-Anne has established herself as a respected figure in South African broadcasting, building a career across radio, television, presenting and public speaking.
Williams joined the television show Expresso in 2011, as a Newsreader. This role on Expresso helped shape her public profile, she says. The breakfast show became a staple in many South African households, with viewers tuning in while getting ready for work or school.
Radio and television personality Leigh-Anne Williams graduated with an honours degree in English and Journalism from the University of Western Cape in 2004. Here she celebrates with her mother Denise Williams. PHOTO: Supplied/Instagram: Leigh-Anne Williams
Defining success
Despite the increased spotlight that comes with broadcasting, Williams speaks openly about the internal battles that she dealt with during her professional career. For years she struggled with self-doubt and impostor syndrome, she says.
“Whenever I achieved something, I would immediately look for what went wrong,” she says.
Nowadays, success is no longer defined by awards or public recognition, according to Williams.
“Success to me feels like being good to myself,” she says. “It’s being proud of what I’ve done, knowing I gave my best.”
The shift in perspective came gradually as she grew more comfortable in her career and identity. Her authenticity is something she believes audiences can sense, particularly in radio broadcasting, she says.
“People don’t tune in for a perfect product,” she says. “They tune in for the person.”
Over the years she has worked hard to ensure that the person audiences see on television or hear on air, is the same person they would meet in real life, she says.
“I try to be the same person on radio, on TV and on social media,” she says. “Authenticity matters.”
Radio host Leigh-Anne Williams reflected on defining moments in her broadcasting journey, with the statement: “Never failure. Always a lesson.” PHOTO: Zeta Soule
A legacy of connection
For Leigh-Anne, one element of storytelling remains constant, and that is the need to maintain a connection.
“When I interview someone, I want them to shine […],” she says. “I’m not there to embarrass them. I’m there to give them a space to tell their story.”
This philosophy shapes the legacy she hopes to leave in the industry. More than fame or recognition, she wants people to feel something when they encounter her work.
Radio host Leigh-Anne Williams in the studio with her colleagues Sandra Rosenberg and Delucia Daniels. PHOTO: Zeta Soule
“Leigh is one of the funniest people I know and a consummate professional,” says her colleague, Sandra Rosenberg, a news and traffic reporter at Good Hope FM. “She approaches everyone she meets with the same vivacious energy. Whether it’s a CEO or a street sweeper. Her work ethic is unrivalled and she’s constantly looking to elevate or move the show to the next level. Count yourself lucky if you’re in her inner circle.”
“I’ve always wanted people to feel seen,” Williams says.
Looking back, she says the advice she would give her younger self is simple: “Be kind to yourself.”