Metro FM frequency & live stream

Metro FM is the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s national urban music station, broadcasting in English from Auckland Park in Johannesburg. You can find it on 96.4 FM in Johannesburg, on 91.7 FM in Cape Town (with 88.6 and 93.0 FM also covering the city), on 93.0 FM in Durban and on 100.3 FM in Middelburg, Mpumalanga. Anywhere else, you can stream it live online.

History

The station went on air in October 1986 as Radio Metro. The SABC built it to win back urban Black listeners from Radio Bop, an independent station broadcasting on AM from the Bophuthatswana homeland, and it took the new service from planning to launch in about six months. Early voices such as Bob Mabena and Treasure Tshabalala became household names as the station grew.

In October 2000 the station staged the first Metro FM Music Awards at The Pyramid in Johannesburg, billed at the time as South Africa’s first music awards decided by public vote. The 20th edition took place in 2026, the same year Metro FM marked 40 years on air with a refreshed schedule that came into effect on 1 April.

Format and programming

Metro FM’s licence from ICASA, South Africa’s broadcasting regulator, commits it to an urban contemporary service in English. Its playlist draws on R&B, hip hop, house, kwaito and contemporary jazz. The station presents itself as a music-led lifestyle brand that celebrates Black success, aimed mainly at listeners aged 25 to 34, with a secondary audience aged 16 to 24.

Weekday anchors include the breakfast show Best Mornings, hosted by Sabelo “Sabby” Mtshali, and the afternoon show The Touchdown with Thabo “Tbo Touch” Molefe and Luthando “Lootlove” Shosha, both kept in the 2026/27 line-up. Away from the studio, Metro FM runs its Heatwave live events in cities including Durban and Bloemfontein.

Frequencies and how to listen

Metro FM is a national station, but its FM signal comes from a fixed set of transmitters. These are the frequencies on the station’s own list, cross-checked against independent transmitter listings:

Province	City or transmitter	Frequency
Gauteng	Johannesburg	96.4 FM
Gauteng	Pretoria	92.4 FM
Western Cape	Cape Town – Sea Point	91.7 FM
Western Cape	Cape Town – Table Mountain	88.6 FM
Western Cape	Cape Town – Tygerberg	93.0 FM
KwaZulu-Natal	Durban	93.0 FM
KwaZulu-Natal	Durban North	107.9 FM
KwaZulu-Natal	Eshowe	90.3 FM
KwaZulu-Natal	Nongoma	89.8 FM
Eastern Cape	Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)	100.5 FM
Eastern Cape	East London	107.7 FM
Free State	Bloemfontein	98.1 FM
Mpumalanga	Middelburg	100.3 FM
Limpopo	Potgietersrus (Mokopane)	106.7 FM

We could not confirm a Metro FM frequency for North West, Northern Cape or Mbombela. The station says it already has the maximum number of transmitters ICASA allows, so reception outside the areas above may be weak or absent. In those places, the online stream is the reliable option: press play in the player on this page, or browse other stations on the South Africa page.

Significance

Metro FM was the SABC’s answer to independent competition in the 1980s and became one of its most important commercial stations. Broadcast Research Council audience figures reported by The Media Online in 2016–2018 put it at around four million listeners, making it the country’s largest commercial station and third overall behind Ukhozi FM and Umhlobo Wenene. Its music awards give it a role in the South African music industry that reaches beyond airplay. For chart pop rather than urban music, try its sister SABC station 5FM.

Sources

• Official site: https://www.metrofm.co.za
• Metro FM frequency list: metrofm.co.za/metro-fm/frequencies
• Mail & Guardian, on the first Metro FM Music Awards (2000): The people have spoken
• RadioInfo Africa, on the station’s 40th anniversary line-up: Metro FM marks 40 years

Metro FM: frequently asked questions

What frequency is Metro FM on?

It depends on where you are: 96.4 FM in Johannesburg, 92.4 FM in Pretoria, 91.7 FM in Cape Town, 93.0 FM in Durban, 98.1 FM in Bloemfontein, 100.5 FM in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), 107.7 FM in East London and 100.3 FM in Middelburg, Mpumalanga. You can also stream Metro FM live online.

What is the Metro FM frequency in Cape Town?

Metro FM is on 91.7 FM from the Sea Point transmitter in Cape Town. Two other transmitters also cover the city: 88.6 FM from Table Mountain and 93.0 FM from Tygerberg in the northern suburbs. Try whichever comes in clearest where you are.

What is the Metro FM frequency in Mpumalanga?

The only Mpumalanga transmitter on Metro FM’s published list is Middelburg, on 100.3 FM. We could not confirm a Metro FM frequency for Mbombela (Nelspruit) or other parts of the province, so listeners there are best served by the online stream.

What is Metro FM’s frequency in Johannesburg and Durban?

In Johannesburg Metro FM is on 96.4 FM, and Pretoria has its own frequency of 92.4 FM. In Durban it is on 93.0 FM, with 107.9 FM serving Durban North.

Why can’t I pick up Metro FM where I live?

Metro FM says it already uses the maximum number of transmitters the regulator ICASA allows, so FM coverage is limited to the areas in its frequency list. Outside those areas, stream the station online.

Which country is Metro FM from?

Metro FM is a radio station from South Africa, headquartered in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, South Africa. It broadcasts in English.

Who owns Metro FM?

Metro FM is owned by SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation).

How can I listen to Metro FM online?

You can stream Metro FM live in your browser with the player on this page or on the official website, www.metrofm.co.za — free, with no app or sign-up needed.

Read more about Metro FM

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