Leanne Manas is a South African businesswoman, award-winning TV presenter, and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador known primarily for anchoring the flagship SABC 2 breakfast show, Morning Live , since 2004
. She has had a distinguished media career spanning over two decades, starting in 2001 with the Essential Business Channel Summit TV and later hosting business programs on SABC 3 before joining Morning Live
. Manas has interviewed prominent figures such as Nelson Mandela and Oprah Winfrey and has anchored major national events including presidential inaugurations and elections
. Beyond broadcasting, she is an entrepreneur and media trainer, having co- founded a gift emporium and a communications training company
. In 2019, she was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador by UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, actively supporting refugee causes through campaigns like LuQuLuQu and visiting refugee camps in Kenya and Malawi to raise awareness
. Her humanitarian work and media contributions earned her a Knighthood of the French National Order of Merit in 2022 and several awards in South Africa recognizing her impact in journalism and social causes
. She has also spoken publicly about challenges such as deepfake scams involving her identity
. Overall, Leanne Manas is celebrated for her influential role in South African media, her advocacy for refugees, and her contributions to journalism and social impact
