About Leanne

Leanne Manas is a renowned leader on the South African media circuit as the anchor of the South African Broadcasting Services’ (SABC) flagship news show, Morning Live. The show is broadcasted live every weekday morning to millions of viewers across Africa and abroad. In addition to being an award-winning TV presenter, Leanne is also a radio host, MC and style icon. Leanne was appointed as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador in January 2019.

Leanne is strongly committed to supporting UNHCR’s work through the LuQuLuQu campaign, and believes that we have a responsibility as members of the human race to help those who have the greatest need. In her role as a high profile supporter for the LuQuLuQu campaign, Leanne visited the largest refugee camps in Kenya and Malawi. Through both trips she gained a better understanding of UNHCR and its partners’ skills development programmes for refugees, and she conducted five live broadcasts from the refugee camps to millions of Morning Live viewers globally. Refugee guests on the show included young coders from the Microsoft App Factory in Malawi’s Dzaleka Refugee Camp, Jesuit Worldwide Learning (JWL) degree candidates from the Arrupe Learning Centre, as well as talented musicians and dancers from the camps’ vibrant arts and culture scene.