Radiomonitor South Africa has highlighted a defining milestone in local airplay history, confirming that K.O’s “SETE” holds the longest-running number one position on South African radio since 2016, with a total of 20 weeks at the top of the charts. The data places the 2022 single ahead of several major releases that have shaped the country’s contemporary music landscape.
“SETE” was released in August 2022 as the lead single from K.O’s SR3 album. The track features contributions from Blxckie and Young Stunna, two artists who were already gaining strong momentum in hip-hop and amapiano respectively at the time. The collaboration brought together different sounds, merging Skhanda rap elements with amapiano influences, which contributed to its wide radio appeal across multiple formats.
According to Radiomonitor South Africa’s overview of dominant airplay performances, only a small group of songs since 2016 have managed to remain at number one for 13 weeks or more. Within this group, “SETE” leads with 20 weeks at number one, with 19 of those weeks achieved consecutively, marking it as one of the most consistent performers on national radio. The report also notes Tyla’s “Water” with 16 weeks, alongside “Jerusalema,” “Fetch Your Life,” and “Osama” as part of the modern catalogue of long-standing radio hits.
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The single’s performance was recorded across both local and international radio monitoring systems, where it repeatedly maintained peak positions during its chart run. Early reports during its release cycle already showed strong momentum, with the song rapidly climbing to number one and sustaining its position for extended periods through late 2022.
“SETE” was released on 19 August 2022 and quickly became one of the most commercially successful South African songs of the year. It accumulated millions of streams across digital platforms and achieved multi-platinum certification from the Recording Industry of South Africa.
The track’s sustained radio performance contributed to its broader recognition in year-end summaries, where it was listed among the most streamed South African songs of 2022. Its longevity on radio playlists reflected consistent audience demand across urban, regional, and national stations.
With 20 weeks at number one, “SETE” stands as a benchmark in South African radio airplay history, marking a period of sustained dominance rarely achieved in the country’s contemporary chart environment.
