Behind the scenes with Vuyo Mbuli
VUYO Mbuli must be the most media-shy press person I have come across in my 10 years of journalism.
It took serious convincing for him to agree to this interview.
Who can blame him? He has a long career behind him, 12 years on Morning Live and a long list of kudos.
But his private life has recently attracted more attention than his career.
Mbuli is a charming and witty presenter, and not your usual flashy celeb, yet the press seems to have a way of digging up dirt on the man.
Embarrassing details about his private life have been spread across newspapers and tabloids, and these are chapters that Mbuli understandably wants to put behind him.
"I prefer to talk about my work than my private life," he warned me before our interview started.
Who wouldn't want people to concentrate on their career with such a glittering CV?
Mbuli, who co-hosts Morning Live - the biggest breakfast show in Africa - with Leanne Manas, is not shy about the fact that he enjoys his job.
"I am having a good time. I'm enjoying my job. It has kept me going and I have a wonderful co-host (Manas) with whom I have a wonderful rapport. We first knew each other when I was working for Talk Radio 702 as a news reporter.
"Our relationship grew stronger. We can read each other's body language and we know when to give each other space."
He adds that the show has been a big enabler.
"Because of the type of job that I do, places that ordinary people cannot access are easily accessible for me. The show has also built a good public profile for me."
But what about the rumours that he was going to be replaced by financial anchor Peter Ndoro?
"I don't know where people got that from," Mbuli says. "That was just a rumour. There was never a threat to my job."
Mbuli adds that there has never been a time when he thought he wanted to leave the public broadcaster.
"Yes, there are times when I feel some things can be done differently," he says. "But leaving has never crossed my mind."
Mbuli says it is not all hunky-dory and no tears for public personas.
"When things go wrong you take the bigger share of the blame because people see you as a public figure and role model," he says, referring to his recent break-up with his wife Savita after 16 years of marriage.
Sowetan has learnt that the father of two stays with his children, 13-year-old Siphosihle and 11-year-old Rhadebe.
Mbuli says he has an open relationship with Savita, who visits the children on a regular basis.
The former teacher made his television debut in 1993 for TSS, now SABC3, as a continuity presenter, and worked his way through sports presenting to eventually become a news anchor.
In 1996 he was the SABC's anchor in Atlanta, Georgia, for the Olympic Games.
Mbuli has interviewed a wide range of celebrities, politicians, sports personalities as well as dignitaries from around the world.
He says interviewing Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton formed part of the pinnacle of his career, but his dream is to interview Naomi Campbell.
"I think Naomi would make an interesting interviewee," he says.
"She has a big temper - that interests me."
Vuyo loves his job - and values his privacy
Behind the scenes with Vuyo Mbuli
VUYO Mbuli must be the most media-shy press person I have come across in my 10 years of journalism.
It took serious convincing for him to agree to this interview.
Who can blame him? He has a long career behind him, 12 years on Morning Live and a long list of kudos.
But his private life has recently attracted more attention than his career.
Mbuli is a charming and witty presenter, and not your usual flashy celeb, yet the press seems to have a way of digging up dirt on the man.
Embarrassing details about his private life have been spread across newspapers and tabloids, and these are chapters that Mbuli understandably wants to put behind him.
"I prefer to talk about my work than my private life," he warned me before our interview started.
Who wouldn't want people to concentrate on their career with such a glittering CV?
Mbuli, who co-hosts Morning Live - the biggest breakfast show in Africa - with Leanne Manas, is not shy about the fact that he enjoys his job.
"I am having a good time. I'm enjoying my job. It has kept me going and I have a wonderful co-host (Manas) with whom I have a wonderful rapport. We first knew each other when I was working for Talk Radio 702 as a news reporter.
"Our relationship grew stronger. We can read each other's body language and we know when to give each other space."
He adds that the show has been a big enabler.
"Because of the type of job that I do, places that ordinary people cannot access are easily accessible for me. The show has also built a good public profile for me."
But what about the rumours that he was going to be replaced by financial anchor Peter Ndoro?
"I don't know where people got that from," Mbuli says. "That was just a rumour. There was never a threat to my job."
Mbuli adds that there has never been a time when he thought he wanted to leave the public broadcaster.
"Yes, there are times when I feel some things can be done differently," he says. "But leaving has never crossed my mind."
Mbuli says it is not all hunky-dory and no tears for public personas.
"When things go wrong you take the bigger share of the blame because people see you as a public figure and role model," he says, referring to his recent break-up with his wife Savita after 16 years of marriage.
Sowetan has learnt that the father of two stays with his children, 13-year-old Siphosihle and 11-year-old Rhadebe.
Mbuli says he has an open relationship with Savita, who visits the children on a regular basis.
The former teacher made his television debut in 1993 for TSS, now SABC3, as a continuity presenter, and worked his way through sports presenting to eventually become a news anchor.
In 1996 he was the SABC's anchor in Atlanta, Georgia, for the Olympic Games.
Mbuli has interviewed a wide range of celebrities, politicians, sports personalities as well as dignitaries from around the world.
He says interviewing Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton formed part of the pinnacle of his career, but his dream is to interview Naomi Campbell.
"I think Naomi would make an interesting interviewee," he says.
"She has a big temper - that interests me."
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