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Thobela FM wins big at the radio awards

NOT COMPLACENT: Thobela FM's Best Afternoon Drive Show presenter Skhumbuzo Mbatha PHOTO: Supplied
NOT COMPLACENT: Thobela FM's Best Afternoon Drive Show presenter Skhumbuzo Mbatha PHOTO: Supplied

Thobela FM has won bragging rights no money can buy.

The Sepedi language station walked away with the prestigious Radio Station of the Year for Public Broadcasting Services awards last weekend in Sandton.

Today celebrations will reach a crescendo as the staff toast their win. In addition to the honour, the station also lifted the Best Breakfast Show, Best Afternoon Drive Presenter and Best Music Award trophies.

"I think our recipe is that we relate authentic content to our audience. Our target audience is made up of people who speak and understand Sepedi. We give them broad, focused content. The content focuses on events around the country and beyond," says station manager Moshongwa Matsena.

The Polokwane-based station, which celebrates 55 years on air this year, boasts a whopping 3.4-million listeners nationally.

Matsena believes that the winning formula lies in the authenticity of its shows. Some of the programmes have been broadcast for many years, such as Mekgolokwane where listeners send out invitations to weddings and tombstone unveilings.

Matsena believes that Mekgolokwane works because of the enthusiasm of its presenter Moloko Mashamaite, who also hosts a current affairs talk show during the week.

The breakfast show, Ditlalemeso, gives people relevant information such as traffic updates. The show is produced by DJ Bo-Eli and presented by Mankoko Baby and Sebasa Mogale.

Matsena, who joined the station a year ago, said her managerial philosophy is to "allow the staff to breathe and not be on their necks", which she believed is good for staff morale.

Skhumbuzo Mbatha, who presents Ntshirogele, won the award for Best Afternoon Drive Show presenter. He also hailed the station's team work.

"The secret is not thinking that you're above the job. The problem with this industry is that people tend to think they are bigger than the job.

"Hunger for knowledge is another key factor because complacency is dangerous," Mbatha says.

Mbatha hails from Senaoane in Soweto but attended school in Limpopo where his mother worked. He also plays teacher Manaka in a drama series Skeem Saam on SABC1.

Mbatha first joined the station in 1998 after cutting his teeth in community radio. He later left for commercial regional station Capricorn FM before rejoining Thobela in 2010.

"Even though this award is not for the show but for me as a presenter, it boils down to the people I work with and their constructive criticism. The support system is very important," says Mbatha, who also acted on popular youth soapie Skeem Saam.

He says preparation for each day starts when he leaves the studio. The content is guided by his experiences and current affairs he monitors with producer Thabo Mohlatlole.

Mbatha is quick to add that their work ethic is powered by passion.

The station will be launching a new line-up next month. All she was prepared to say was that the changes would not be major.

 

mashotol@sowetan.co.za

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