Originally appeared in Wits Vuvuzela April 17: http://witsvuvuzela.com/2020/04/17/vow-fm-takes-home-only-one-radio-award/

Lindiwe Mpanza was Vow FM’s only radio award winner for best campus news reader, at this year’s online ceremony

Voice of Wits (VoW FM) only came out with one award at the South African Radio Awards, held on Friday April 17

Before the online award show took place this afternoon, the campus radio station had 14 nominations.

Lindiwe Mpanza (23), won in the category for best news reader for campus radio stations. “It feels absolutely amazing. I’ve always wanted to win this award,” said Mpanza.

Although she is now working as a news anchor at YFM, words of congratulations have been pouring in from her former colleagues and managers at VoW FM. “People are really happy for me and everyone at VoW has always been so supportive.”

Taryn Westoby (41), head of events for Arena Events, who ran this year’s awards, said there were over 2 000 entries this year, 400 – 500 finalists and ultimately 80 winners at the end of the day. “VoW FM might have only won one award, but they were nominated for station of the year in their category.”

The fact that they (VoW FM) have been nominated across so many categories shows they are an excellent station.”

Good news for VoW from Westoby is that, for the first time, there will be formalised reports from the judges to show where each station fell short. “The ultimate goal of the awards is to improve the industry as a whole and we decided a formal report would be better than a call to the station manager”

FEATURED IMAGE: Lindiwe Mpanza at home during lockdown. PHOTO: Provided.

Originally appeared in Wits Vuvuzela April 17: http://witsvuvuzela.com/2020/04/17/profile-siyabonga-motha-a-radio-awards-bright-star-with-humble-beginnings/

A passion for politics, a can-do attitude, and a hunger for improvement, are what make Siyabonga Motha, Vow FM’s Bright Star at this year’s radio awards.

On Friday April 17, Vow FM Content Producer and Presenter of I Talk Youth, Siyabonga Motha, will be inaugurated as a Bright Star, in the 2020 Liberty Life Radio Awards.

Hailing from Bettysgoed, a village on the outskirts of Ermalo, Mpumalanga, Siya’s earliest encounter with radio was in primary school. He recalls listening to the Zulu SABC station Ukhozi FM, hearing the likes of Linda Sibaya and Alex Mthiyane.

Although it wasn’t clear to him until his latter years, Motha eventually entered the radio industry to tackle issues on politics and governance from the perspective of youth. “ I want to change the idea that politics are only for old people. These policies affect us (the youth)… On radio I am able to be the voice to ask questions on the our behalf”

According to the Radio Awards website, Bright Star candidates are any “26 [year-old] or younger – either on air, or behind the scenes – who is making his/her mark on the industry… The person would be someone who is a tireless worker and on whom the radio station has come to rely.”

Grateful for the kind words, 26-year-old Motha told Wits Vuvuzela “I don’t see myself as a ‘tireless worker’, I was just doing my job”

While his job title is Content Producer for the Vow FM talk show I Talk Youth, Siya goes above and beyond as a field reporter for the news team, stand-in presenter for other Vow FM shows and is always available to assist with teaching at the Wits Radio Academy and his newer colleagues at the radio station.

“I want to use the opportunity [of being at a community radio station] to do everything I can,” said the Bright Star-to-be.

Vow FM Station Manager Shoeshoe Qhu (34), who Motha acknowledges as one of the individuals who inspires him, said “Siya is always available and ready to work.”

Qhu is also the one who nominated Siya for the award, saying that he deserves the recognition. “Since you don’t get paid in community radio, as a volunteer you literally invest yourself into the station.”

Executive Producer of the Wits Radio Academy Lerato Makate (35), who Motha said was the first to recognise his potential, praised Siya for his ability to listen. “He does a lot of introspection and constantly reflects on his content, not just to improve himself but also the lives of the people he caters for (his listeners)”

Siya’s tenacity and desire to challenge and improve himself and those around him is a virtue that was salient across various interviews with personal friends and work colleagues. “I’m not surprised” says Siya’s “best friend until I die” Gugulethu Motha (25, no relation) “he’s consistent and persistent”

When asked about his future in the radio industry, Siya said he’d love to eventually get to Ukhozi FM. “ The Zulu station speaks to my roots as an African. They tackle traditional topics and cater for all demographics.”

To individuals looking to enter the industry Siya says “Don’t step into radio because you want fame but to make a difference in people’s lives”

Words to live by if you ask me.

FEATURED IMAGE: Siyabonga Motha, Radio Award Bright Star inductee in front of the radio desk at VoW FM. PHOTO: Provided

Originally appeared in Wits Vuvuzela on March 15: http://witsvuvuzela.com/2020/03/20/review-queen-sono-mzansis-first-homegrown-netflix-original/

Vow FM (Voice of Wits) have made history, after earning 14 nominations in this year’s Liberty Life Radio Awards, the most the station has received to date. 

Vow FM (Voice of Wits) will make history at this year’s Liberty Life Radio Awards taking place on Friday April 17. The radio station goes in with 14 nominations across the community radio division. This is the most nominations for the radio station in the history of the ceremony, surpassing the previous record of 13, set in the previous year’s ceremony.

The various categories include, best breakfast show presenter, three nominations for best news bulletin reader and various shows such as sports, music, daytime and nighttime.

Anthony Teixeira, one of the co-hosts for the afternoon drive show, Vow FM Drive, secured two nominations. One for best afternoon drive show and the other for best  afternoon drive presenter. Although the 29-year-old wasn’t surprised by the show’s nomination, he admits that he was surprised by the presenter nomination.

“I’m overwhelmed” said Teixeira, “I feel like I’m better with others. The show as a whole is exceptional. I’m still learning and the others help cover my mistakes”

Teixeira attributes his success to his co-host, Asive Mabula and executive producer, Marona Seekane, saying that they make it a fun working environment with lighthearted games, while balancing it out with serious current affairs.

Station manager Shoeshoe Qhu, who came from the commercial radio station Kaya FM in July 2019  is “very pleased” with the nominations. She tells Wits Vuvuzela that she’s glad that “the industry is recognising the work that the volunteers put in.”

Although the COVID-19 outbreak and quarantine has made logistics difficult around the station, Qhu says “the messages of congratulations around the group, brought joy within the gloominess of the outbreak.”

With shows unable to run as regularly scheduled, Qhu encourages the Wits community to stay connected on social media platforms such as Twitter (@VowFM) and Facebook (Vow FM (Voice of Wits)) and listening to the station on 88.1 FM and online streeming  via their website (vowfm.co.za).

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the awards ceremony has been cancelled, but the winners will be announced online on the website (radioawards.co.za) on Friday 17 April at 14:00.

FEATURED IMAGE: Campus radio station Vow FM has received 14 nominations in the annual Liberty Radio Awards. PHOTO: File. 

Originally appeared in Wits Vuvuzela March 20: http://witsvuvuzela.com/2020/03/20/review-queen-sono-mzansis-first-homegrown-netflix-original/

Technically sound, a captivating storyline, homegrown quality. This Netflix series should be the next show on your quarantine binge-watch list.

Netflix’s first South African commissioned series, Queen Sono, is a six-episode, espionage crime drama that showcases the quality story writing, production and acting that our country has to offer.

Viewers are thrown straight into the action in the first scene, as we see Queen Sono (Pearl Thusi), a field agent for the Special Operations Group (SOG), while she is on an intel collection mission.

Queen’s mission hits a speed bump and she has to resort to “manual labour”, stealing a laptop from her target and being chased by thugs. She deals with the bad guys with kicks and punches, quintessential of a classic eTV Friday-Action-Night film, setting the tone of action that will tickle the fancy of any action enthusiast. 

Sono is not just your typical loose-cannon, femme-fatale who gets a thrill from knocking around her enemies. She also has to deal with calls from her paternal grandmother, Mazet (Abigail Kubeka), in the middle of a mission, reminding Queen that they were supposed to be going to church together.

We later learn that Sono is also the daughter of the late anti-apartheid revolutionary, Safiya Sono, and is not afraid to crack some skulls to find her mother’s killer. 

In this way, show creator and stand-up comedian, Kagiso Lediga, cleverly creates tension between Sono’s professional and private life. 

Upon first glance, the first half of the series does seem messy, with technical aspects of the show coming across as novice. The lighting in most of the one-on-one scenes leaves characters’ faces underexposed and difficult to see. Initially, some characters don’t seem significant enough for the amount of screen time they receive.

By the time you get halfway through the season, the lighting and the gaps in the storyline are drastically improved. It seems that these were technical decisions made to mirror the viewer’s uncertainty rather than actual technical errors.

The storyline is reminiscent of Sam Raimi’s iconic Spiderman 2. An urban hero, balancing the fine line between their private and professional lives, doing their best to keep them separate. 

Lediga captures the essence of this in Queen Sono, with Mazet’s call to Queen reminding her to come to church. Mazet is one of the many characters of the show that give it that South African flavour. As a South African, you cannot be unfamiliar with the “gogo” archetype. 

The characters, the predominant setting of the Johannesburg CBD, and the political subject matter of corrupt politicians, create a very familiar picture for South Africans, in the world of Netflix that often feels far from home. 

Without a doubt, Queen Sono, is a must-have on your self-quarantine binge-list, with the full season now available to watch on Netflix. The cliffhangers will leave you itching for season 2. 

Review Score: 7.5/10

FEATURED IMAGE: Pearl Thusi is the main character in Queen Sono, the South African Netflix series. Can she balance her professional and personal lives? PHOTO: Provided

LINKS:
Click here to watch the Official Trailer
Click here to watchSeason 1 on Netflix

Originally appeared in the Wits Vuvuzela on March 11: http://witsvuvuzela.com/2020/03/11/dzvukamanja-keeps-bidvest-wits-title-race-alive/

Wits close the gap on log leaders Kaiser Chiefs with their 1 – 0 win over Black Leopards

Bidvest Wits kept their title hopes alive in the ABSA Premiership, when they beat Black Leopards 1 – 0 at Bidvest Stadium on Tuesday, March 10.

Wits’ Deon Hotto came agonizingly close to opening the scoring in the fourth minute, when his venomous long-range shot beat the keeper and flew past the post.

Black Leopards’ Thabo Matlaba belted in a curling shot from range, but Wits shot-stopper Brandon Peters pulled off a quick reaction save.

The Clever Boys finally got on the scoresheet in the 30th minute, when a cross from Hotto met the head of the leaping winger Terrence Dzvukamanja who managed to bounce it past the keeper to make it 1 – 0 to Wits.

The second-half started off jittery for Wits, when the goal scorer, Dzvukamanja was stretchered off after a collision with a Leopards’ player.

In the later stages of the game, Leopards were up-in-arms when they felt they were denied a penalty in the 82nd minute. The ball touched the hand of Wits’ Buhle Mkhwanazi in the box when he tried to clear it but the referee was having none of it. Upon later inspection, replays showed that the referee got this one wrong.

Shortly afterwards, Wits super-subs Haashim Domingo and Elias Pelembe both came close to doubling the host’s lead when they both struck the cross bar.

Leopards almost stole a precious point in the dying moments of the game, when Mwape Musonda headed a cross towards the goal, but it was comfortably saved by Peters, which secured the Clever Boys’ 1 – 0 win.

Bidvest Wits coach, Gavin Hunt, was satisfied with the win but felt the boys left much to be desired. “You can’t create opportunities like that and not make it comfortable,” said Hunt. “It is what it is and we’ll just keep soldiering on.”

Wits remain in sixth place on the ABSA Premiership standings with 38 points, 10 points behind log leaders Kaiser Chiefs, with a game in hand.

The Clever Boys now set their sights on Friday, March 13 for the Nedbank Cup quarter final, when they travel to Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Clermont to take on Real Kings Football Club.

FEATURED IMAGE: Bidvest Wits Winger Terrence Dzvukamanja meets a cross with a header to make it 1 – 0 against Black Leopards at Bidvest stadium on Tuesday March 10. Photo: Tshepo Thaela

Originally appeared in Wits Vuvuzela on March 5: http://witsvuvuzela.com/2020/03/05/second-fish-franchise-on-campus/

The halaal eatery that first opened on West campus has opened a second branch. 

A popular fish franchise has proved so popular among Wits University students that a second branch has opened at the institution. Jimmy’s Killer Express opened a second branch in the Matrix on Wits University East Campus on Wednesday, February 26, after experiencing a high demand at its West Campus franchise.

Tasneem Gani, who graduated with a BCom in accounting management from Wits in 2018, noticed a large gap in the market for halaal food on campus while she was a student.

She told Wits Vuvuzela, “My friends and I had to go off campus when we wanted to buy food, because the halaal food on campus was not up to standard.”

Gani then approached her parents with the business venture of opening an eatery on campus. The family then approached the Jimmy’s franchise and decided to open one on West Campus in 2019.

After experiencing such a high demand the family decided to open another store on East Campus.

“The stall on West Campus was too small to meet the demand we were getting, especially from deliveries,” said Gani.

Jimmy’s aims to offer a large variety of choices for its patrons on a student budget.

“When we spoke to the [Jimmy’s] franchiser, we asked if they were willing to alter their menu for a student budget,” said Gani.

Zachary Mac, a first-year biological science student, said the food is “very delicious and it is well priced for its portions”.

Besides offering burgers and chicken, one can also get kotas, rolls with various fillings and sharing options such as Gatsbys and full chicken.

Although most patrons were very happy with the prices, there were some mixed reviews.

Dario Eugenio, a third-year BA student visiting from the University of Pretoria, expressed disappointment with his samoosa, describing it as “lacking the Indian spice”, he was expecting.

FEATURED IMAGE: The Jimmy’s in the Matrix on Wits East Campus opening for business in the morning. Photo: Tshepo Thaela

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