FORMER SECO FM PROGRAMMES MANAGER CHOSE EDUCATION OVER RADIO BECAUSE OF TERROR MOKHABUKHI

By Joey Wa Rabapane | September 22, 2020 | 15h45

A sharp minded Ditsietsi Lazarus Macheru who served as the Programmes Manager at a local radio station, Sekgosese Community Radio before leaving in 2012 to pursue his studies still misses being behind the mic.

‘The only lion with the vibrating voice’ as he was known to the listeners he joined the station on the 24^th of May 2007 as a Field Journalist for News bulletins and Current affairs (Madireng). He then worked his way up from Field Journalist to Anchor, Junior Producer, Assistant Producer, Executive Producer and ultimately became the Programmes Manager.

However, the 33-year-old decided to choose education over the radio work in 2012 when left to pursue Diploma in Public Administration at Tshwane University of Technology.

“Radio has been my life; I lived radio until I learnt that it is a good thing to be a radio presenter but great to be one with Education. Mr Terror Mokhabukhi always advised me to study, he would say “Mudhulu o tuma rea o bona mara oka se o thuse ka selo ge o sa zeni sekolo, radio e ka se zowe ele patetji la khozofala bjale Mchana you have stayed enough at the radio, please go to school”. Thus I developed more interest to go to school then i left Sekgosese Community Radio on the 24th of January 2012”, Macheru told Sekgosese Insider.

Certainly, it was the beginning of his new chapter without radio. Immediately after completion of his studies he joined the Department of Agriculture in Limpopo as an intern and thereafter joined Progress Burial Society which is why he didn’t go back to radio after pursuing his studies.

“This doesn’t mean I never approached the station to be their part again, I did but the conditions were not suitable for me and even now as we speak I still wish to be a radio presenter at that station. I would appreciate to be behind the mic if given the opportunity. Seco FM has invested a lot in me when they sent me to more than 15 different workshops. I can even assist in training new station personnel when they do recruitment”, said the radio fanatic.

He further told Sekgosese Insider that during his time as a radio presenter he never won an award however was sent to attend workshops on technical and content production.

“I went to many workshops and when a new digital studio was installed I was the only person to go to Newtown in Gauteng to be trained the new studio”, Macheru added.

One of the things he misses about being behind the mic is engaging on social and developmental issues with community leaders and all stakeholders concerned.  He believes that has really made him to develop interest on many issues that concerns the communities and the society at large.

When he was asked what inspired him to become a radio presenter he said: “It was patriotism, the love for our Community Radio. I felt it is very important for us bana ba mmu to ensure that Sekgosese Community Radio shines like any other Community Radio Stations, and for it to continue to shine that is within our hands as Sekgosese residents”, he explained.

He further said his radio work seemed like a calling for him, he would stop anything and everything to attend radio issues.

“I was a radio personified”, said Macheru whose long term goal is to develop through acquiring knowledge, training and adapt himself to the changing environmental and possibly pursue a course in journalism, Public Relations, Communications or Media Studies later on.

THE STRUGGLE GROWING UP

Macheru was born and bred at Ga-Raphahlelo village in Sekgosese. However having been raised by two unemployed parents, growing up was never simple. His family of four children was taken care by money they got from selling fire woods.

“Life has never being fair, has never being easy. Ours is to stay focused to our goals and work towards achieving that which will better our livelihood. It is our responsibility to live a purposive life that inspires others including our very own kids”, said Macheru.

Currently he is a part-time driver for Progress Burial Society since 2018 January 03. On the other side of things he works with The Brilliant Man (Pty) Ltd as their Facilitator and one of the main presenters of their slot at Sekgosese Community Radio Station. He is the chairperson of Sekgosese Chamber of Business and Commerce, an association that represents the interests of the local business people and entrepreneurs.

“We are a developing country which need all of us to work together to better this country by creating sustainable jobs, by being creative in our daily life and lastly let us work together to curb the corruption that escalate and destroy our developmental programs”, concluded Macheru whose love also lies on Event Facilitation.

He facilitated church programmes from Sunday service, child blessing services, funeral services and conference. You can book him on  0784981591.