Magoda reflects on his broadcasting journey

Siphiwo Magoda, a veteran radio broadcaster, said that radio managers and producers must come up with excellent programs and produce broadcasters who are as good.

Magoda was speaking to I’solezwe lesiXhosa before the 40th anniversary of his broadcasting career.

Magoda joined the then-radio station Radio Transkei on October 19, 1982.

He remembered his appointment like it was yesterday.

“I was welcomed by the likes of Theo Mcinga, the Station Manager, and Oxley Sandile Maya, who was in charge of Broadcasting Programs,” Magoda recalled.

“It was them who influenced me, giving me the impression that I was impressive; I trusted them and did not want to disappoint them, and I showed diligence, care, and discipline,” he said.

This veteran broadcaster has produced program after program and led in a variety of areas during his 40 years in the broadcasting industry.

“I was a journalist until I became the Deputy Head of News at Radio Transkei,” Magoda boasted. “I was a journalist trainer when I joined the SABC in 1993 as the Head of the Division, in preparation for the 1994 general elections,” he continued.

Magoda hosts the Mhlobo Wenene FM discussion show Umxholo kuMhlobo.

He was present at the launch of this SABC station in Gqeberha.

“Umhlobo Wenene FM was born after I was sent to Gqeberha to assist in the merger of Radio Transkei, Radio Ciskei, and Radio Xhosa.

“I never returned to Johannesburg because the Senior Editor in charge at the time, Barney Mthombothi, told me to expand the News Division, so Laphum’ ikhwezi appeared in the morning, as well as the midday edition.

“I was the Executive Producer of Current Affairs before becoming the Radio Assignments Editor in Gqeberha for ten years. I moved to Sea Point in Cape Town and worked as a TV Assignments Editor for ten years before returning to Gqeberha as a host for Umxholo kuMhlobo,” said Magoda.

Magoda is the youngest of three children. Willowvale is where he was born and raised.

Mhlobo Wenene’s listeners frequently complimented him on his beautiful and rich isiXhosa. He explained that this is because he was born into an isiXhosa-speaking family that was not influenced by other languages.

“I believe there is also the gift of knowing how to use one’s mother tongue, as well as the pride of practising speaking isiXhosa,” the media veteran added.

He said that if matters remain favourable, he will continue to host this popular program on Mhlobo Wenene, despite the fact that the managers are pleased with his work.

When asked about the challenges that broadcasting faces today, Magoda said that broadcasting is in trouble due to the increasing number of stations, some of which broadcast online. However, the relationship between radio and social media is a significant and encouraging development.

“It is now easy to see how interesting what you are talking about is by looking at the engagement on social media, which was not always the case because communication was one-sided in the past.

“This means that managers and producers must think about and coordinate the best programs with the best broadcasters,” suggested the broadcaster.

He expressed that his wish is for the radio to stop being monotonous by just talking and instead compete with television, being the first in terms of news and publishing.

Celebrations for the broadcaster’s 40th anniversary in radio were held last weekend at his former school, St John’s College in Mthatha.