GIFT OF THE GAB
What it takes to be a winning radio jock:
Eleanor Douglas-Meyers douglase@timesmedia.co.za
SOME have called him arrogant and controversial but, while Daron Mann is certainly opinionated – what he really prides himself on is his passion.
“After 24 years in radio I still get excited on my way to work every day. That’s what drives me,” says the second-time winner of the MTN Radio Awards’ best breakfast show presenter category.
He lifted the title last week having previously won it in 2013, making him the only person in the commercial radio sector, apart from John Robbie of 702, to have won twice.
Despite the popularity of the show he does with Charlton Tobias and Carol-Ann Keleher, with it’s cumulative audience of 314 000 listeners, Mann is not everyone’s cup of tea, and he accepts this. “I don’t like everyone I hear on the radio and hardly expect everyone to like me,” he said.
The Uitenhage-born accounting graduate believes public opinion can be skewed especially in this age of social media.
“I can meet 10 people in one day, eight of whom I interact with fine and the last two get me at a bad moment so I don’t react the way they want me to and, suddenly, I’m that arrogant idiot from radio.”
He was criticised after a statement on air in November agreeing with a friend’s view that you could not trust the government to administer the death penalty when it could not run a post office. The Broadcasting Complaints Commission found the station had acted irresponsibly.
“That’s the first complaint against me that was not dismissed. Which was why it was important for me to admit my mistake and apologise.”
Mann also runs the free sports magazine Sport-elizabeth from sales to editing and, with his wife Shannon, owns Daron Mann media.
The father of two says his family keeps him grounded and admits that, now that his daughter Siobhan, 25, and son Chad, 19, are independent university students he is at a loss when it comes to free time.
He says that although his awards do generate interest elsewhere, he is loyal to his city and station. “I love highlighting what people in Algoa Country are achieving, and proving we can stand up to ‘the big boys’.”
Zandile Mbabela mbabelaz@timesmedia.co.za
HIS distinctive “twangy” voice has graced the airwaves for many years. His face is easy to spot as it has been on millions of people’s television screens over his 28-year career.
Some may regard Mputumi “Putco” Mafani as arrogant, but the awardwinning radio host, who sometimes refers to himself in the third person, says he is merely “aware of what Putco is good at”.
“Many black children grow up not really knowing what they are good at, or even that they are good at something. We need to be good at what we do, know what we are good at, and not be afraid to say it,” he said.
“I’m not arrogant. On the contrary, I’m humble but simply aware of my strengths as well as my weaknesses.”
Mafani, known to the listeners of his Umhlobo Wenene FM radio show iBreakfast Eyondlayo Ekuseni (BEE) as “Bhutiza”, last week scooped the best breakfast show presenter award in the public broadcasting category.
Last year, he was inducted into the radio hall of fame at the same awards, was chosen as best breakfast show presenter in the same category, and scooped the best breakfast show gong along with his radio team of Mafa Bavuma, Pastor Nozewu and Mluleki “Coach” Ntsabo.
Mafani dedicated last weekend’s award to the team, whose boisterous laughter and brotherly banter, he said, kept him young at heart. Their day starts with a 30-minute debriefing session, when they discuss topics outlined in the weekly planning session. They also feature breaking news – often from Weekend Post’s sister paper, The Herald.
The studio comes alive with jokes, conversations with listeners – some of whom are recognised by their voices – serious discussions, news, sports wraps and, of course, the popular Imihlinzo, the show’s comedy slot.
Mafani says he is living his dream as a radio host. He is passionate about his work, and says what keeps him going is knowing that hundreds of thousands of people are taking time out of their busy schedules to lend him an ear.
The former teacher’s broadcast career started in December 1987 at Radio Ciskei, and he has worked as Kaizer Chiefs’ spin doctor.