Selimathunzi
Siphesihle Vazi is the last man standing on long-running SABC1 programme Selimathunzi.
Selimathunzi Season 31 Tuesdays SABC1 (*191) 19:30
Siphesihle Vazi’s presenting job on lifestyle show Selimathunzi (1996- current) gets him a VIP entry to the latest celebrity parties and red- carpet events. He joined the show in March 2015 while studying his marketing communications degree and he hasn’t looked back. “I was a guest presenter for one episode, then I got a call from the production team to come for an official audition. I was excited to showcase my skills and they must have liked it – I got the job,” says the 24-year- old. Getting an invite to the biggest events in the country isn’t the only exciting part about hosting Selimathunzi – Siphesihle reveals that it has opened a door for him to host his own radio show #bhampa2bhampa on Ukhozi FM. “There isn’t much of a difference between being on radio and television. I get to be myself whenever I am onscreen or behind a microphone and that makes work a fun experience. I’ve had a good run so far and I would like to achieve more goals,” he adds.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION
Two jobs are enough to keep anyone on their toes. When Siphesihle isn’t preparing for his radio show, he is either filming inserts for Selimathunzi or on the road with the production team to catch a glimpse of celebrity action. “It’s an exciting experience. The crew is always keen on getting the job done, so we usually build a story depending on the mood and feel of the environment. It’s an adrenaline rush when you wing an interview and the creative juice flows,” explains Siphesihle. Hosting the TV show also prepared him for the 2017 South African Music Awards in May 2017, where he presented the live redcarpet green room from the event at Sun City. “That’s my most memorable moment ever! The red carpets that I was filming on Selimathunzi equipped me for that night. I got to learn what to do and what not to do on Selimathunzi and it was a huge learning curve for me.”
SNOWED UNDER
Being on one of the biggest lifestyle shows in the country means viewers will recognise you everywhere you go, but Siphesihle says that he has tried to stay humble. “Presenting isn’t about fame or celebrity status. It’s about respecting the viewer and listener. Without them, I wouldn’t have a job to go to and that thought keeps me grounded.” Siphesihle adds that he’s always ready to improve his craft and become better at his presenting jobs – “When I’m not in front of the camera or at the radio station, I sit with the Selimathunzi directors in the editing suite to see how they cut and trim segments. This helps me when I do interviews and I can focus on which questions to ask and how to present different events.”
Don’t think that he’s resting on his laurels though – the entertainment personality has a big 2018 planned. “I have a couple of exciting projects that I’m launching, but you know what they say: don’t count your chickens before they hatch. I’ll make a grand reveal closer to the right time.”