Zinde was a passionate journalist and activist
IT IS difficult to talk about the transformation of the SABC without mentioning the name Hope Zinde.
Zinde, who grew up in Mamelodi, Pretoria, was murdered and the case is in court.
She was part of the team that was responsible for transforming Radio RSA to Channel Africa Radio and Radio South Africa to SAFM.
She also anchored news on SABC Africa television in the early 2000s.
Outside the studios, Zinde organised black workers to fight for better working conditions.
Zinde was a member of the group of five who represented staff on the SABC board under the late Dr Ivy Matsepe-Cassaburi.
She fought hard against the inequalities between black and white journalists during the early years of democracy. She was very critical of the new crop of black managers who failed to empower previously disadvantaged Africans.
She spoke the truth and was a thorn in the side of those who took her for granted.
Zinde was passionate about the “the untold African story” within the context of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad) and the African Renaissance.
Incompetence and the never-ending transformation issues at the SABC tested her limits.
Once, in a staff meeting attended by then channel head Phil Molefe and head of news Snuki Zikalala, she ruffled some feathers by asking top management to address a long list of staff grievances.
Zinde directed her fire at Molefe in an hour-long tirade. She felt that Molefe was not doing enough to address the problems of black staff.
Zikalala intervened and urged the two to find time to address those issues.
Zinde’s business appetite was unmatched. As busy as she was with the business of SABC television news, she also found time to establish her own communications company. Among her clients were Coca-Cola and the Independent Electoral Commission.
She was also a former adviser to then Limpopo premier Ngoako Ramatlhodi. Her appointment to and axing from the SABC board was the finishing line of a long journey. She had truly come full circle.