How counselling background helped Mareka relate
Reality show host feels series helps restore broken, strained relationships
For reality talk show host Mareka Malatji, being on SABC2’s Relate is an extension of her daily work as a counsellor and psychologist. The TV host may be a late bloomer in the industry but she says she would never trade the experience for anything.
Malatji has been hosting Relate for four seasons. Born and bred at GaMashashane in Limpopo, Malatji believes that she was born with the skills for counselling people.
Her journey, that started at the age of 20 as a life orientation teacher, saw her branching into psychology. So, when directors of the show were looking for a replacement for the now late Angie Diale, Malatji, who is armed with an honours degree in counselling and honours degree in educational psychology, was a perfect candidate.
“I love everything that I do with counselling and psychology. Because I speak a lot, being on television has never intimidated me. Due to the kind of work that I do my days are hectic, and take today [Wednesday], I had three meetings.
“I had to go to Hammanskraal and address school principals about the issue of identifying slow learners and how to refer them to special schools. So, the Relate work which involves unhealthy, harmful and toxic [relationships] is part of the scope of work I do,” she says.
With the passion she has, the 54-year-old does not mind working throughout the weekend. During the week, she works with the department of education and on weekends it is lights, camera and action in shooting Relate.
The new season of the show returned on Thursday last week at 8.30pm looking to excite viewers with its stories. As she chats to Time Out in between her many meetings, Malatji states clearly that she enjoys the hectic schedule because it is about helping people. “Because of my personality and character, I am perfect for the job. I love TV but there is too much pressure. Sometimes I shoot three episodes a day, which is draining.
“I enjoy speaking and listening to people but on TV, you have to be careful on what to say. As much as I appear on TV I still don’t regard myself as a TV star. Yes, people have changed in how they see me but I try to show them that I have not changed. I’m still that Mareka.”
Malatji says Relate aims to intervene by helping restoring broken and strained relationships between family members, neighbours, friends, lovers and colleagues.
The show offers participants a safe and conducive space to openly communicate their issues while empowering them with the knowledge and tools needed to rebuild their relationships.
She says the new season is packed with interesting stories that educate the community. Malatji believes that Relate will always have a place in society and remain relevant because of its role.
She says the show’s main purpose is to encourage family members, friends, relatives and couples to talk openly about their problems.
“The show is important and it will always be like that because families are broken out there. They will always face these challenges that strain relationship.
“A show like Relate deals with issues that affect many people, which makes it easy to relate and learn. Other families are able to fix their own issues and change because they are encouraged by the episodes we feature,” she says.
In the four seasons with the show, the mother of six children – three of her own and three adopted – says one of the common problems she discovered is that the youth of today are disrespectful.
She says disrespectful children make her blood boil.
Shooting such a show comes with its own challenges that include people fighting and walking off during the recording.
“Our children do not have morals and we cannot blame parents. Even if you can raise your kids in a warm and loving home they tend to get out of hand. They believe their friends more than you. They have no respect for older people. In most cases, they want to live lives that are lived by their friends.”
On challenges with filming, she says: “Sometimes people will just take off microphones and walk off. Others will want to tell their stories but not on camera and you have to convince them. Listening to these stories does affect me because I am a human being at the end of the day. They are emotionally draining.”
Despite her busy schedule Malatji, who is also a pastor, still finds time for her family and friends.
She was raised in a religious family with her father being a pastor. She says growing up she was focused on education and church activities.
Since she went to school during apartheid when career options for black people were limited, she had to take teaching.
“I always wanted to be a therapist but I had to choose teaching. Later, I developed an interest to study psychology and I decided to explore it. Looking back now I see that the life orientation that is now known as life skills that I taught was all part of the journey of being a therapist.”