At home with a champion -
Journalist followed his dream
HARD-HITTING television and radio news journalist Ashraf Garda is driven by being the best at what he does.
Despite having little formal training, he abandoned his textile business to follow his passion, journalism. In no time he made waves in the media industry and rose to become one of the most recognised names in the media world.
We caught up with him at his home in Greenside, Johannesburg, to find out what this news man gets up to when he is not in the
We love the space, garden and homely comfortable feel of the house
newsroom.
He has just come out of a three-year stint hosting Special Assignment on SABC3. He also hosts a weekday current affairs and a Sunday media talk show on SAfm.
His home is a peaceful haven.
“We love the space, garden and homely, comfortable feel of the house. From the outside it looks deceptive — but once you walk through the front door you see a different side to it.
“We simply love the living area, which has a perfect view of the garden,” he said.
The previous owner, Cyril Schevitz, owner of Cyril’s Wardrobe and Dean’s in Johannesburg, had many Hollywood connections. They included James Dean and Rock Hudson, said Ashraf’s wife, Jamela Garda.
She said Schevitz had pictures of Hollywood stars taken at the house many years ago.
Two years ago the Gardas, who then lived in Homestead Park, were looking for a new home.
“We often drove past this house and wondered what it would look like inside. At the time it was not for sale. But eventually it did go on sale and my son, Shakeel, went on the internet and had a look at the pictures and we were very impressed.
“Jamela fell in love with the space and the potential the house had — despite the bright red walls.
“She clearly had a vision of what she would like for it to look like. We put in an offer and before long we moved in.
“Jamela was responsible for the décor, while the children and I have had some input. She loves zebra prints and you will see that features prominently in the furniture.”
Ashraf and Jamela — an aspiring businesswoman who has just started Closet Exchange, a clothing recycling business — share their home with sons Zaahid, 27, and Shakeel, 18, and daughter Amaarah, 16.
Daughter Aadilah, 25, is married and has a fourmonth-old son, Muhammed Zaydaan Wadee.
Ashraf, who was born and raised in Vrededorp, was the youngest of four children and went into the textile business — but his curious nature led him on the path to journalism.
“I was a consumer of the media and a compulsive reader of newspapers and generally followed all types of news. I have a curious mind and was always keen to know what was happening in the world and I got into a community radio station, The Voice, in 1998.
“I loved reading the news and was often told I had talent and should pursue it.
“I did a one-year course in broadcasting and this confirmed to me and gave me the confidence to know I was a broadcaster,” he said.
A friend, Yunus Solomons, who worked at the SABC at the time, tipped Garda off to a job at 5FM.
He said he applied for the position and two weeks later he was hosting the Sport Powerade Power Talk show on 5FM.
Sixteen years later Ashraf, an award-winning journalist, has established a respected career in journalism. He has just started a new movement, Champion South Africa, which challenges people to benchmark whatever they do with the best in the world.
“We need far more champions than just Nelson
I was a consumer of the media and a compulsive reader of newspapers and generally followed all types of news
Mandela or Desmond Tutu to move our country from being seen as just South Africa to Champion South Africa.
“This project will find potential champions in the making and link them to a mentor who will guide them for a year. The key role of leaders is to grow other leaders otherwise the system will collapse.”