Redi Tlhabi, still in SA and back on the telly
Her mom’s ill health stalled Redi Tlhabi’s American dream, but she’s happily back in SA with a stimulating new TV show
SHE’S one of the most respected and fearlessly outspoken personalities on the South African media landscape, tackling issues head on and not caring whose nose she puts out of joint in the process. Many people were disappointed when they heard SA was losing Redi Tlhabi to the United States for a while – although her decision was understandable. She’d been offered an economic journalism fellowship at New York’s prestigious Columbia University and was looking forward to “broadening my broadcast knowledge and expertise”.
Redi’s whole family was going with her for the adventure (YOU, 20 July 2017) – husband Brian and their daughters, Neo (5) and Khumo (2).
But in the end she didn’t leave – and next thing she was back on TV with a new show. Unfiltered is a current affairs programme that is broadcast on Sundays at 8.30 pm on both SABC3 and SABC News (DStv channel 404).
The reason for this about-turn was a personal, Redi (40) says. Her mother has been very ill. Patricia Direko (66) was diagnosed with a brain tumour in October last year and the Tlhabi family’s move had to be postponed.
“I left 702 [where she had her own daily talk show] in June and had given my-
self the rest of the year to wrap things up before the move. Then my mom informed us of her diagnosis.”
Fortunately the tumour was benign and for a while Patricia coped pretty well. But in March this year she started having alarming symptoms, including shaking, falling and blacking out while driving. Removing the tumour was inevitable.
“She was still living by herself so I could see she was nervous about falling and hurting herself,” Redi says. “Her neurosurgeon strongly recommended she live with someone so the decision was made for her to come and be with us.”
After many postponements caused by swelling around her brain, Patricia was admitted to Garden City Hospital in Johannesburg in October and the operation was a success.
At the time of our interview, she’d been moved from the intensive care unit to high care to recover.
“For me the physical aftermath – her left arm is quite weak and she’ll need a rehab and physiotherapy – is secondary. The important thing was that she came out of it alive, and secondly that she emerged with her cognitive functions intact. And they are – to the point where she asked me for sour porridge!”
REDI is relieved she could be there for her mom – things would’ve been a lot more complicated if the health drama had begun once she’d upped and left for New York. There were many practicalities to take care of too, including putting her mom’s house on the market, so she was kept pretty busy. When news started filtering out that Redi wasn’t going to the US the job offers started coming in. She turned them all down with a firm “no” – until a call came from Phathiswa Magopeni, head of SABC News.
“She wanted to test my appetite for a weekly show. My mom’s surgery kept being postponed so I thought, ‘I’m here for a while, so why not?’ Once I’d said ‘yes’ we didn’t waste time. We put a team together and off we went.”
Unfiltered launched in October and tackles issues affecting South Africans, including crime, corruption, education, politics and economic and social affairs.
And Redi is loving it. “I’m delighted to be back at my alma mater,” she says.
“I never thought I’d get back onto South African television except on a freelance basis. This is where I launched my TV career 17 years ago and I’m determined to build Unfiltered on the same values and traditions that attracted the best journalists in the country to the SABC – fairness, openness, and speaking for the voiceless.”
She has renewed hope for the SABC now that Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s regime is over. He was axed last year after bringing the broadcaster into disrepute and causing catastrophic damage.
It’s a new beginning she’s excited to be a part of, Redi adds. “I’m just flattered the new management of the SABC associates me with its vision of autonomy, speaking the truth and editorial independence.”
She finds the beefed-up security at the Auckland Park headquarters disconcerting. “The SABC is considered a national key point so I’m not debating whether it’s necessary – it’s the public broadcaster. But I think it shows the different atmosphere, attitudes and fear that prevailed at the organisation [in the Hlaudi era].”
REDI hasn’t closed the door on Columbia for good and may well go in the future – but for now, family comes first. Husband Brian, a medical doctor, has been a pillar of support over the tough past year, she says. They’ve just celebrated their eighth wedding anniversary and are still blissfully in love.
“Brian makes me happy. We’re just two people who love each other to bits.
“I was happy before I met him – I was travelling, studying and I loved my job – but it’s so much more pleasurable to share all those things with someone whose presence gives me a high.”
Their daughters reflect both their personalities, Redi says. Neo is comfortable in her own skin, has a sense of clarity about what works for her and loves being at home – just like Redi.
“And she also doesn’t just go with the crowd; she knows her own mind.”
Khumo, on the other hand is her dad’s double: mischievous, upbeat and playful, with a great sense of humour. “She’s always up for a game,” Redi adds. Redi is also stepmom to Brian’s daughters, Lesego (29) and Ofentse (26), from his previous marriage.
“His girls really love him and think he’s cool. He has great conversations with his children and really values them.”
So is Redi, an avid runner, still pounding the pavements? Of course – she wants to run 10 Comrades Marathons and so far has “only” six under her belt.
With four to go, she’s still going to be around for a while. America can wait.
‘I never thought I’d get back onto SA television’