The Montshepetja Academy pair of Jerry Mogotlane and Kabelo Sakong did a good job recently. They got us a privileged interview with a rising star and role model called Pat Mogotlane. Please read on for more information on the career, life and aspirations of the Turf FM radio presenter.

Pat seen here in his studio where he

mixes things to inform, educate and

entertain his listeners.

Who is Pat Mogotlane and where was he born and brought up?

Pat is a 26 years old guy who was born and brought in a very religious family up in Ga-Mogotlane, a small community within Moletlane, Zebediela. I was born on the 29^th of June 1983. And I go by the stage name ‘The Management,’ which represents my experience and simply signifies that I have grown a lot since my debut in the field of radio presenting.

What is he currently doing?

I am a radio presenter and an assistant music compiler at Turf FM.

What does your job entail?

First, my job as a music compiler entails compiling log sheets or rather selecting the music that the various deejays are going to be playing on their various shows, more especially on the weekends. Secondly I present my own show during the afternoon.

Please give us the name and the description of your radio show!

The name of my show – it is a show and a half – is called Joyride. It is a weekday afternoon drive show on Turf FM. That is from three pm to six pm.

When and where did it all start for you?

I made my radio debut as a presenter or DJ at Zebediela Community Radio Station in Zebediela. I left the station after it was closed down. I then approached the Department of Social Development in Limpopo to propose for the establishment of a hospital radio station. I received a positive feedback from them and then the result was the Lebowakgomo Hospital Internal Radio Station. After some disagreements with the hospital management about certain issues, I left the station to join Turf FM full-time.

How do you plan for your show and did you get any formal training?

Pat displaying the energy and enthusiasm

in him while interacting with his listeners.

Yes, I have received formal training for my line of career from Birnam Business College where I obtained a two-year National Diploma. At the college I dealt much with public and management relations.

I prepare for my show through surfing the Net and listening to other big commercial radio stations for inspiration. I never go on air uninformed of current affairs or unprepared. The aim of our show is to inform, entertain and to educate.

What kind of issues are you dealing with on your show and who are your target audience?

We tackle political and social issues affecting youth on a daily basis like HIV/AIDS and teenage pregnancy. And of course when dealing with the youth one cannot leave out things like love relationships and entertainment.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I enjoy playing music as I was born in a very musical family. My brother Ali Mogotlane who go by the stage name DJ Menace, is a renowned house music DJ. Basically music is all I love.

What drives you in life and about your job?

Listeners giving love back that is when they participate in our show. Also getting to talk to people I have never met, and the bond between me and the listeners.

What are the challenges facing you as a presenter?

Acquaintances, calling in during the show or when they meet me in the streets to ask me to play them their favourite music tracks on the radio. They do not understand that we do not just go to the studio and do as we wish because we are bound by the rules and regulations of the station.

Are there any specific challenges your show is facing at the moment and what are they?

Yes. I deal with youth issues and the problem is that they do not familiarize themselves with the station and use it in an effective way that will benefit them. They are afraid to visit the station to be given a platform to talk about issues that affect them. It is sometimes a challenge to get them to share their experiences and the issues that affect them on a daily basis.

Have you always known that this is what you wanted to do?

Yes. I first fell in love with TV but eventually decided that radio was my calling. As a young boy I had dreams of having nice things in life and as I have said, I was raised in a musical family.

How do you define celebrity and do you consider yourself a celebrity?

In my own words a celebrity is a community builder and as such he or she is celebrated by the community. I do not consider myself to be a celebrity rather I regard myself as a public figure.

How does your community treat you now that you are well-known?

These are my people. They made me who I am and I treat them with respect and that respect is exactly what I receive back from them.

Where do you want to see yourself in 10 years time?

I have got a plan. Whether it will take ten years or so on, but it is there. I also have a company in mind and it is running smoothly. I do not want to tell anybody about it because people will end up stealing it. I also want to see myself working at a bigger commercial radio and later TV station. As for family, I need a beautiful wife with two children, Thato and Thatego.

What advice would you give to aspiring broadcasters?

Believe in yourself, acknowledge your talent, get good advice, do research by listening to various commercial and public radio stations and believe in yourself. Also get proper formal training and education to equip yourself.

True to the character of the person and the nature of the job he does, Pat takes time to reflect on pertinent issues. Let us call it thinking on his feet, literally as well as figuratively.

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As a role model and part of the youth yourself, what is your message to the youth about drugs, booze, and HIV/AIDS?

Peer pressure is the reason why people indulge in those things. Just ask yourself why you them, why do you smoke and drink and if you find a good reason for that, then carry on responsibly. As for drugs, I say a BIG NO about them. I would not advice people to take them as the consequences are too costly. As for HIV/AIDS, the reality is that people would not abstain. If you think you are old enough to have sex or engage in sexual activities, get yourself and your partner tested and use condoms. And remember to stay faithful to your partner.

Are you satisfied with the listenership of your show and the progress you anticipated when you first started presenting it?

Well, the station might be satisfied especially looking at the fact that we are a community radio station. However, I personally still intend to interact with the rest of South Africa in the near future, through a bigger commercial radio station and as I have said, through television. This for me is not because of money but, the reason is that there are still a lot of people out there who I believe I can make an impact on their lives through my passion.

Any person or institutions you would like to thank for your progress?

Yes, the support I receive from my friends and family and the listeners is what keeps me going. It is the listeners who made me who I am, right from the time I was at Zebediela Radio Station. And last but not least my colleagues and the management of Turf FM for their support and cooperation.

Thanks for your time and good luck to you with your future endeavours.

Thanks! It means a lot to me to me too, especially coming from you guys at Montshepetja. It is a wonderful opportunity that you have afforded me and the recognition of my work. I could never say I am used to this, every recognition means a lot to me.

Good luck with Montshepetja Academy, it takes wise people to undertake such initiatives and stand for the principles that you guys stand for. May Montshepetja grow and sustain its mission. Believe in yourselves and draw experience from the newspaper Daily Sun. It is from humble beginnings but now it is a leader in its field and who would have thought of that. With hard work you will also reach great heights.

Pat Mogotlane may be contacted at Facebook as Pat Mogotlane. E-mail address= pat@webmail.co.za