Determination and a strong belief in herself have helped a young lady from the rural village of Valdezia, outside Louis Trichardt, overcome the odds and become the manager of a local radio station. Her name is Nyeleti Munyuku, and she was recently appointed as the station manager of the revived Radio Thohoyandou.
The radio station, which had been silent since the early 1990s when it merged with SABC's Radio Venda to establish Phalaphala FM, returned to the airwaves two months ago. It now broadcasts daily and is quickly becoming a household radio station once again.
Munyuku completed her matric in 2008, after which she studied journalism at Kundani Media College. Following the completion of her studies, she gained experience at Makhado FM, Hlanganani FM, Univen FM, and Energy FM. In 2016, she auditioned for a newsreader position at Limpopo TV, where she worked from 2017 to 2019.
Her journey then led her to Tshwane TV, owned by the Zallywood Company, where she worked from 2019 to 2020. "After realising my potential, the company appointed me to head their new subsidiary, Radio Thohoyandou, where I am today," she explained.
Munyuku is very grateful to her mother, who she says has been a wonderful support over the years. "She provided me with a shoulder to lean on whenever I needed her. Besides my mother, I was professionally motivated by the late Ernest Makhayinge, who served as Hlanganani FM's station manager. I learned so much from him during my time at the station. May his soul rest in peace."
Regarding Radio Thohoyandou, Munyuku said that she, along with the management team, had ambitious plans to elevate the station to a new level. She has full confidence in the staff she works with to make this possible and keep their listeners happy.
"To all the girls out there, I say, never lose hope in life or give up on your dreams. The playing field has been levelled for both men and women. With determination, any young girl from an obscure village can rise to become a radio station manager. It is your time to shine and prove our [female] capabilities," Munyuku said.