The board members of Unitra Community Radio (UCR FM) in Mthatha have promoted the news head from this station to the position of station manager.
Zikhona Ndongeni, from Sithangameni locality in Qumbu, has served the radio station for the past 13 years. She said before joining this radio station she never pictured herself working at the radio station.
“At that time I was not thinking about radio because I knew nothing about it. It was just a matter of looking for a job and I did not have a choice. A friend of mine told me that UCR FM was looking for news readers. I then grabbed that opportunity, I submitted my CV, and after doing the interview I was very lucky because I got the job. I was hired to read English news bulletins,” said Ndongeni.
Ndongeni said being a young female leading such a big radio station is not child’s play.
“I am very strong and what makes me even stronger is that there are people who have confidence in me that I can lead this station.
“When I received the news that I was appointed I was very shocked and shaking because I was afraid; I did not see it coming. That is where I became confident because if they thought that I am fit enough to be a station manager, then I will do it.”
Ndongeni said she cannot say she is comfortable now, but she is still trying to stand on her feet.
Due to the support she receives from other managers at this station she feels that nothing is impossible, and said that they would take the standard to another level.
“It is a well-known station; the only thing that I have to do is to take up every space that is vacant because UCR FM is a media platform, meaning it needs to be known and to be out there. I am taking up everything that has to do with the community so that it can grow more.
“With the management that I am working with, I am hoping for good results. We are working on increasing the frequency so that we can cover more areas.
“We are also planning to put our station on DSTV and that is not easy but we want to do it.”
She said she is also willing to listen to all the people who come with suggestions as long they are something that will help to take the station forward.
