PUBLIC RELATIONS: Makobedi Mofokeng flies the flag for spin doctors

Public Relations, famously known simply as PR, is a glamorous occupation, it is widely believed. But for MAKOBEDI MOFOKENG is a highly enchanting career- full of thrills and frills but in which PR practitioners must not compromise their character nor submit to bribery. She enthrals Thembi Masser with details of goodie bags, Cadbury chocolate and Coca-Cola.

She is only 21, but Makobedi is already an accomplished PR officer. She is well –spoken, her words well-chosen and her etiquette gentle and genial. She is simply sublime. She oozes zest and is the ultimate PR, even in just a routine interview.       

She is in her third year of a diploma at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT). Soon she will do her 6 months practical application to complete her course. She is still looking for potential companies where she can complete them.

In a pure PR exercise she says she could have handled the Generations differently and better and no. she has no children at the moment. “After I have established myself in the industry then I will think of the noise-makers. And yes, I do believe in marriage.”

She was born in Petrus Steyn, Free Sate, but did all her schooling in Benoni. Firstly she went to Arbour Primary and then completed her martric at Benoni High. She finished her schooling with subjects such as history, business studies, consumer studies, maths literature, English and Afrikaans and life orientation. “Mr Du Plessis receives my vote in consumer studies while Mr Klerk also did well in English.”

After high school she enrolled at the VUT and the words of her PR lecturer, Mpho Ralengwele still resonates in her head. She said: Don’t let anyone change who you are or suppress what you want.”  While at primary she was enticed by the SAPS (South African Police Service) uniform and wanted to join after matric. Later she wanted to be a fire fighter and in the end a journalist.  “I like journalism so much that I researched the subject thoroughly, but in the end I opted for PR.” This is because, she explains, it incorporates many occupations and disciplines- journalism, brand awareness, marketing, advertising, events management and project management.”

She is fire brand, she points out, and PR keeps her up on her toes. “It is challenging. You must be abreast with current news all the time and you must understand people and their nuances. But most importantly, you must always know and understand your target audience and stakeholders.”

In PR image plays an important part. “It is not about  a beautiful face, no, please,” she laughs, “but be careful of your personality traits. A thick skin will help, yes. You must be able to accept criticism, you must be resilient, be able to write well and be well spoken. The last two I do quite well, thank you!”

She cautions about keeping your values in check and never compromising them. “One should always be aware of the intentions of goodie bags, which most of the time mean well, but can be abused at times. And do not take bribes, thy always come back to haunt you.”

Ok, she admits, PR can be spin-doctoring at times. “We are also spokespersons of our clients.”

Her typical day can include all of the following or some of them.

Meetings with clients

Communication campaigns

Marketing sessions

Sponsors

Organising and attending events

Conflict management

Writing news releases to media companies and

Internal and external reports

When she is through with her diploma she will want to work with her all-time favourite PR practitioner and role model, Farrah Fortune from Africa Star, PR and communications, artists’ management company.  Or it might Ogilvy. “They win big awards and they drive big campaigns at Ogilvy.”

She will like to PR for Cadbury (I like chocolate so much) and Coca-Cola (their products stand out and the company so adventures), but she has no individual in mind to manage at the moment. “PR is necessary in the business world. It is vital for advertising and for brand marketing to be successful. It is hara-kiri for a company to operate without a razor-sharp PR division.”

Most PRs are members of PRISA-Public Relations Institute of South Africa, which, if the money is right, you can join during your studies, she advices.

Makobedi with her family

PHOTOGRAPHY: For Mphela, image is capturing, copying and actioning

Mphela David Matlakala is truly a man of action. His job is to photograph people and events from behind the lens, but he takes centre stage when it comes to the bigger picture of life. He is a self-made photographer, a self-made choir master and he preaches the Lord’s word at his ‘Trusted’ church. Here he shares his thoughts with Thembi Masser during a breakfast interview. 

In probably a first for its kind, Mphela formed a Zionist school choir at Phandimfundo High in Etwatwa, Benoni, which grew from a few school mates to over fifty members! He also taught maths to grade 10’s while he was in grade 8. That was not enough, when he started his business to shoot videos he shot Generation’s Kenneth Mashaba!

Today he runs Motlokwa Productions from his backyard office. Motlokwa Productions serves a myriad of services-a video production, photography, CV profiling, document typing, and all things internet café. It all started at the very same Phandimfundo, which he affectionately calls Phandu. A Chinese company arrived at the school looking for learners who were interested in photography to step forward-Mphela did. “But even before they arrived at the school photography was always my passion, it was something I wanted to do later in life,” he explains. He started making money from the business right away. He called the business David Professional Photography.”What a cheek,” he proclaims, “I was a raw amateur, a school boy but called myself a professional photographer! But my customers believed that I was really a professional because my work was outstanding.”

But then a vision came to him with a warning and brought him down to earth. He was instructed to call his business by his clan name, Motlokwa. He obliged. He is a self taught business man although he says mercantile law, a subject he did at school, has a lot to do with his success. He taught himself to shoot videos and later Davi, one of his associates, gave him lessons on videotaping.

He has travelled far and wide Mphela, capturing events on film. He has been to Swaziland on numerous occasions to photograph weddings. He has shot a video of Seputha Sebogodi, popularly known as Kenneth Mashaba on Generations, TV soapy. Mphela recalls that Sebogodi advised during the shoot. He said to me, forget about people, live your own life and concentrate on your business…’

“I have also shot Sthembiso Zondo, the motivational speaker and Pastor S Zondo of the Rivers of the Living Waters.”Then  he shot Black Coffee. He also shot the Rand Water awards in Boksburg.

Thanks to Davi, he taught him how to use these big video caneras. It took Mphela only five minutes to understand what Davi what saying.

Now he picks unemployed people from the streets and teaches them how to use a camera and how to set the lighting systems. There is no rest for him. On Sundays he puts on his blue and white uniform and preaches for the congregation. He prays for the sick and the unemployed t The Trusted… he is also the treasurer, the Sunday school class teacher. “Thanks to the Archbishop Solomon Masemola who has been a pillar of strength for me from 1998 when I was baptized at his church.” Mphela is energetic at the church and tells the youth, “Trust in your ideas and have faith that they will succeed.”  And he tells them not to look up to the government for aid, but to get up and get going and act…

He gave his mother an invaluable gift in 2009. He established Motlokwa Day Care Centre. His mother still runs it today. And there is the story regarding the establishment of the internet café. It was intended as a gift to someone he held dearly to his heart. But the person wanted a lot of money to go with the café and eventually, when Mphela did not oblige, walked away. Mphela runs the café by himself now. He says the café is for the future. “My slogan for my café is “I do more than the vision’. Every now and then I close the business and go out of the township and pray on a koppie. I pray for my business, my customers. The café puts food on my table and it dresses me. I am also able to give the church.”

What is left for him now is to upgrade it. Apple Macs. State-of-the-art video cameras and opening branches country wide.  “When business is down and uncertain I kneel down and call on the Lord for help.

Mphela is, however, skeptical. A lot of people come to him pleading poverty while looking for help from him. Knowing the state of the socio-economic conditions of the township, he helps them. But when they have money he complains, they walk far away from him. “But I am a Christian so I forgive them and forget the incident.”

There were other setbacks as well. The arrival of the camera phone disrupted his photography business. Other photographers called an indaba and Morwa Productions was born. It was formed by people from the IT sector, fashion designers, and the like. He was elected treasurer. But Mphela had a social problem which affected his standing in them organization and his membership was terminated. The establishment folded later afterwards.

At Phandu he was a diligent learner. He was good in maths and physics, which helps with measurements in and repairing his machines. He also excelled in biology, English, Sepedi, economics and mercantile law. His favourite teachers were Mr. Gideon Nkosi, the physics master, Ms Nkosi who was a maths master and my class teacher, and Mr.Mtshali who also taught maths.

And then there was the Zionist choir he conducted at school….     

A timeline of achievement in life...so far

Top pic; on a flight to stardom,

Capturing memories,

It began with bare necessities,

Going to church, 'Trusted',

In the beginning,

During a function of the Top 10 students in science in Daveyton,

With his ex teachers

       

Khabza Mkhize

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GRAPHIC DESIGN: Kabelo scrolls his work across the business fraternity

KABELO CHILOANE realised as early as after his tourism graduation that his life tour was destined to take a different path from guiding others where to locate prime spots to enjoy and view. He switched instead to graphic designing, which he enjoys immensely, he tells Thembi Masser. 

He studied graphic designing at the Johannesburg Institute of Engineering and Technology.it was enjoyable, he says, “because I grappled with graphic designing at my company

I co-owned with my mates I met at the HP Mokoka library in Daveyton even before I studied it formally.”

Kabelo, 24, spent listless days at the library because he was a disillusioned man. Straight after making the Top 10 in an Yfm-sponsored SAB Hansa Pilsner business competition he spent his days not knowing where to go or what to do. His entry for the competition was simple: built-in solar power in the tiling of a dwelling. Although he made the top 10, he failed to proceed further. He blames his flailing presentation skills. “I was not up to scratch, “I suppose,” he offers.

Unbeknown to him, that is when the entrepreneur spirit bugged him. The competition boosted his self-confidence and his self-esteem blossomed. “I networked and realised that I could go further in business if I applied my mind to it.”

And so while spending days looking at books in the library he met like-minded guys who were in the same dilemma as he was - what to do with our lives now? They formed a detergent-making company. The business lasted barely a year but it taught Kabelo plenty. “Firstly, I taught myself graphic designing while working and two, it taught me not to waste company money in the future,” he remarks. “You see, we were good at what we did in the business, and we were just a couple of brilliant with no care in the world except produce household cleaning products. But when the money came in we boxed it out like there was no tomorrow.”

So the company disbanded. That is when he enrolled with the JEIT. His courses included photshop, illustrator, correl draw, indesign and fireworks. While studying he was making money on the side designing for businesses. After completion of his studies he registered his company, Beast Limited Pty (Ltd). “I do visual communication-branding, corporate identity, photography and, of course, graphic design.” He doesn't have a major contract now but “I know it will come in one of these days.”

He partners in some of the projects with Bhekumuzi Philane Zwane, who owns Beyond Power Media. “We collaborate nicely. I hope we do not make the detergent mistakes with him.”

Kabelo was born in Bushbuckridge, where he did his matric. He was at Maotole Primary then Setlhare high and completed matric at Maripe. He did a diverse mixture of subjects, science, agriculture, biology, English, maths, Sepedi and Afrikaans. “I liked English and Biology most and my favourite teacher was Mr Stele. “What I remember about school is that I was confused really. I did not know what I wanted to do after grade 12. The fact that there was no career guidance at school exacerbated the problem further. My parents too did not help me.”

After passing matric he went to Central Johannesburg College to do IT but did not have a place. He then, out of desperation to study something, enrolled to do tourism at Boston Media College. He passed the two-year diploma course and looked for a job. “It never came.” It was then that the idea of a build-in solar panel in the tiles materialised and he entered the Hansa Pilsner competition.

The future holds a lot for me, he believes, although he says he does not know of any entrepreneur who was helped by the government. “There were plenty of challenges for me in the past. They shattered me yes; but I adjusted thinking, dusted my pants and proceeded with the journey.

There are too many graphic designers wannabees but they don’t make enough effort to push forward to go the extra mile. At my time at the JIET there were only the three of us-males. To tell you the truth, I have not come across any females graphic designers to date. Should there be any could they please give me a shout-it will be a historic moment!”        

Right, Kabelo in camouflage and, below, a peek into the future

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Currently a Master student in Applied Foreign Languages at University of Nantes (France), I'm looking for a six-month INTERNSHIP relating to international trade in Cape Town. I master five languages.
Resume and cover letter available on request.

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A look at enterprise mobility and why it’s a business game changer

Cadine PillayBusiness Journalist | Avid Activist

Why companies need to adapt to mobility or risk falling behind

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Register TODAY and jump start your business! Experience the ‘Magic of Success’ by discovering new ideas and strategies to build your business. South Africa’s biggest entrepreneurial road show is about to happen. October 2014 brings us the ‘National Build a Business Roadshow’, the premier forum for business owners and entrepreneurs. Register now to jump start your business and get it moving in a positive and accelerated direction. It's all about starting out, building a business and getting ahead.

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Pilot. Reaching for dizzy heights drives Bernard

Story by Ivy Mahlasela

Hannes Barnard achieved his private pilot licence on at the age of 18, and  his Commercial pilot's licence at the age of 21. He is an accomplished helicopter pilot now.

The passion for flying has been with him since his childhood. After obtaining his licences he worked as a pilot. As he progressed in the flying industry he has done ratings on piston engines, turbine and twin turbine  helicopters. He is night rated, sling rated and instrument rated and he also has an instructors' rating.

Through all the hard work he was inspired by his grandmother‘s words saying, ‘you can be anything you want to be, just believe and live out your dream’. Today his passion for flying is still expanding with hope and bigger dreams of having to start his own aviation school for the young children who have a dream of flying like he did.  

Auxiliary social work. Mowedi's passion is to help her community

Story by Ivy Mahlasela

A lot of people have a passion for helping people in not only their lives but also in their careers.

Kente Mowedi is a social auxiliary worker at the Department of Social Development and her job entails:

Performing administration duties, handling of the secretariat of meetings, assisting with admin work: photostats, filling, update and maintain data base, registers, arrange meetings, gettting quotations, for service provider, sending out invitations for meetings, assisting with drawing up of community profiles, assisting with events management for national and international days, Community awareness for Early Childhood Development (EDC ) programs and also ensuring that there is compliance with registration and funding.

We get to see learnerships that provide the opportunities for 12 to apply for. It is what the Social Auxiliary Workers job entails.

Fashion Design. Matshediso destined for fashions's high stakes

The future, and life, seem gloomy for MATSHIDISO EPHERNIA LESO at the moment, but her ambition to be a fashion designer is as bright as a bonfire. At the moment she takes lessons as a model, but the Mabuya High learner’s prospects to be where she wants to be needs a stabilized environment and a re-assuring atmosphere. Thembi Masser talks to her. 

At 22, Matshidiso is in grade 11 and her favourite teachers are MrD Khoza and Ms Nkaba. The former is her geography teacher and the latter offers consumer studies. “I also do history, maths literacy, life orientation, English and Sepedi,” she adds.

Matshidiso, tall and willowy, is an ardent fan of Naomi Campbell and Tyra Banks. “The two have done so much to pave the ramp way for us. Do not forget Alek Wek as well, the lady has style.”

Her other role models  include Steven Tshekiso, a drama director at the Rhoo Hlatswayo Arts Centre in Daveyton, Benoni, and Vincent Makena, a ballroom dancer.  She is a ballroom dancer and is also an artistic drama student. This is apart from her Saturday modelling classes at Collusion Entertainment (owned by Jabu Skhosana, who is also a media officer at South African Youth Club Academy). “I started modelling early at primary school but did not think so much about it until a few years ago when I became aware that I have the body and the looks.” She believes her petite body will give her ample opportunities to walk the ramp. But, to her dismay, Collusion has not organised any meaningful ramp events where is able to showcase her abilities.

Her desire to succeed in the modeling business has also encouraged her to reject any talk of having baby yet. “Babies are a distraction to life if their arrival is not planned properly and as for the boys, well, they hurt so much, they are a pain. I have been hurt recently, and at the moment I am in a passive relationship. No frills, not too much hand work,” she laughs heartily at this. “Just a here- present with you, yet-so-far- away kind of a liaison.”

She wants to be a top notch, award-winning fashion designer.

Matshidiso has done quite some research in the business and found out that there were not so many fashion designers in Gauteng.   She also realized that no one can actually design for ample-bodied people. “I want to design for them. You see, chubby people do two things that irritate me. Either they just throw pieces of clothing on them to hide in them, or they do the opposite, dressing in tight clothes that embarrass them than flatter them.  So I want to design clothes that will flatter them and at the same time boost their flagging self-esteem.”

She says she wants the new generation to dress differently, “I have designs for them,” she quips. So much as I want money so badly; I have designs for the township cultural life style.”

Her other ambition, ‘not a plan B’, is to be a TV presenter. “I have been to Auckland Park to check things out,” she points out. “There I was fortunate to touch the hand of Ngamla (Menzi Ngubane) and talk to Sonia Mbele. However, my darling is always Pearl Thusi.”

But deep in the heart of the easy-going Matshidiso there is an uneasy feeling of exasperation. “I am going to struggle to get going because I am not sure where will I get the money to further my ambitions,” she remarks. “Modeling is expensive. We are expected to wear our own beautiful clothes, own make-up and with me not having a reliable financial back-up this will be a problem. Same with media, might not be able to make it.” 

But her heart goes out to her brother. "I feel for him ‘cause there are things he wants to do for himself but cannot because of us. I love him to bits.” 

Pics

from top to bottom. Matshidiso shows us her style. with Magdelin Koki, her mother, and bottom, with brother, Tumiso.

Stylish Matshediso Leso

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