From the pen to the ballot box, that is how former journalist and current ActionSA member Edwin Ntshidi is known to those who have followed his work as a journalist.
Ntshidi was born 45 years ago and grew up with her grandmother and uncle in Wesselsbron, Free State.
Like many South Africans who grew up during the brutal apartheid system, Ntshidi’s education was not the easiest.
“I grew up in a very difficult situation – my mother was not there. I was raised by my grandmother and uncle. After my grandmother died, I became a thug,” he said.
“I have to scare myself. We usually break into houses, rob people, but thank you [must go] to my uncle who I told him was going to school in Johannesburg.”
Early career
Ntshidi moved to Johannesburg in 1993 to pursue her dream of becoming a television presenter. But life made him a journalist.
“I went to the African Cultural Center where I trained as an actor, musician and dancer. There was a Deutsche Welle training center process. They came to South Africa to give scholarships to SA students, and there I was inspired by journalism,” said Ntshidi.
“I started doing journalism and it was interesting. I met a lot of people and made a lot of contacts and that’s when I said that this might be what I want to do.
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Ntshidi started his distinguished radio career at Radio 1584, where he practiced, and later moved to Network Radio Services which later became Live Africa Network.
“The Live Africa Network was disbanded and the June Law brought it back.
“We rented a space at the SABC and that’s where I started applying for jobs.”
Ntshidi says his biggest breakthrough in radio was when he worked at Jacaranda FM.
“I have to say, Jacaranda FM is the radio that exposed me a lot. I worked in almost all radio stations in South Africa, except Classic FM and Power FM, but Jacaranda is where I was exposed,” he said.
Hobby Ntshidi
In his spare time, Ntshidi likes to spend time with those close to him and enjoys a good braai with good conversation.
“I’m not a sports person. I used to be a Bloemfontein Celtics fan and when they were bought by Royal AM, I stopped supporting club football. I only watch important matches like the World Cup.
“I was married for 14 years but divorced. I have children who visit, but now I’m single, so hanging out with my friends is what I do when I’m free,” he said.
While transitioning from being a journalist to a politician, Ntshidi was accused of promoting the current political house and its leader, Herman Mashaba, through reports during last year’s local government elections to get the councilor position he currently holds in the Joburg metro. .
“I am not reporting on Herman Mashaba; I am reporting on the news,” he said.
“The reason I joined this party is because I think it might be something that can change this country. I was asked by my friend to call Mashaba for an address in Slovo Park. I called him and he came.
“The address in the community inspired me. I was like … who is this person? I have written about Jacob Zuma, Thabo Mbeki and [Nelson] Mandela asked himself, who came up with such a good idea.
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“Mashaba did not approach me; I take it upon myself that I want to change this country. I went for an interview but I didn’t know I was on the council list until seven days before it was announced.
He said that he has been writing stories about corruption for years, he has never experienced a change in government, and maybe on the other hand, he would have a better chance of holding the corrupt accountable.
“Being a politician gives me an opportunity to fix the problems I’m complaining about. I’ve worked for 25 years as a journalist and I’ve written a lot about corruption, but nothing has been done.
“I have been an activist in Slovo Park and I have also been a journalist, but I have never changed anything,” he said.
“Today I can push the movement that Slovo Park should get electricity, toilets and water. People will now have electricity, better sanitation and they will get houses.
“This, for me, is too much and I could not do it if I were a journalist.”
Agenda for reporting news
Ntshidi also worried that journalists seem to have an agenda to report the news instead of reporting the news as it happens.
“There are people who push their own agenda in journalism or other people because they have something to support that is very wrong. “At the time, I will write about anyone and not protect others,” said Ntshidi.
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“When I was at the SABC, I wrote a story about the local municipality of Moqhaka. I was asked by our national editor if I wanted to be in the Free State because I was not reporting in the Free State.
“The story stopped because he was friends with the spokesperson – I was completely silent. A lot of paid reporters don’t write stories about paid people.
– lungam@citizen.co.za