Rose Sibisi has become the darling of many Makhado FM listeners with her programme The Bridge. The show airs from 12:00 to 15:00, Monday to Friday.
Sibisi did not, however, start off as a radio presenter. After completing her Grade 12, Rose went on to study for a diploma in public relations at Rosebank College.
Sibisi recalls that her first introduction to radio was at Makhado FM in June of this year. “When the station was conceived, I had a feeling that one day it would be a stepping stone towards the realisation of my future dreams,” she said. When she finally had the opportunity to showcase her talent in front of the mic, she wasted no time.
She believes it is very important for radio presenters to engage with their listeners regularly on issues that affect them. “You must come up with something unique that will compel your listeners not to change the dial. My recipe for more listenership is to provide them with unique local content that they will not find anywhere else,” she said.
Sibisi has a special message for aspiring radio presenters: “We all come from humble beginnings, and we don’t become perfect all at once. The more time you spend in this industry, the better you become at what you do, but you must be willing to learn and accept your mistakes in order to improve your skills.”
She encourages young people to keep themselves up to date with news, so they do not remain ignorant in a society where knowledge plays such an essential role. “Ignorance is no excuse. Young people need to take full responsibility for their own lives, or else they will find themselves living unfulfilled lives,” she said.
