MS GUGULETHU MFUPHI broadcaster and financial journalist
“I watched Nikiwe Bikitsha, Siki Mgabadeli, and Lerato Mbele and knew that’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to be part of shaping the conversation in South Africa, Africa, and the world.” Mfuphi was introduced to radio broadcasting by UJFM newsreader Mommy Mohlahlo, who opened the door for her, and there she started as a newsreader. That led to a graveyard shift, a rite of passage for most broadcasters, at Talk Radio 702. It was a regular caller on the talk radio station that pointed her to her next career move to financial news provider Moneyweb, where financial broadcast guru Alec Hogg gave her a chance. “He told me I need to learn to tell the story in the numbers, and not simply report on them.” There she learnt the craft of explaining finance and economics African Institute of Chartered Accounts, she leads a team of 15 investment professionals, carrying out the mandate to improve access to capital for black-owned entities, and she oversees the NEF’s women empowerment fund that finances businesses that are majority owned and managed by black women. She sits on a number of boards including that of Qumbu Mall and the non-profit organisation African Women Chartered Accountants, of which she is the president. “My role is to increase the number of black female chartered accountants and to implement initiatives that support them in their journey to qualifying, eventually becoming formidable and ethical leaders,” she says. Khanyile is committed to making a difference in the lives of young, black upcoming chartered accountants and has focused her efforts on making this happen. She
to ordinary people. Later, CNBC Africa beckoned, and she jumped at the opportunity to work in television. But she later returned to her first love, radio, as a presenter on Kaya FM. Mfuphi describes herself as a daddy’s girl; she says her father was an early supporter of her ambition to go into broadcasting. “He told me to strike while the iron is hot. He supported my love of public speaking even at high school and told me to go for it.” To this day, her father critiques her work and gives her valuable feedback. Her ambition now is to use her financial media skills to shift the mind-sets of young Black women towards money and the economy. “I want to shift the needle and have a bigger influence.” She’s off to an impressive start.
She could have chosen a career as a chartered accountant, but the lure of broadcasting was too much to ignore. While studying towards a BCom Accounting at the University of Johannesburg, Mfuphi was yearning to merge her love of numbers with her passion for broadcasting.
BCom Accounting, 2011
MS ZAMA KHANYILE, Fund manager, National Empowerment Fund (NEF)
plans to continue her own personal growth as a responsible leader and wants to keep on converting her success into significance. “My family has always been supportive of me, and I have had a few women help me find my feet,” she says. “The women who helped me build my career are Futhi Mtoba, Lesego Sennelo, Philisiwe Mthethwa, and Hlengiwe Makhathini. These women opened doors for me.” When asked what advice she would give to young South Africans looking to pursue their goals, she says: “Opportunity often comes dressed as a challenge. You must be prepared to work and to rise to the occasion when the opportunities come to you.” BCom Hons (General Economics), 2005
Zama Khanyile (34) is a fund manager at the National Empowerment Fund (NEF), where she is charge of the uMnotho Fund that deals with acquisitions, new ventures, and expansions. A Chartered Accountant who studied at the University of Johannesburg and is registered with the South
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