“Women can dismantle internalised patriarchy” Radio producer Andiswa Makanda

702 Talk Radio news & actuality producer Andiswa Makanda says we should celebrate women who are shattering the glass ceiling and rising above the deep cuts created by the shattered glass. This passionate “news junkie” chatted to justjody.co.za about her love for talk radio and how she sees the role of women in 2017.

Where and when your love for radio start and What show do you work on?
I produce the morning breakfast show hosted by Xolani Gwala on 702 Talk Radio. My love for Talk Radio was more accidental, and by chance. It was in 2005, 1st year varsity, at Wits, we were told that as part of the Media Studies programme we would be required to listen to radio, and 702 was on the suggested list.

At first, I abhorred the station, but through constant listening, I fell in love with the genre. Mainly because of the topics and the many different contributors who sounded very professional and people I aspired to become. It was also the proximity and access to those in power that allowed the station and radio to hold leaders accountable and speak truth to power.

What do you love most about your job, Also career highlights?
It’s Love-Hate affair. It’s the spontaneity, not knowing what to expect once we go live on air. It is wielding the power to determine what gets into the national agenda and dialogue, Career highlights include winning the MTN Radio award for Producer of the year 2015; working with great broadcasters like Redi Tlhabi and John Robbie.

Describe a typical day in the life of Andiswa?
Typical day is balancing act, juggling two jobs and raising two children. My day starts at 4am, so I miss out on getting kids ready for school, preparing their lunch and taking them to school. Morning is spent on the morning 702 breakfast show which ends at 9am. Thereafter I head to my second job, Real Talk with Anele at Steyn City.

My day is filled with chasing news-makers, and scripting for the television show.
I am usually home in the evenings just before kids bedtime. Usually I am tired for reading a bedtime story, but make up for it by listening to the kids read their favourite bedtime stories

I think the kids breaking our only television is God’s intervention to spend more time with them- so we play cards or listen attentively to how their day was spent.

What would still like to achieve in your career?
That I would take the courage to host my own radio or television show, and be the most sought-after producer.

How do you do to relax, when you are not working?
There is research that shows that most women only have 67 minutes a day to themselves. I most certainly make up the statistics. I used my 67 minutes reading, watching a movie, or hanging out at the park.

Your advice to anyone who would like to pursue a career in radio?
If your interest is in Talk Radio, you need to have a passion for current affairs, be willing to put in the long hours, because producing never ends. Be in touch with the world around you and always keep an open mind.

How do you see the role of women in South Africa and the world in 2017? What are some of the challenges and what should be celebrated?
That’s a tough one. I am not one to be prescriptive on what roles women should take up, as women we are not a homogenous entity, and therefore in our own little way and small corners women I playing some sort of role, be it a mother, mentor, business leader.

However, one particular role women can play is that of dismantling internalized patriarchy and recognizing patriarchy for what it is, because internalized patriarchy is the biggest challenge faced by most women. Another challenge for women is trying to have it all. We can have it all, but not at the same time. For some women, that is not enough. What we should celebrate are the women who are shattering the glass ceiling, and rising above the deep cuts created by the shattered glass.