"Yes, sir she has agreed to do the one on one interview with us.
It will be in her office, just across the road".
Are you sure? asked my then editor- in- chief, Carl Saton Smith.
My new diary update for the week, had caught his attention.
He had to stop whatever that had kept him busy on his computer to give me his full undivided attention.
Ilizwi's front page
Carl, was still in disbelief that the newly appointed first female executive mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay- Nondumiso Maphazi- had given me permission to feature her in our small community newspaper.
At the time, Dr Nondumiso Maphazi was taking over from Robben Islander, Nceba Faku.
Though, I had pitched the idea earlier in our conference meeting. No one really thought much of it that it could develop into a printable story.
I mean the idea, was good for a dreamer like me.
But in reality of the newsroom, she was too busy and if she really needed coverage. The Herald, Daily Dispatch and the Weekend Post were her obvious go to news point.
Dr Nondumiso Maphazi Picture supplied by the family
But there I was, inexperienced news reporter telling her that one of the most influential woman in Port Elizabeth and probably the whole of the Eastern Cape province has agreed to give us time.
No one was prepared for this.
Youth Focus column on Ilizwi Community newspaper
I myself didn't realise the magnitude of what I had done. I was merely obsessed with getting my Youth Focus ideas being published.
With BayFM community radio cast
This time,I had a meeting with the local artists and there were tired of being unotticed in their home town.
There were even reports that artist who left Port Elizabeth in persuit for better life in Johannesburg were struggling but ashamed to come back home as they were embarrassed and ashamed that their dreams didn't take off and things were even worse for them in Johannesburg.
Youth Day celebration with Xceedo from Imbizo events
One of the events company based in the city, Imbizo tried to accommodate some like the late Joyous Celebration singer from Port Elizabeth but it was not enough. There was a need for intervention by the city, the mayor and all stake holders.
For me then, it was a miracle that Carl had taken me in his wings.
With no formal journalistic experience of writing stories.
Few months earlier, I was a security guard, the whole of Port Elizabeth knew me as the female security guard at Coca Cola Perseverance.
This new role, which I begged after I had over sold myself to him as a freelance Youth Motivator at Nkqubela Fm, a community radio station and someone who was also frustrated and had confronted him that the paper, Ilizwi was not catering for the people living in the township especially the Youth.
Carl, first gave me the Ilizwi youth Focus Column. Mainly written in English but had a drop of Tsotsi taal, Fanagalo, slang and street lingo of PE.
Dr Nondumiso Maphazi Picture supplied
Carl thought of running ideas with me before the interview the next day, but there were not much ideas.
The Herald and weekend post had done all the possible stories. Including covering the fact that she was once a petrol attended in her youth.
But he let me think of ideas that will work for both her and the newspaper.
The day of the interview started horribly wrong.
I was late for the normal bus because my mother send me back from the bus stop to change from the sneakers and jeans to something that was more appropriate.
Press briefing of the homecoming PE Political prisoners with Oom Govt Mbeki
'People don't take you serious Khanyiswa because you do not take yourself serious. First impressions do last you know' those were Ntesh's words
With Zimbabwean singer, Olivia Mtukudzi
The only decent clothing on my wardrope that time was a fur cream winter jacket, a green comoflouge skirt and half leather heel boots all bought on Truworths credit card.
As I crossed the street from the Feather Market Centre to City Hall, I tripped and fell and the heel of the shoe came off.
There was no turning back either, already I was about 15 minutes late for the interview. So I limped into her secretary's office. Explained before hand what had happened and still stated my keenes to do the interview still.
Dr Nondumiso Maphazi picture: supplied by family
Mam' Nondumiso was busy, so she didn't notice my late coming.
Few minutes later,I was ushered to her huge office which made me even more intimidated.
I remember the soft leather chairs, the huge table with the New South African flag at the corner of the table.
The framed pictures of South Africa's first black president, Nelson Mandela, the then president Thabo Mbeki and the Eastern Cape premier then, Nosimo Balindlela in her traditional isiXhosa regalia displayed in the room.
It was only then than it dawn on me that I had come to interview someone very, very important.
'Sorry mam, I broke my heel as I was crossing the street.
Dr Nelson Mandela. Picture from the internet no accreditation given
Otherwise I would have been here earlier, I am really sorry Mam', I said as I was limping to the direction of a chair she showed me.
"It happens to all of us, I had a similar accident in one of the airports, years ago,'she told me the story as she was welcoming and trying to make me feel comfortable.
With Dj Sbu, founder of TS during the Metro FM Music Awards PE school's tour
I actually missed my flight that day," We both broke into a huge laughter as she rely her story to try and comfort me and make me feel at ease.
'Would you like me to send someone to get you another pair of shoes", I politely decline.
My security background was that even generous offeres were bribes. I knew this came from a geniune love and concern but politely decline and we continued our informal chat. She was more interested in me. I told her everything about my passion for the youth, art work in Nelson Mandela Bay.
Dr Nondumiso Maphazi
She inturn told me about her plans for the Youth in the Nelson Mandela and her plans to work with the township school and how she was going to use her platform to bring change to the black community of Nelson Mandela Bay.
With the Jeziel Brothers at the Metro FM Music Awards
Everything was a bit informal at the end of our meeting, she had organised all her people to include me in all her work.
Back at the office, everyone was waiting in inticipation to hear feedback.
Playing Golf with the then premier, Nosimo Balindlela
A space was already allocated and people were busy with drawing pictures from files.
The story was Carl's project. A told him everything from the meeting. I often had to say Mam' Maphazi's response verbartism so not to misqoute her.
That article became a game changer for me and the paper. We were now seen and recognised by the community that we served.
People didn't see us as rebelious youth that were just make empty noise and endorsed by the paper.
No, we were noticed and invitations tricked in and tip offs of major stories came in.
When the youngsters were planning to distrupt the Umsobomvu Youth Development Agency national cenference held at the Feather Market Hall.
100% isisXhosa Comedy backstage with Nono and Qhamie
We knew before hand that the ceo of the agency, Andile Lungisa who was also the national deputy president of the ANCYL together with Julius Malema as the president will be dragged out of the conference.
Wearing his sweet pink suit and sharp pointed BEEE shores to address the Youth Unemployment in the region.
When the American singer, Bebe Winans was coming to town, we were the amongst those waiting to greet him at the airport. The invitation came as far as Johannesburg to attend the Celine Dion Concert with transportation which included return flight tickets.
When four Nigerian national appeared in court after a story of a teenage girl that was thrown out of the fourth floor flat in Central.
With the Help of the regional ANCYL in the region, High Schools around the city came to a standstil as youngsters marched to the court demanding the suspects not to be given bail.
Dr Maphazi's term as a mayor taking over from Nceba Faku saw the metro Fm came to the city for two consecutive years, with that our office was flooded with artist from Ts records.
Maphazi life Memorial is on the 18 June, the Wednesday at Nangoza Jebe and Funeral on Friday the 20 June at Feather Market Centre.
I would really like to thank the family and friends of Maphazi for giving me all the pics to use for this article.
To everyone who played a role in tracking them after seeing my post on facebook... Thank you, thank you, thank you! Umuntu, ngumuntu ngabantu. Thank you!
