Thato Mokwena: All-Rounder on the Radio

A popular voice on Radio Veritas, Thato Mokwena has served the station in various roles over the past 13 years. Daluxolo Moloantoa spoke to the singing broadcaster.

Among the most popular recordings on local radio stations of the South African traditional hymn “Thato Ya Hao” is sung in 1995 by the Imilonji KaNtu Choral Society. Its lead singer may seem shy at first contact, so much so that he refuses to talk about his singing. But catch him presenting live on Radio Veritas, and you would swear that Thato Mokwena is an absolute extrovert.

At Radio Veritas, the 46-year-old is an all-rounder. In his 13 years with the Catholic radio station, Thato has been juggling several roles: on-air presenter, technical producer, and librarian.

Born the youngest of four on March 23, 1978, in Kgabalatsane, North-West province, Thato was raised by a single parent, mother Nancy Nnaniki Mokwena, with brothers Christopher and Moffat and sister Mmamoeng Bebe Mokwena. “We also had our grandparents, Herman Radikeledi and Grace Gladys Letlape, who raised us in the Catholic faith at the St Francis of Assisi church in Jericho,” about 85km north of Pretoria, Thato told The Southern Cross.

After his parents’ separation he was raised in different places. The family first moved to Jericho, followed by Botswana, and then to Letlhabile in Brits, where they became parishioners of St Zeno church.

“My grandfather was a permanent deacon who moulded us into loving our Catholic faith. At one point I thought that I was going to become a priest,” Thato recalled. “When we were parishioners of St Francis of Assisi church in Jericho, we had been taught a lot about St Francis, and I contemplated becoming a Franciscan priest. I cannot even remember what happened for me to turn away from my perceived calling to become a priest. I guess I was still too young to think about such things.”

As a youngster at St Zeno parish, Thato became involved in various activities, and later continued his involvement in parish life at the Christ the New Man church in Garankuwa. “I used to play drums as part of the church drum majorettes, and  I took part in church sports activities,” he said.

“I even did some acting, playing the centurion in the Passion Plays of the combined Garankuwa churches during Lent,” he recalled. “The plays were meticulously organised by the Stigmatine priests there, Frs Michele D’Annucci and Guiliano Melotto.” He also took part in the liturgy preparations for Mass.

“To top it off, I was voted as Mr North-West Deanery in the archdiocese of Pretoria in 1997. I think that was the first and the last time I will ever win a beauty contest,” Thato joked.

Having attended Jericho’s Charles Mmamogale Primary School, Thato matriculated at Micha-Kgasi High School in Kgabalatsane. He went on to obtain a degree in communications from Damelin College in Johannesburg.

Radio calling

Instead of the priesthood, radio came calling. “The love of radio has always been in me. After letting my dream of becoming a priest drift away, I told myself that I’m going to become a radio presenter,” Thato said.

His first port-of-call was at Motsweding FM, then based in Mahikeng, in 2008. He spent three years at the national Setswana radio station, working in the department of current affairs. “My three years at Motsweding helped me hone my presentation skills and channelled my focus towards what God had prepared for me in my professional life,” he said.

In 2011, when his contract ended, Thato headed home. After two weeks, he confided in the late Stigmatine Father Lino Vinco about his situation. A few days later, Fr Lino came back with a response: “There’s no time to rest, Thato,” the priest said. “We Catholics have our own radio station called Radio Veritas in Edenvale, in Johannesburg. I have already spoken to the station’s founder, Fr Emil Blaser, about you and your invaluable knowledge which you have amassed at your previous workplace.”

Thato moved to Johannesburg and has been with Radio Veritas ever since. In his 13 years there, he has progressed and evolved into a broadcasting all-rounder, behind the mic and behind the scenes. But there is one thing he enjoys most about his job. “I love travelling and meeting my fellow Catholics outside of Gauteng. That is the main reason why I enjoy wearing the technical producer’s hat whenever we go somewhere far for our outside broadcasts.”

He has only one concern about Catholic radio and media in South Africa. “Catholics are very much aware and know about Radio Veritas, and our broad Catholic media. However, it seems like our Catholic youth in particular are easily swayed and influenced by the more prevalent mainstream commercial media, instead of playing their part in the growth of our own media space. This has the unfortunate effect of driving our audience numbers down and splits our focus in our mission to evangelise,” he said.

His advice to young Catholics who would like to pursue a career in media is to aim very high. “Pursue your dreams and stick to what you believe is right and the truth. Have faith.”

Man of music

As far back as he can remember, Thato has always been singing. He first joined a choir when he was a parishioner of St Zeno church. At present, he serves as a chorister at Christ the New Man church. It is not surprising that his favourite programmes on Radio Veritas involve music. He also enjoys the on-air Masses presented in different local languages by various priests and bishops.

Thato is always guided by his faith. His favourite Scripture passage is Luke 12:35-36, on the faithful and vigilant servant. In his big voice, he proclaimed it in his Setswana mother tongue: “A matheka a lona a nne a tlamilwe gonne ga le itse gore morwa motho o tlatla neng. Imatlafatseng ka thapelo gore le se tsene mo thaelong.” In English, it reads: “Gird your loins and light your lamps, and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.”

You can listen to Thato Mokwena on Radio Veritas (see ad on page 23) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11:00 to noon, and on Saturdays from 14:00 to 16:00. His Friday “Gospel Top 10” show is repeated on Sundays at 19:00.

Published in the July 2024 issue of The Southern Cross magazine