Women Shaping the Future of Broadcasting: Ntsike Mchunu
Nontsikelelo Nandi Mchunu, PR and Consumer Marketing Coordinator at Gagasi FM, has spent the past nine years building a career in broadcasting defined by resilience, relationship-building and a strong commitment to using media as a force for positive change.
Her journey with Gagasi FM began in April 2017, at a time when she was three months into a two-year MDR-TB treatment journey – one of the biggest challenges she had faced. Her mother had encouraged her to take the year off to focus on her health, and she initially agreed. But as the treatment became more manageable, Ntsike found herself longing to feel alive again and return to what she loved: media.
In an act of determination and faith, she took matters into her own hands. With her CV in hand and dressed to the nines, she drove to Gagasi FM, despite there being no vacancies and without an appointment. She waited for almost two hours for an opportunity to speak to a manager. Eventually, the then Sales Manager gave her five minutes of his time. Although there were no vacancies in his department, he offered to circulate her CV among other managers.
Two weeks later, Ntsike received a call inviting her for an interview with the Marketing Department. That internship became her introduction to radio and provided the foundation for the career she has built since. Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Media, Communications and English Studies, a relentless work ethic and unwavering faith, she embraced the opportunity and began her journey at Gagasi FM.
Today, Ntsike serves as the station’s PR and Consumer Marketing Coordinator, where she combines her communications expertise with a passion for creating meaningful connections between the station, its commercial partners and the communities it serves.
A significant part of her contribution has been her involvement in Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiatives, where she has helped transform partnerships into programmes that deliver tangible and lasting benefits to communities. Over the past four years, Ntsike has played a pivotal role in developing and nurturing a long-term partnership centred on education and community development.
Through her dedication to relationship management and her ability to identify opportunities where shared objectives can translate into meaningful social impact, the partnership has supported the Geleza neGagasi initiative, including the construction of a new school. Three other schools have, at different times, also benefited from the refurbishment and upgrading of their ablution facilities.
These achievements demonstrate Ntsike’s ability to look beyond the traditional boundaries of marketing and public relations. She has helped position partnerships not simply as commercial relationships, but as opportunities to create meaningful change, particularly in communities where investment in education and infrastructure can have a lasting impact.
Her contribution lies not only in securing and maintaining these relationships, but in cultivating partnerships built on trust, shared purpose and a clear understanding of community needs. By connecting partners with initiatives that make a tangible difference, she has helped strengthen Gagasi FM’s role as a platform that not only entertains and informs, but also contributes to the development and empowerment of the communities it serves.
Ntsike’s journey from overcoming a significant personal challenge to becoming a trusted communications and marketing professional is a testament to her resilience and determination. Her work demonstrates how women in broadcasting can use their skills, influence and platforms to create opportunities that extend well beyond the airwaves.
For Ntsike, the value of women in broadcasting lies precisely in the experiences and perspectives they bring to the industry. Her approach is rooted in authenticity, service and the belief that representation should ultimately translate into meaningful opportunities for others. As she reflects, “The beauty of women in broadcasting is that we bring our whole selves to the broadcasting space — our strength, our vulnerability, our experiences and our dreams. When women are given the space to speak and serve, entire communities have the opportunity to be seen, to be heard and to grow.”