By: Natasha Archary
Behind the poised smile and spectacles, the enigmatic Mfundo Mabalane is a hardworking mom who has a reputation as a lead news anchor on both radio and TV speaks volumes.
With 10-years in the industry, Mfundo is the face and voice that most South Africans wake up to in the morning and end their days with.
Her early mornings and late weekday nights means she is away from her two beautiful children, but this is the life she chose and she shares what a typical day in her life entails.
The early bird catches the big news stories
Starting her mornings at 04h00, Mfundo spends the first few moments of her day scrolling through news wires on her phone to check any news developments.
This gives her an indication of which stories she will include in her news bulletins when she gets to Kaya 959 and on-air with Siz the World.
“My day starts at 04h00 when I wake up, take a shower and get dressed. I need 3 alarms to help me get up – one at 03h45, the second at 03h55 and then the final one at 04h00.
The 3 alarms are to interrupt my sleep 15-minutes before I start the internal negotiation with my body like, ‘sweety we have to wake up, it’s the life you chose.’
Then I’m off, when I get to Kaya 959 I make myself a coffee, because coffee is a must on all days that end in a y.”
Describing her work day at Kaya 959 as “very busy but fun”, Mfundo goes through stories left by the evening news team and begins compiling bulletins for Siz the World.
Don’t let the gym attire she’s always sporting in the mornings fool you because Mfundo maintains that she doesn’t have the time to squeeze in a workout, which doesn’t explain her snatched waist.
My work day ends after 21h00
When she’s done with her shift at Kaya 959, Mfundo prepares for her second job at the SABC on Channel 404 Prime Time News.
This means that the dedicated news anchor misses the most important part of her children’s weekday and night-time routines.
“I’m on breakfast radio and prime TV in the evening, I only make it home well after dinner.
My helper, bless her soul, takes care of everything in my absence, and that gives me peace of mind.
Weekends are really where I wind down with my family, and I cook up a storm then. Something many don’t know about me is that I’m also a great baker.
When I get home after my day ends, I usually light a scented candle to relax, head to the shower then get into bed.”
Mfundo shares what her typical work day entails
If you think Mfundo Mabalane falls asleep the minute her head touches her silk pillow, you are mistaken, because she has to watch about 30-minutes of international news first.
Mfundo only falls asleep after 22h00, and then it’s rinse and repeat Mondays to Fridays.
Her daughter and son are her pride and joy, but even with a Bachelors Degree in Communication Sciences, Mfundo is blindly navigating the journey of motherhood, especially as a “boy mom.”
“I have two wonderful kids, my eldest is the softest girl, and my youngest is a boy. I must say being a boy mom has been the most humbling experience.
Bless my son’s soul, but he is in his naughty-by-nature phase right now. I’m not sure when he’ll outgrow the naughty phase but we’re riding this wave all while ‘doing this career girl thing.’
I willingly became an advocate for the Bereka Mosadi (work woman) gang, cry with me!”
Mfundo Mabalane shares how she juggles motherhood and her career
Be sure to listen to Siz the World weekdays on Kaya 959 from 06h00 to 09h00 to catch Mfundo Mabalane on-air.
Also read: Andy Maqondwana on her exciting fitness journey with Sweat 1000
