Frequency Magazine_Talk Radio Issue Talk Radio Issue | Page 13

After Kaya FM, Criselda joined
Metro FM and her voice became
more prominent. “I’ve always
been aware of my strength, so it
has been a natural progression
from station to station,” she says.
“Positive Talk is my company I’ve
been running since 2006, I wanted
to take away the negative asso-
ciation from HIV/AIDS.” During the
time of the interview, Criselda was
presenting a show called Lifetime
Live where they looked at things
like the country’s education
system and economy in a way
that relates to humanity.“At Kaya
FM, I was the same age as the
audience, on Metro FM I was like
the big sister and now on SAFM,
I’m talking to my peers whom we
are the same age group,” she says
about her transition.
Throughout her career, Criselda
has been applauded and recog-
nized by her peers and people in
power. “One of the highlights for
me was when my country sent me
to the United General Assembly
hosted by Kofi Annan to represent
South Africa’s policy on HIV/AIDS,”
she says about some of her mile-
stones. “Another one is being se-
lected as one of the ambassadors
of 46664, we were the first group
selected by Nelson Mandela him-
self and were asked to come and
contribute to policy formation for
ministers of the SADC region on
health and wellbeing; then Metro
FM chose me as one of the people
that travelled throughout the con-
tinent to 20 countries in 21 days
introducing radio as a medium
to educate.”
As a woman who has achieved
a lot in her broadcasting ca-
reer, Criselda feels like wom-
en shouldn’t wait to be given
a chance but should go after
what they want. She holds wom-
en like the late Winnie-Madik-
izela Mandela in the highest
regard. In broadcasting she is
inspired by women like Shado
Twala, KG Moeketsi, the late Ro-
wena Baird, Felicia Mabuza-Sut-
tle, the late Maya Angelou and
Oprah Winfrey.
When asked if she has come full
circle with her career, she says:
“I feel like the circle has closed
and it’s starting a new ring; I feel
like there is a new chapter that’s
waiting to be unleashed and
there needs to be a
new conversation.”
She recently shared the news of
her departure from SAFM on her
Instagram page: “I’m very excit-
ed about my next assignment,
Legends don’t do goodbyes,
they do Nexts, I’m ready.”
Stay tuned.
Ta l k R a d i o I s s u e
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