Life is currently as smooth flowing for golf-loving DJ Thomas Msengana as his voice over the microphone of Metro FM these days.
He is loving every second of being back on air with one of the country’s major radio stations, because it’s showing him a picture of South Africa he believes is looking brighter by the day.
‘I’m blessed. The fact that I left Metro FM nine years ago saying that I would come back, and it happened like this is such a blessing,’ says Msengana. ‘And it gives me an opportunity to talk more about my first loves – golf and cricket.’
On this occasion, Msengana is indulging his love for golf as a member of the Vodacom Red Golf Tour, where he joined several sports stars, other celebrities and lucky Vodacom Red clients who won a place on the tour to play Blair Atholl and Leopard Creek golf courses and do so in style, with luxury accommodation, VIP transfers and charter flights.
‘The fact that we all got an opportunity to experience this Vodacom Red Golf Tour is amazing. It brought us together as a diverse yet totally integrated group. It’s recognising what you are about as a person. Are you a keen golfer? Do you respect the game? That’s all.’
Msengana has a passion for seeing a more integrated South Africa, and he believes golf and cricket are the two sports that are leading the way here.
‘Golf and cricket can keep up with the changes in South Africa. There are a lot of people of colour playing golf in particular and getting opportunities through the game. And in cricket I love the fact that there’s Kagiso Rabada, the number one bowler in the world. I love cricket because the stadiums are such a blend of Muslims, Hindus, Tswanas and Xhosas. The crowd is so integrated. Golf can match that.
‘It’s about having a greater sense of us as South Africans, and not white or black or coloured South Africans. Sport plays such a big role in this. Nelson Mandela said sport can do what no politician can ever do. I think we’re getting to that point now where it’s a question of, “Show me your skills and we’ll see how far we can take you. You know, just give me the opportunity and see whether I can compete”.’
From behind his microphone, Msengana says he is blessed to witness the evolving of what he calls a new world here in South Africa.
‘America is meant to be a free world and they are still struggling with racial issues. We as South Africa are a new world because we’re working on this integration. We have a reality we all live through. We live in a country where we are becoming more economically able, so a white person cannot complain and say ‘I hate the crime I’m living through in this country’ as if it happens to him in isolation, because I live next door to him and I go through the same crime.
‘But I don’t say, “this country”. Once you start referring to ‘them’ and ‘this country’ you are separating the issue. Talk about ‘our country’ or ‘my country’. Own it. I’m a father, and no matter what my child may do, no matter how bad, I would never say, “this child”. It’s always, “my child”, because I’m working from love.’
Indeed, Msengana has a great love for his country. And an equally great love for his work.
