Johannesburg - This week we feature South African-born television news anchor, columnist, radio host, and accomplished lawyer Flo Letoaba.
Letoaba, who has more than a decade of experience in mainstream journalism as a prime time presenter, currently features on SABC news as an anchorwoman.
She previously worked at the SABC, as a news reader for e.tv’s eNews and as a news anchor for the eNCA (DStv 403) TV news channel.
She has also featured as a news anchor on Afro Worldview (DStv 405) TV news channel, and was also a senior news anchor on popular radio station EyeWitness News.
She’s also worked on Metro FM and SAfm as a weekend newsreader, and also presented and produced a television current affairs show, Indepth News which was broadcast on SABC News International.
Letoaba is also a sought-after voice-over artist specialising in corporate DVDs and commercials.
You are invited to take part in a celebrity boxing match. You are able to go 12 rounds with any celebrity in South Africa. Who do you choose?
I’d choose 947’s Nick Explicit. He always trolls me on Twitter but he’s a gentleman too so he would probably let me win, I don’t see him fighting back.
The worst date you've ever had is.......?
The date itself wasn’t bad at all however when we were leaving we got into a lift and got stuck in it for hours with three other people, what an absolute nightmare! We eventually had to be rescued out of there as I was getting very close to having a panic attack so the ceiling of the lift had to be removed and a ladder dropped down to get us all out.
The person you found most challenging to interview was.... ?
Edward Zuma, former president Jacob Zuma’s son. I got a sense that he didn’t have any faith in nor trust the media and that he expected a hostile interview with someone who was against him. I never approach any interview with that attitude toward anyone so I had to almost gain his trust first which was quite challenging, however it did end up being a good interview and I was pleased to see the reaction from social media saying it was the first time he didn’t seem defensive and just clearly answered. I am proud of that.
You are stuck in an elevator with President Cyril Ramaphosa. What is the first thing you ask him?
I would ask the president why it is so difficult to achieve equality for the majority in our country. I’m passionate about issues surrounding inequality in South Africa, in fact it angers me to see how our majority live.
The meal that most reminds you of your childhood is....?
It would have to be my mother’s Sunday cooking, what we call “Seven Colours”. Usually on the plate you’d find roasted chicken or beef or stew of some sort (on a special occasion Sunday you might fight it all), then there will be several different salads, rice and gravy.
What is the one thing that has caught your attention on social media in the past week?
I’m always on the lookout for interesting stories on social media, sometimes even tabloid stories. I think what caught my attention most this week and I tweeted a lot about was the EFF march to Phoenix in KZN and obviously the backstory to that which is of course the loss of so many lives.
If you had the choice of competing in any Olympic event, what event would you choose to compete in?
No doubt in my mind that I’d choose hockey, it was the sport I loved most in school and I was pretty good at it, I still have the legs to show for it!
The biggest misconception people have of you is....?
The biggest misconception about me is that I’m unapproachable, aloof and snobbish. I’m not sure how I got that reputation but I’m not at all like that. I think I’m very assertive and clear about what I won’t tolerate and I suppose people read me a certain way because of that.
You can only shop at one store for the rest of your life. Which store do you choose to shop at...?
I’d have to go for a place where I can shop for different things, so if we’re limiting it to South Africa, I’d say Woolworths. I’d be able to get food, clothes and homeware.
You are able to spend a day with any Kaizer Chiefs player, learning about his life and what he is all about. Who do you choose?
This is an easy one, he’s no longer a player but I can’t imagine anyone else. It would have to be Kaizer Motaung Junior whom I’ve had a crush on for half my life. My friend’s husband Ari, who works for Kaizer Chiefs even got me the official Kaizer Chiefs limited edition jersey, with his player number, one of my prized possessions I must say. He seems interesting and undoubtedly good-looking so a day with him would be great.