The first 5Talks, on Friday, 5 August between 15:00 to16:00, will host a panel discussion with Ezlyn Barends, Malie Thekiso, and Rebecca Franks. This will be followed by a second 5Talks with Public Protector Thuli Madonsela on Friday, 19 August.
This week’s guests, who will share stories of their drive and passions, promise to inspire listeners and hopefully change attitudes. Ezlyn Barends is the Founder of the DAD Fund (named after a teacher and mentor Daniel Aurthur Douman), through which she created DreamGirls. The organisation is a sisterhood of young female professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders who actively mentor and guide teenage girls in underprivileged communities to be successful in their pursuit of higher education and other areas of everyday life.
Malie Thekiso, a New York Film Academy graduate has starred in a short film, Two, which has been doing the rounds at festivals in the United States. She originally graduated at WITS with a BCom degree, majoring in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, but decided to pursue her dream of acting instead.
Rebecca Franks was recently appointed as Africa’s first female Google Developer Expert. Through her skills, she has developed Book Dash, an app that makes hundreds of children's books widely available in several South African languages.
The station is also supporting presenter Thando Thabethe’s third annual Thando Thabethe Women’s Day Netball Challenge on Tuesday, 9 August, Thabethe, who is passionate about women’s issues, hosts the challenge each year to raise fund for organisations that focus on women. This year, the initiative will benefit Nisaa Institute for Women’s Development (an NGO opposed to all forms of oppression, exploitation and violence against women). Entry for the tournament, held at UJ Soweto Campus, costs R150 with all proceeds going toward the NGO.
In addition to the event, Thabethe will also be hosting a seminar and pamper session on Saturday, 6 August at SunSquare Hotel, Montecasino. Guest speakers at the seminar include 5FM’s station manager Justine Cullinan, actresses Lillian Dube and Sophie Ndaba and Metro FM DJ Unathi Msengana. The focus of the seminar will be on various women’s issues including women abuse and sexism in the workplace.
Thabethe says this year her theme is “Take Back your Power”. “This is a cause very close to my heart and this year I look to speak to the hearts and minds of all women, by understanding their issues and having frank conversations around overcoming whatever obstacles we may face,” she says.
5FM will also celebrate Women’s Day with an all-male line-up. When listeners tune in on Tuesday, 9 August, it will just the guys on air all day, while the ladies enjoy a day off including brunch.