Standerton Advertiser welcomes new reporter
Radio stations identified his talent for conveying the nitty-gritty of events in townships and he was awarded the best video field reporter in 2019 by a station.
Mostly absorbed in radio transmissions and working for the national broadcaster for some odd years, the new reporter at the Standerton Advertiser is no stranger to media houses.
Gavin Emmanuel was born and bred in the capital’s Mabopane, an only child. After his mother, Mabel, died in 1998, solid family structures had him landing up in the capital of Botswana, Gaberone.
An aunt took him under her wings and before you could blink an eye, he became a farmer.
“If you did not have cattle and land, you were basically poor,” Gavin commented.
Ten years passed during which the township boy farmed. Gavin returned to South Africa in 2008, still a citizen, and went to Pretoria.
A scattering of companies saw fit to employ him while he focused on media houses.
Radio stations identified his talent for conveying the nitty-gritty of events in townships and he was awarded the best video field reporter in 2019 by a station.
The best of the best competed for this accolade. Hammanskraal in Pretoria brought back memories of his reporting on water shortages and the outbreak of cholera.
“I have always been a hard-news person.”
Talking about farming, the need is there to raise a couple of cows for the lobola. His eight-year-old daughter lives in Pretoria and the 12-year-old sibling in Botswana.
Gavin is close to his roots and graced them both with Setswana names.
He played soccer in the dusty fields of a township in Pretoria, albeit a youngster, but roots for Kaizer Chiefs.
A brown belt in martial arts to top it all, is not to be sneered at.
Gavin has been diagnosed with diabetes type 2 and he had to rid his body of all starches, sugar, liquor and what his physician prescribed to lead a productive life.
He is a ballad man with Bon Jovi, Sting and Bruce Springsteen tickling his fancy, but don’t be shy with the rap.
The question posed about his thoughts on Standerton, was met with honesty.
“I am appalled at what the ruling party and municipality have done to this town.”
