Who Is Redi Tlhabi
Redi is a highly accomplished author, executive producer and talkshow host, whose authoritative, yet empathetic presenting style has made her a household name in journalism. She is known for her unwavering commitment to truth, accountability and social justice. She has been a formidable force in highlighting and challenging gender based violence.
Redi is a sought-after public speaker and was invited by Oprah Winfrey to speak at the first O You! Conference in Africa. The conference charged South Africans to live purposeful lives.
Redi has interviewed newsmakers like Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Colin Powell, Bono and Mo Ibrahim. During UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s visit to South Africa in 2011, Redi was chosen by the UK High Commission to facilitate a panel discussion between Cameron and influential South African business leaders, on entrepreneurship as the driver to economic growth. She has also interviewed a number of African heads of state.
She has presented television programmes on Aljazeera, the SABC, BBC World Service and ENEWS AFRICA. Apart from journalism awards, Redi has won South Africa's most coveted literature award, the Alan Paton Award, for her memoir, Endings and Beginnings. Her second book, telling the story of Fezekile Kuzwayo, the woman who pressed rape charges against former South Africa president, Jacob Zuma, is a best seller and has been shortlisted for numerous awards. She is a sought after moderator and has shared the stage with and interviewed Oprah Winfrey, David Cameroon, Kofi Annan, Caster Semenya. She moderates for the United Nations, Women Deliver and other international organisations, whose primary focus is gender equality.
Redi’s daily program was on Talk Radio 207, which was acknowledged as the leading platform in South Africa for the general public wishing to hear newsmakers being challenged and asked to account. Redi would aggressively address all of the social and political issues currently being faced in South Africa’s including crime, corruption, foreign policy, education, politics along with community and social issues.
Redi also writes a weekly influential column in South Africa's most read newspaper, The Sunday Times, tackling a variety of subjects like crime, global warming, international trade, and sexual violence, amongst others.
In 2011 Redi was commissioned to work as a guest presenter on both BBC World and Radio for a four-part special broadcast on the impact of mining in Africa. When BBC Radio’s midday show celebrated its 20-year milestone, Redi was among the five top candidates to present a daily program. Redi was selected to work alongside John Snow for the United Kingdom’s Channel 4 coverage of the historic G8 Summit in Gleneagles. She provided an African insight on debt relief and climate change and its impact on poor communities.
In 2018, Redi was invited by the Graca Machel Trust and Nelson Mandela Foundation to host and moderate a panel discussion at the I'sthunzi Sabafazi event held as part of Nelson Mandela's centenary celebrations. In this panel, she steered an impeccable conversation on women's rights with Oprah Winfrey, Executive Director of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Josina Machel.
Redi was approached to participate in the Discovery Leadership Summit in November 2019. The Discovery Leadership Summit is the 'pre-eminent global thought leadership event in South Africa. It aims to provide a platform for some of the world’s most brilliant thinkers to share their leadership strategies and insights on issues relating to business, economics, government and science.' She was honoured to interview President Bill Clinton, former US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, Prime Minister David Cameron and world champion athlete Ms Caster Semenya.
Experience
2017 - Current
2005 - 2017
2012 - 2014
Senior Anchor and Executive Producer: The Big Debate
Talk Show Host at Primedia Broadcasting, TalkRadio 702
Presenter and Producer at Aljazeera English
Book
Khwezi: The Remarkable Story of Fezekile Ntsukela Kuzwayo
In August 2016, following the announcement of the results of South Africa's heated municipal election, four courageous young women interrupted Jacob Zuma's victory address, bearing placards asking us to 'Remember Khwezi'. Before being dragged away by security guards, their powerful message had hit home and the public was reminded of the tragic events of 2006, when Zuma was on trial for the rape of Fezekile Ntsukela Kuzwayo, better known as Khwezi.
In the aftermath of the trial, which saw Zuma acquitted, Khwezi was vilified by his many supporters and forced to take refuge outside of South Africa.
Ten years later, just two months after this protest had put Khwezi's struggle back into the minds and hearts of South Africans, Khwezi passed away ... But not before she had slipped back into South Africa and started work with Redi Tlhabi on a book about her life. How as a young girl living in ANC camps in exile she was raped by the very men who were supposed to protect her; how as an adult she was driven once again into exile, suffering not only at the hands of Zuma's devotees but under the harsh eye of the media.
In sensitive and considered prose, journalist Redi Tlhabi breathes life into a woman for so long forced to live in the shadows. In telling the story of Khwezi, Tlhabi is able to focus a broader lens on the sexual abuse that abounded during the 'struggle' years, abuse which continues to plague women and children in South Africa today.
Endings & Beginnings: A Story of Healing Redi Tlhabi
Two years after her father’s death, 11-year-old Redi Tlhabi meets Mabegzo: handsome, charming, and smooth, but also a rumored gangster, murderer, and rapist. Against her family’s wishes, Redi develops a strong and sometimes uncomfortable attraction to him; she herself doesn’t understand why she is drawn to Mabegzo.
When he too is found lying dead in a pool of blood, as her father was, Redi has to try to stay sane. Following her emotional journey into the past to finally humanize Mabegzo, this account interviews the alleged criminal's family and friends. As she fits together the pieces of the puzzle that was Mabegzo, Redi also finds peace and allows her demons to rest.
Media Room
Achievements
2013 Awarded the coveted Alan Paton Award
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