‘I don’t live my life in regret’

When it comes to celebrity subculture, there is a sheep mentality that prevails and one could easily gain notoriety simply based on what is written about them.

Sometimes the stories – sensationalised for added effect – aren’t a stretch from the truth. Sometimes they are.

Ultimately, I wanted to know which group Nonhle Thema fell into. While my request for a tête-à-tête was initially turned down, my tenacity won through and Thema agreed to meet for coffee.

Arriving 15 minutes early for the chat, I was impressed to say the least.

And I must admit, the petite presenter certainly cuts a striking figure. Aside from her immaculately applied make-up, Thema was dressed in a snug-fitting red dress, with gorgeous black-heeled ankle boots and a black formal jacket; she looked ready for a cover shoot.

But I wasn’t there for a lifestyle piece on beauty and nails. I was there to chat about the hullabaloo over her career and her character assassination of certain individuals on Twitter.

“Vuzu… actually not just Vuzu, I’ve been working for M-Net for about 10 years. I started in 2003 when I was 21. They have been like my family – my parents – for so long. But I’ve been growing. I wanted to stand on my own. I was so comfortable with them (Vuzu) that I wasn’t pursuing other things and I have had other channels wanting to work with me this past year. I felt like it was time to move on,” she explains.

Thema says she has also been getting offers from other parts of Africa.

She continues: “I didn’t want to get to a point another 10 years down the line where I’m still at the same company, I’m 40, earning the same salary. And I’m not the kind of person who likes the same things, which is why my career has been very fruitful. I never want to get to a point where I’m stagnant.”

Making hay while the sun shines is exactly what the presenter has been doing. Last year she launched Nonhle Thema Productions and earlier this year she introduced Nonhle Thema Merchandise.

“For me, it is kinda now or never,” she points out.

Before moving on from the whole Vuzu “break-up” saga, which has set Twitter on fire with comments – positive and not – I ask her if her contract had ended.

“The contract hadn’t expired,” Thema confirms. “It was just a mutual decision because I wanted to do other things. There is no scandal.”

Midway through my question on what she is busy with, she interrupts: “You need to give me advice on my new perfume. I just got it and I’m excited for the launch. We don’t have a name for it.”

Fishing it out of her bag, she sprays it on my hand.

“What do you think?” she asks.

I have to admit, as someone who loves fragrances, that I loved the whiff of deliciously fresh, sassy notes permeating the air.

“This is going to be my biggest project,” she shares. “A lot of money has been invested in it. Besides Connie Ferguson, no other person has a fragrance out.”

And don’t be surprised if, in a few months’ time, she has a make-up line out. In the meantime, she is making “at least R200 000 a month” just from advertising on her website that took about six months to create.

Business savvy she certainly has.

“Girlfriend, I’m on my grind. This is how celebrities make money in America. You can’t be a presenter and stop doing things for the rest of your life.”

Ultimately, Thema says she hopes her success will be a source of inspiration for others.

With success, I point out, comes a fair amount of pitfalls by wanton media attention.

“When I was still hustling trying to make my name, my mum (veteran actress Cynthia Shange) used to always say: ‘You will be the biggest star one day.’ And this was when no journalist would even care to take a picture. They would go: ‘Ja, she is that girl from Channel O’. Nonhle Goes To Hollywood was the turning point in my career. It gave me confidence and a voice.

“It propelled me to be a woman who realised her power and freedom. I made a few mistakes in my journey, but now I’m happy with not having to be perfect.”

On the format eclipsing the struggle element, she questions: “That is who I am. I am a glamour queen. Besides, there was a lot of struggle with friends turning on me and so on.

“There wasn’t a script. Obviously, there was an order of what was going to be done. Not even the Kardashians are random.”

Is there a second instalment in the pipeline? “It is all going to be on hold for now,” she explains.

Having found her voice and individuality in the industry, Thema seemingly milked her freedom of expression… on Twitter.

Of her so-called beef with Bonang Matheba and tirade against YFM, Thema defends herself: “I remember the media saying Nonhle was jealous of Bonang’s new TV reality show. Bonang didn’t have one. They just tried to press the issue. I have nothing but respect for that girl. I like seeing her because she is a hustler like me – I can see she will go far.

“YFM DJs have had an issue with me. Actually, I think some of the guys have crushes on me. In the past year, they constantly engaged in conversations about me. They used to say things like: ‘Nonhle Goes to Hollywood is whack.’ I’m a girl in the industry, but not from the industry. I’m here to do my own wishes. And people tend to gang up on you if they feel you are not part of a clique. At the end of the day, I’m not ghetto. I’m a lady, who was raised well. I have class. It is a pity some people had to reveal their un-classiness. I just had to put them in their place. I can back up what I said, I don’t know if they can.”

Not one to be deterred by all the hate she’s been getting, Thema has already got herself an acting coach in preparation of what’s to come.

“People judge you for whatever. I work hard. I’m a lot of different things. I have a heart of gold and take care of those I love. I also do mentorship programes. But that is never highlighted. They (the media) only focus on my Tweets.”

Channelling Oprah, the former presenter has a lot of grand designs for her career and that includes having her own talk show and launching her own channel.

“I don’t live my life in regret. I’m living it. Nonhle is evolving. I’ve learned not to worry about the world anymore, but to do what makes me come alive. I’m glad I’m so public – that means my life is for a reason,” she emphasises.

One can deduce a lot from Thema. Her comments could be construed as egotistical. Her standpoint can be rubbished as foolhardy in an industry as cut-throat as ours.

But, while everyone is entitled to their opinion, I can’t help but applaud the presenter for her chutzpah. She goes after she wants and doesn’t mince her words. That kind of courage has to count for something. And it clearly does, with South Africa sitting up and taking notice of her every move.