A progressive and award-winning media professional with a proven track record in creating, developing, and growing media platforms, both in print and broadcasting, with 7 years and 11 years, respectively.  A strategic creative who has grown in the media space, Zandile has developed and pruned her management skills through effective communication and business practice resulting in performance beyond targets for both the business and workforce.  Zandile has a strong commitment to the industry, having contributed to keeping Ukhozi FM the biggest radio station in Africa as Programmes Manager for 10 years, growing its’ audience from 6 million to 8 million.

Ms Tembe started her media career at Ilanga Newspaper, where she started out as an Assistant to the MD and moved to being Promotions Assistant and later moved to the newsroom where she introduced youth, fashion, and entertainment lifestyle sections.  She was one of the innovators that started Ilanga leTheku, an insert lifestyle publication that was for the young-at-heart reader.  When she left Ilanga in 2009, she oversaw the publications brand and parthership management. 

Zandile has a notable involvement in music structures, she is former judge at the South African Music Awards from 2005-2008.  She was responsible for developing and implementing Ukhozi FM’s Programming and Music Policy, ensuring that South African music and artists are afforded a bigger platform in radio.  In 2012, she introduced the 100% SA Music Month campaign, creating alternative avenues for new music and old music – this campaign runs at station to date.  She has championed one of SA’s most talked about music campaigns, known as Ingoma Ehlukanisa Unyaka. She is the MTN Radio Awards’ 2012 “Radio Innovation” recipient for her “Public Broadcaster Meets Community Radio” innovation. 

Zandile has a broad understanding of talent, content and radio broadcasting and has a career history that has resulted in audiences and revenue growth. She has insight and the savvy to implement, understand and troubleshoot strategies while achieving business growth and increased market share resulting in profitability.  She is the 2011 “Best Content Producer-Public Broadcaster”, MTN Radio Awards Recipient, she was honoured by the eThekwini Municipality for being one of the city’s Movers and Shakers. She is the co-founder of the NUZ Fest & Expo aimed at developing Umlazi as a progressive township. Ms. Tembe is a board member with KwaZulu-Natal United Music Industry Association, known as KUMISA, an organization that seeks to empower and develop music role players on the business and innovation in music and the arts.

Zandile is Managing Director of Mtiba Media, a female-run strategic media, brand, and sponsorship management company that provides brands with innovative and sustainable branding strategies and concepts.  Mtiba Media is also the sales house for TV Network Media, a digital screens platform found in public hospitals and healthcare centres across KZN. Mtiba Media provides content and commercial solutions for this digital platform and as a content strategist, Ms Tembe continues to extend her expertise of broadcasting and content production for both radio and digital, for community and low power commercial stations.

Zandile’s passion for media, listening to and empowering the youth, culture and innovation are her biggest drivers in life.