I begin this open letter of mine to you by congratulating you on your well-deserved wins over the weekend during the first edition of the DSTV Mzansi Viewership Choice Awards.

I will attempt to detail why I chose to appropriately use the word ‘well-deserved’ throughout the letter.  

I would like to begin by expressing why I feel your success story and victories resonate positively with not only me but with millions of your supporters and the South African public in general. In a time when it is often said that our local TV industry is inundated with the recycling of familiar faces and exhaustion of talent, I think you have managed to prove that notion wrong. Although you do have a background in the TV industry, I think OPW was your first big TV presenting gig, do correct me if I am wrong. 

You have opened the door.

There are millions of dreams that have been crashed where hopefuls feel they are not good enough to be TV presenters as this territory has been seen to either be too congested or dominated by only a select few. Granted, there is a lot of great talent in this country where TV presenting is concerned and it is important that I highlight and acknowledge the successes of those that preceeded you, not only in the show that earned you the bragging rights but to the industry as a whole. 

You came into Mzansi Magic’s Our Perfect Wedding and gave the show new meaning. You brought warmth, your special touch and great personality which made it easy for you to connect with the couples and the viewers. And even with that, still maintained the vision of the show to not take away the spotlight from the couple. I must admit, this made you win me over effortlessly. 

To date, you are the only presenter who has managed to win awards for the show from a SAFTA to Mzansi Viewership Choice Awards. 

I really love how you have carried on with the culture, from some of the previous hosts of the show, of comforting and assisting the couple when disaster appears to rear its ugly head en route to their big wedding day. It’s through gestures like these that show how a powerful role the host of the show plays in building up the ubuntu ethos that the show epitomises to our country. Our country is really in need of many more of these gestures of humanity.  

I also like what the show stands for. It serves as a platform that not only showcases new talent on TV with every season but celebrates and tells our stories the way we want them to be told as a nation. 

You stood up for and understood the challenge, accepted it and worked your way, diligently so, to the hearts of many South Africans. As a result, it comes as no suprise to me that the show is one of the most-watched TV programmes on Mzansi Magic. I must say, you did have a great input towards that. While still hosting the show, you were also able to share the spotlight with other stand-in hosts and also credited them on the work they did. Proof of how easy and simple it is for people to work well together and to succeed for a common goal. 

Your humility speaks for itself. I carefully noted the many times and often at the beginning of your acceptance speeches over the weekend, how you thanked the viewers and people who voted and supported you. It warmed my heart as you dedicated, shared and celebrated your wins with the people. You also paid your gratitude on your last acceptance speech to a former presenter of the show who encouraged you to go for the chance. You could have easily have made the awards all about you but you opted not to. This is one of the many reasons why I feel your star will never cease to shine in the hearts of many South Africans wherever you go. 

I found it humbling to also discover that you are stepping down from the show after such a phenomenal reign. This also shows how you have valued your time on the show, the impact the show has had on you and how you are willing to gracefully open up the platform and door for someone else to discover the same for themselves. 

That new person, which I am certain will be found, wherever they are, know the big shoes they have to fill and will in no doubt seek to compromise with such an honour. 

I wish you well over the flourishing career ahead of you and know that you have left an indellible mark in the history of the show and in ourlives as viewers. 

I hope now I have been able to convince you why your awards were well-deserved. 

Regards, 

Sithenjwa T Mzili