CAPITAL: The Voice of Business Issue 1, 2015 | Page 34

LUNCH
it in himself to serve under an IFP-led
provincial government.
However, the change of environment
turned out to be a pivotal time in his life,
he says.
“I got to understand how people manage
their lives, and to understand humanity in
a different way.”
“As a personal financial advisor, people
share secrets with you — things sometimes
husbands and wives don’t even share with
each other. It was very eye-opening and
helped me reshape my life,” he explains.
It was during this period that he began
in radio, as a volunteer at Radio Maritzburg,
where he was trained by Joe Gill from the
BBC and Zambian Kennedy Phiri before
starting work as a night deejay at P4. Zuma
eventually became acting programme
manager for the station before joining
local government in 2005, as the manager
in the office of the mayor. A year later,
after elections, he was made marketing
and communications manager in the
municipality, where he remained until
February last year.
“The experience I gained [in the
municipality] was so valuable,” he says. “I
wouldn’t exchange it for anything.”
“I became a stronger person, more
decisive, more patient.”
“To be a spokesperson for such a big
organisation is a daunting task. People
speak less about the good and more about
what’s not good.”
“And the public are demanding —
rightfully so — as ratepayers.”
He says that the secret to handling it is to
stay in control of your emotions.
“I remember how I was in traffic once
and this guy cut me off. So I shouted at him
in anger. He motioned to me to pull over,
and so I did. Next thing he climbs out with
a gun!”
Zuma pulled away, grateful to escape
with his life, and says that that experience
taught him a valuable lesson.
”There is no use getting angry — just let
it go.”
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| Issue 1 | Capital

Brian Zuma’s true love is music and he

His advice to public servants and others
dealing with difficult circumstances is
to “think with your mind, not with your
emotions. Derive pleasure in providing the
best service you can to the public. Nothing
is as fulfilling as knowing that you have
served a member of the public well.”
“I love serving people,” he points out.
He says he owes a lot to ex-mayor Hloni
Zondi and former municipal manager
Thabani Zulu.
“They ensured that I had my feet well
grounded in local government and they
helped me see things as I do now