A very special child has entered Gospel Gold presenter Lerato Moloi’s life – her baby niece
 FOR AS LONG as she can remember Lerato Moloi has been fascinated by babies. “And my favourite TV programme is a reality show called Birth Stories,” she grins. “Every episode is just the same – women having babies – but I absolutely love it!”
Now she’s awestruck by helping out with her latest niece, Murungwa – Angel in Venda. “That baby did something to me I can’t explain,” says Lerato. “When she was born, I couldn’t cry or laugh. It was just so overwhelming. It’s the most special thing ever for me to see a little human being come into life.”
Rungwi, as Murungwa is known for short, is the first child of Dineo Ramunenyiwa, technically Lerato’s cousin. “All my cousins are my brothers and sisters,” says Lerato. “But this is extra-special. Dineo’s my ‘sister-friend.’ “We’re pillars for each other, always there in good and bad times. Dineo doesn’t drive like I do, but she’ll still get on a bus from Limpopo and come down to Jozi just to give me a hug. “We have a bond even we don’t understand – and nor do our family. We love and care for each other so much. We’ve got each other’s back.” So when it came to the big moment to give birth there was nobody Dineo wanted more at her side than Lerato – despite lots of disapproval. They all wanted to know why Dineo hadn’t chosen the father. Or at least an older woman who was already a mother. At one point we were fi ghting with the nurses and Dineo just kept saying, ‘I want my sister here!’”
 Different
Being Dineo’s birth partner and witnessing Rungwi’s birth certainly made Lerato understand how fathers must feel when their first child is born. “This baby is different from all the others. I’ve found myself changing her nappies with pleasure, washing her… “I’m sure she knows I’m her special auntie. I spoke to Dineo every single day she was pregnant so I believe Rungwi knew my voice even before she was born. “The greatest thing is when Rungwi falls asleep on my chest,” sighs Lerato. “She has to use her real mother for milk – but she can use me for comfort!”
Rungwi’s middle name is Naledi, meaning “Star.” She’s certainly starring in Lerato’s life. “I see her every day – in photos on my laptop and framed on my desk and beside my bed. “She’s always in my heart and thoughts. Every day I phone Dineo and check they’re both all right.” All this has certainly turned 23-yearold Lerato to thinking how she’d like to become a mother. “When I find the right person, I’ll have a child myself,” she promises. There’ve been reports of her being engaged before – she laughs them off and says the watchers just wanted something to write. “Most women dream of a white wedding and I’d love to walk down the aisle in a gorgeous white dress. But marriage isn’t such a priority for me. “I want a partner who’s a soulmate more than a husband, someone I can share everything with. A man who won’t let me down – who has my back.”
Right now Lerato’s pretty busy. As well as planning and shooting Gospel Gold, she’s working full-time for a company that works on music promotions and themed special events, from corporate bashes to weddings and birthdays. “I never thought I could do the work I’m doing now, write proposals and handle boardroom meetings by myself. “I know my bosses are testing me, but I hope I’m making them proud.” Sounds like pride is an emotion that Special Auntie Lerato is getting used to spreading around the world. [e] ▼
5 surprises about Lerato
1 In another life she’d love to be a racing driver.
2 She hates her “big nose.”
3 Her favourite make-up look is the “smokey
eye.”
4 She’s as likely to be listening to SA’s DJ
Fresh or Motown’s vintage Marvin Gaye
as to American Gospel from Kirk Franklin.
5 She longs to compete on Strictly
Come Dancing.
Just call me Za
Even when she was working on Muvhango, Lerato was also studying branding and communications. And one thing she learned about brands was you need a USP – a unique sales proposition. Lerato’s started with her name. “It’s such a common name and surname!” she laughs. “There’s a director, an actress, a top model and me – all of us very different but people who don’t know that can get confused.” So the Gospel
Gold presenter now calls herself Lerato Za Moloi “because Za is what my family and close friends call me. It comes from my middle names, Nomzamo Sedzai.”
Lerato’s prayer for the future
“I just want to live and enjoy a beautiful and successful and safe life. I believe that’s possible – it’s all about making the right choices. Add a bit of wisdom, steer the right way and you’re cool. “I used to be careless. Now I’m more careful. Some people think I’m aloof, boring, but that doesn’t bother me. “I’m more serious about my life and I’ve decided to keep in my life people who are serious about life. If I don’t get anything positive, any wisdom, from them, I politely get rid of them. “I’m Christian, though not a preacher, but my work has a bit of ministry in it. It’s like I listen to the message in the music we play and not just the beat – that’s what’s important. Stuff about pools, limos and bikinis is fun but there’s no message. “So if people don’t see the value I’m trying to put into life, we’re not destined to be friends.” |
