By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
‘Until the lions have their own
historians, the history of the hunt will
always glorify the hunter.’
– Chinua Achebe
‘This book is simply the story of my personal and professional journey, starting with early childhood memories of my upbringing in Soweto, to my 12 years in Mozambique and my entry onto the airwaves of radio and television news stations and corporate boardrooms in Mozambique and South Africa. It is part
memoir and part legacy. I am writing it so that, in future, the children of my children, and their children, will have a written account of my lived experiences, which are a product of a richly diverse region of Southern Africa, of which I am proud.’ – Dan Moyane.
Moyane’s memoir, I Don’t Want to Die Unknown is a slice of South African history. Dan was born and bred in Soweto and was in high school during the 1976 Soweto students uprising. He was identified as a person of interest and his home was often raided by the security police. He wisely listened to his inner voice and decided to go to Mozambique and live away from his birthplace for 12 years. This is where Dan joined the ANC, fell in love, married, and had his first two children. It is also where he started his career in journalism, first in a news agency and then radio.
He was meant to be on the plane which crashed killing Mozambique’s President, Samora Machel and thirty-three other passengers in October 1986. The cause of the crash has never been discovered, but we all have our theories. Dan maintains it was no ordinary accident.
Moyane returned to South Africa in 1991, and as a news reporter he covered the birth of our multi-party constitutional democracy and even sang Shosholoza live at the final of the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
He met many people who helped him in his life’s journey and career. Some of whom share their personal experiences in the book about their relationship with Dan, including 1976 Soweto student leader Enos Ngutshane, veteran Canadian documentary filmmaker and author Ole Gjerstad, former 702 Talk Radio host
John Robbie, former trade unionist and business leader Paul Nkuna, and former eNCA morning news anchor Uveka Rangappa.
Part memoir, part legacy, his book aims to inspire greatness for all future generations.
About the Author.
Dan Moyane is a South African journalist who is regarded as one of South Africa’s modern day broadcast greats and in 2010 he was inducted into the MTN Radio Awards Hall of Fame. Known as the Media Elder, Dan is a storyteller with four decades of experience in journalism, media and communication.
His experience includes over 20 years of journalism, 10 years of management and leadership in media, as well as 10 years of executive experience in Corporate Communication and Stakeholder Engagement in financial services. His expertise covers journalism and media, corporate reputation, crisis communication, public relations, corporate communication, stakeholder engagement, corporate citizenship, conference moderator and event MC, executive and leadership coaching.
Moyane is currently a news anchor on eNCA, a strategic marketing consultant at Momentum Metropolitan Holdings Limited, the chairman of Momentum Metropolitan Foundation and chairman of AceCubePR.