100 not out for Lourensa
Lourensa Eckard, host of the current affairs show In Gesprek met Lourensa Eckard, reaches a remarkable milestone tonight when she will be presenting the programme for the 100th time.
Lourensa, who studied at the Universities of Pretoria and Stellenbosch and is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the University of the Witwatersrand, began her career at the Afrikaans daily newspaper Beeld. She has covered various major stories, including the floods in Malawi in 2015 and the presidential election in Zimbabwe in 2018. Since May 2023, she has also been part of the Carte Blanche team and regularly writes in-depth articles for Beeld and the Afrikaans Sunday newspaper Rapport.
Lourensa, if you have to highlight five interviews, what would they be and why?
It is always exciting, yet frustrating, to interview politicians. Gayton Mckenzie is an exception because he answers the question and speaks candidly. I would also highlight Leopoldo López, an opposition politician from Venezuela. Then there are interviews with people like Thuli Madonsela, Naomi Campbell, Julius Malema, Imtiaz Sooliman and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, which were remarkable in various ways. However, what stands out the most for me are interviews with ordinary people making a difference in their communities.
What makes current affairs so exciting?
Current affairs are exciting because the news is always unpredictable. There are, of course, trends and recurring themes and stories, but being in a newsroom or on air while significant world events are unfolding, is riveting.
Tell us more about your collaboration with Carte Blanche.
I was approached last year to join Carte Blanche as a guest presenter, and it initially felt like a dream. As a child, I watched this iconic programme, and my admiration for Ruda Landman and the way she conducts interviews knows no bounds. A big bonus is that I can do some of my work for Carte Blanche in Afrikaans.
Were there moments in your career that caught you off guard?
It’s always challenging when a guest on live television in the studio gets a coughing fit. Then I make sure to ask a very long question so that the person can take a sip of water. There was also an incident where I gestured with my hands while asking a question, and then the pen flew out of my hand, landing with a loud bang on the other side of the cameras. I’ve also been caught off guard by guests becoming emotional during interviews, and then I realise once again we are all just human.
Who are the five people you would like to interview and why?
Jacob Zuma, just to hear if he truly believes he did not put a foot wrong during his presidential term. Donald Trump, just for the entertainment of it. I would like to talk to Elon Musk about where he thinks technology will take the world. Giorgia Meloni, the Prime Minister of Italy, and Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, would also be interesting interviews.
In Gesprek met Lourensa Eckard airs on Mondays at 20:30 on kykNET (DStv Channel 144).
Visit the kykNET website and join the conversation on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
