If you have ever wondered who sits behind the national department of agriculture, land reform and rural development’s social media pages, meet Prince Mtsweni ka Monama. His job is not always a bed of roses but it is deeply rewarding, he’ll tell you with a smile.
Mtsweni ka Monama describes his job as fun and creative. But to make it in this line of work requires a lot more than just great photos, videos, and a catchy caption to go with. You have to always stay on top of your game with the latest news in agriculture, and trends, he points out.
“I have been with the department for over 13 years. I am currently working in the strategic communication unit as a social media specialist,” he says.
His aim is always to drive customer engagement and to keep the social media pages interesting and factual.
“My job is quite interesting, fun and very creative just to say the least. As a social media specialist [my job] entails strategically managing the social media accounts of the department to drive customer engagement and communicate services of the department.”
A different side of communication
Born in Pretoria but raised in Mpumalanga, Mtsweni ka Monama completed his higher education at Unisa, where he obtained his business communication certificate, including a degree in communication sciences.
“The communication field has always been a passion of mine. There are various fields in communication and I am more passionate about the creative side of it hence social media chose me.
“It is current and it keeps me on my toes. I am a person who thrives under pressure and who’s highly creative so anything that challenges my inner creativity, makes me happy,” he says.
Behind the scenes
So what do social media specialists get up to on a daily basis? Well, imagine spending most of your day on social media. Mtsweni ka Monama is glued to his screen whether it is a laptop or phone screen, he shares.
“I need to keep up with what’s current and trending, so I am on the phone 95% of the time, checking what is news about the sector, answering inquiries and sharing more information on the social media platforms and running departmental campaigns online.”
He also compiles social media analytical reports as these reports help the department to monitor their reach and engagements with followers online.
But don’t think he’ll do this on an empty stomach. No way José.
“My day starts early with a bowl of oats meal, peanut butter, and slices of banana,” he says jokingly.
Tips for youth who want to join the industry
No doubt, if you spend time on social media platforms for fun, you’ll love this career path. But if you want to explore other parts of the agricultural industry, like farming, Mtsweni ka Monama’s advice is to start growing crops in your backyard garden and gradually grow from there.
“There are lots of opportunities within the sector and information is readily available on our website and social media platforms,” he says.
He shares these tips:
- Young people need to be very curious;
- Must take a personal initiative to go out;
- Do research so they get the information that will empower them to make informed decisions;
- And remember that the initiative starts with them, being self-reliant is key to freeing one’s mind.
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