Southern Africas reigning public speaking champion, Vusumuzi Phakathi, moves between poetry, journalism, advertising and academia with rare fluency.
In this conversation, he talks about confronting mental illness on stage, transforming a century-old organisation from within and the secret behind crafting the most powerful speech in the region.
Vusumuzi Phakathi, you are a proud member of Toastmasters, a global network dedicated to fostering public speaking skills. When did your speaking journey begin, and why did you join Toastmasters?
As a performing poet with 20 years of experience, I am no stranger to the spoken word. What brought me to Toastmasters in particular is the quiet architecture behind public speaking: the structure, the order, the reverence for time.
I wanted to become someone who could hold a deadline with grace and precision. Someone who could show up prepared, speak with clarity, and live with intention.