I Was Phoxa’d By Ms Patta
December 2, 2009 by Brown Shuga
The most amazing thing happened to me the other day and I so have to share it! After Just Curious published the article by Phathu Makwarela on Debora Patta’s 3rd Degree, I decided to give the lady a call and request for an interview. One of our readers, Rego, also sent a request so I thought why not, she’d make an interesting interviewee.
I had always wanted to interview Debora because just like Phathu, I think she could improve on her interviewing skills. I love her show though so I don’t know what exactly this implies/means. heheh.
Anyway, back to why I”m writing this.
So I called Debora on Monday morning and there was no answer so I left a voice message on her phone and hoped she would call back. Luckily for me, she did return my call and tjo, when I saw her name on my phone, *groupie moment*
I would be totally wrong if I didn’t share how she phoxa’d me on the phone so here it is but obviously I wasn’t recording the conversation peeps but it went something like this:
(DON’T Laugh hehe)
Debra: Hi, I’m returning your call…..
Me: Oh yes thank you! *introduce myself, where I’m from* ……..and I’d like to please do an interview with you for the site. One of our contributors wrote an article about you and how you handle 3rd Degree so we thought it would be great if we could get an interview because it would also give you a chance to address some of the issues he raised in the article because there are a lot of people who share his sentiments about the way you handle 3rd Degree.
Debra: Have you published the article already?
Me: Yes, we published it this morning.
Debra: You see, that is bad journalism. One of the principles of Journalism is to talk to me before you publish that so that you can have a balanced view. You’ve already published the story and now you realize that you’ve messed up and you call me for an interview,
Me: But….
Debra: (She interrupts) … I’m not going to give you an interview. What you did is bad journalism.
Me: But Debra, the interview is not just about you responding to that article mos, it’s also for our readers to get to know you. I want to do the interview because we don’t really know much about you. People only know you as Debra, who harasses guests on 3rd Degree…
Debra: I don’t harass guests on the show and anyway, I don’t care what you think because there are still millions of people who tune in to watch the show
Me: Yeah but those millions who love you want to know more about you so that’s why I want to do the interview.
Debra: Who reads that website?
Me: 18 -35 year olds…
Debra: Do they have access to the internet? I don’t believe in these websites, how popular are they?
Me: Very popular, there are a lot of people who go online to read
Debra: During office hours, when they should be doing their work?
Me: LOL yes but they access through their phones too.
Debra: Why do you want to do an interview? I’ve done many interviews before.
Me: Yes but I haven’t read an interview where they asked you the kind of questions I want to ask you.
Debra: I already know the first 10 questions you are going to ask me!
Me: (I’m getting desperate) I won’t! I know you’re busy but I’d like you to please take a few minutes, read some of my previous interviews and if you still don’t want to do the interview then it’s fine but I promise you’ll change your mind. My interviews are not boring.
Debra: I don’t have time for that. Is this website linked to something else or is it yours?
Me: It’s mine but I used to write on TVSA before.
Debra: Which one is that, the one with the black background?
Me: Yes, mine is not black….
Debra: I don’t really care what colour is your website
Me: (I burst out laughing) hahahahahahah
Debra: I’ve done lots of interviews already, I don’t know what more you want. I’ve done interviews with House & Home where I was in my kitchen cooking (I think she said House and home), Destiny and there was another interview in the Sunday World, did you see it?
Me: No, I didn’t
Debra: You see, you don’t read!
I think she now feels sorry for me coz FINALLY SHE SAYS:
Debra: Look, it’s fine, I’m just pulling your leg, we can do the interview but I don’t know when coz this time of the year is busy. Send me an email and we’ll see.
I take down her email address, and later send her an email with a link to Phathu’s article and write” Let me warn you that the article is a bit heavy.” She replies with ”I don’t think the article is heavy just facile.”
Needless to say, I went and googled what facile means:
“arrived at without due care or effort; lacking depth“
Triple LOL.
Interview will be done towards the end of this month so expect to read it first thing in 2010, Just Curious has spoken too much about Ms Patta already this year plus I must still pray for God to give me NEW and FRESH questions to ask her so nani, pray for me. I have a suspicion she’s ready to phoxa me even more if I come with silly questions. LOL
(P.S. The phone call was 7:55 minutes long on the dot. Thank goodness it was her airtime! )
Mandla on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 12:15 am
It looks like the interview u’ll have with Ms Patta will be kinda filled with umphoxo judging 4rm what she already started to do to u, phoxa u .
Am looking forward to reading that interview, coz u know am ‘just curious’!
Malibongwe on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 12:23 am
Lol @ “I was phoxa’d”. The Zulu word adds more effect to it… This sounds interesting. Would have loved to be a fly on the wall… Can’t wait for the interview
Lela on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 12:32 am
K wnt comment abt her interview wt juju cz i rly want u 2 get ds1 n i knw nw dat she’s seen ds site she’s gona b a silent blogger.
Carino on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 12:44 am
Hahahah…lookin forward to the interview.
Lol @ “do they have access to the internet” j
Lela on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 12:54 am
How i wishd she was d 1 doin da cutin edge story abt wtkopen primary school whn dat unknwn sadtu guy refused them entry 2d skul,she wud hv pushed aside n told hm dat is public place like she dd wt those congregants who ddnt want her 2 interview their pastor who had chawed their money,hay i love her guts bandla.
Lique on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 1:43 am
”Phoxa’d” lol! DP; ” i already know the tenquestions ur gonna ask me…” tltltltltl hay, waphoxa shame!
MissB on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 3:33 am
I am positive it’s s’possed to be “I Phoxa’d” and “I was Phoxwa’d” cos in Zulu it’d be “Ngiphoxe” and “Ngiphoxwe”
Madala on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 4:00 am
Nearly eight hours tele-chat???? Yho, u could hav just gone str8 to the interview nje…
kwa kwa kwa @ googling facile….. nc nc nc, ubephoxa nyhani!
“During office hours, when they should be doing their work”-
nkosi safa…., the next e-degree thingie will b about emplyees stealing the company time & resources to surf rubbish instead of being productive! In-fact, it will b about government employess not delivering a service to the needy coz they r surfing at the tax-payer’s cost… BS usenzile…can’t wait 4 the interview…..!
tl tl tl @ MissB’s expalnation – u c Shugz, “u don’t read…”LOL
Vhafuwi on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 6:49 am
She think she’s smart huh *i luv her though*
lol @ black and white site… This will be interesting and I think she’ll end up interviewing you judging by your phone conversation you had 7:55
Gudluck…You need 1 from me
Mpho Maboi on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 8:01 am
You are a silly woman Brown Shuga. Lolest
Phathu Makwarela on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 8:04 am
Oh dear Ms Patta misses the point again. What does she means when she refers to bad journalism? She is bad journalism in motion hle bathong…LOL
Lu on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 8:34 am
Kahle Kahle she was interviewing YOU
Lu on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 8:37 am
Which one is that, the one with the black background?
Tjo! LOL
Lahvee on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 8:40 am
hey Debra!!! Nice one, we’ll be waiting to see the ada side of Debra
Busi on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 8:57 am
Gud luck Shuga, u will definately need it.
GA on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 9:10 am
yerrrrrr, BS! stop!,thats too much inspiration for one year,you are gonna get me into trouble.
LOL, i was shaking in my pj’s for you at the first Q&A, where she said she is returning your calls.
4 the record, i have loved her show and what she does on 3rd degree more often thn not so i look 4ward to the “innerview”. I think much like Zille, its shortshightedness and ignorance when people say she is racist..
Aaaaand yes no maybe ,im saying all this this nice things incase she has a superhacker who can hack thru JC etc etc and eventually get to me…LOLest
Damnit im still a little shacky…
BS ntwana..xoxo!
sponono on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 9:34 am
haayi bandla yena uk’phoxile wakunika ucash wakho shem, LOL
maybe you should have told her that the article was just a commentery or an opinion piece and I dont think you need to call the subject before….I dont think all writings that have criticisim of personalities are done after consultation…neeways I’m not a journo/writer
i like her though…
Edgar DS on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 9:52 am
This is why some of us respect peeps like you, if it was someone we wouldnt about you phoxa’d, Reminds me of my days as a journo at Tut for the student newspaper, I went to do an interview with Pro Emenda(remember him very well bewcause he taught me a lesson i would never forget throughout my life)About the mergers of universities, He realised that i was not prepared beacuse i asked silly(stupid) questions. To cut The long story short NEVER GO TO ANY INTERVIEW WITHOUT DOING RESEARCH[backround check] Be Prepared for a challenge because she might end up being nice to you,lol
Philzah on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 9:53 am
***Debra: Which one is that, the one with the black background?
Me: Yes, mine is not black….***
This line just killed me! I love Miss Phatha even me, please take me with when you go interview her ( I will be the mediator when things get out of hand)
Bruised Ego on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 10:02 am
‘i don’t really care what colour is your website’ Tjo that’s one woman you don’t want to mess around with. I was very tense when i was reading the tele-convo you had with her. Lol drink energy boosters when you finally interview her coz she’ll be in your neck like ‘the undertaker’ giving you no time to talk!!
Mathaz on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 10:31 am
Oh I so love her deeply, she is doing a great job and my most memorable show was that of the ANCYL Secretary General, Vuyiswa I think, where Deborah was phoxa’d. I’m a huge fan, can’t wait for the interview…but 2010…eish
Lerato Mollo on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 11:18 am
Haha nice one atleast you got the interview in the end.
Pjay on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 12:09 pm
Wow…this woman!! Tjo tjo tjo!!! I have this on-and-off luv-hate thing with her, mara sorry BS….i LUV her now!!! Hahahahaha!!! WOW!!!
Kiki on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 1:21 pm
kwa kwa kwa @ Phathu’s article lacking depth as per Patta.
Monchooza on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 1:29 pm
yah shem nawe Bs uneskhathi…i know for a fact i would have cut that conversation very short and i know my last words to her would have been those that would have sent her straight to the JHB court to sue me or lay a complain
Mmapula on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 3:03 pm
haa BS o kgonne bjang go kgotlella, Debra ke dragon lady o ntsha mollo fela ga bolela. this conversation made my day. i cant imagine being in your shoes.
Makgotso on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 3:34 pm
Tjo tjo BS uneliver l would have dropped the call because of fear,haykhona she was grilling you. The imagination of the two talking over da phone just makes me lol
Muzi on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 3:40 pm
I hope this call was on the record otherwise now she’ll never do that interview.
Pontsho on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 3:52 pm
***Debra: Who reads that website?
Debra: Do they have access to the internet? I don’t believe in these websites, how popular are they?
Debra: During office hours, when they should be doing their work?****
Kwakwakwakwakwa Ms Patta Bathong!!Hahahaha…..Good Luck Shuuuuga I hope u dnt end up being the one going *Ms Patta,Ms Patta, Ms Patta Ms Patta* during the interview.
J.A.Y. on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 3:52 pm
LOL all the way…can’t wait for the article…
J-Girl on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 4:52 pm
Ms Patta is funny… LOL
Lady D on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 11:27 pm
BS you need something strong when you go and interview this iron lady,so hala and i’ll bring Jameson!!!o kgonwa ke Juju koko o!’
Mara why are there no nightbloggers on JS,mcm,im just curious
Mntungwa on Thu, 3rd Dec 2009 8:14 am
LMAO!!! @ the black site kwakwkwakakwkakaawk
Mntungwa on Thu, 3rd Dec 2009 8:19 am
ROFLMAO @ monchooza, your response is facile,hihihihi.
carino on Thu, 3rd Dec 2009 8:52 am
kwa kwa kwa kwa
Funky K aka FK on Thu, 3rd Dec 2009 8:52 am
@BS – good luck with the interview. BTW, who will be interviewing who? By just reading through this, she was already interviewing you about your target market and your blogs.
**Mara why are there no nightbloggers on JS,mcm,im just curious****
@Lady D – I’ve also noticed. I so wanted to blog last nite but then again I did not want to ………….lol
carino on Thu, 3rd Dec 2009 8:54 am
****Debra: Which one is that, the one with the black background?
Me: Yes, mine is not black….
Debra: I don’t really care what colour is your website***
kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa LMAO… OMG.. this is k*k funny…
Cheesa on Thu, 3rd Dec 2009 11:13 am
LMAO this is funny I wouldn’t know where to start interviewing Debra. Good Luck with the interview and we’ll pray for those unique questions for Ms Debs. I like her yazi.
Vuyo on Thu, 3rd Dec 2009 2:01 pm
*Debra scares my 8 hours of beauty sleep. when i watch her show, Lord knows i toss and turn the whole night…..
If Juju becomes the president of this country, i’m moving in with Miss/ Mrs Zille…lol
Renegade on Thu, 3rd Dec 2009 3:05 pm
Speak to Juju before the interview, he said mos he was “taught how to handle” people like Ms Patta. Good luck.
Cleve on Thu, 3rd Dec 2009 3:33 pm
TJO WOW!!!!!!!! This woman, jah ne……. LOL
ntombi on Fri, 4th Dec 2009 11:54 am
jee i am def looking forward to the interview damn the lady is rude
Noms on Fri, 4th Dec 2009 2:35 pm
black in wht manner mara. Yhazi u must phoxa her sly BS. This short summary of interview with Debra was nice. Hai and she had to go on about how uninformed she thinks you are and that. my fav sect; Debra: Who reads that website?
Me: 18 -35 year olds…
Debra: Do they have access to the internet? I don’t believe in these websites, how popular are they?
Me: Very popular, there are a lot of people who go online to read
Debra: During office hours, when they should be doing their work?
Me: LOL yes but they access through their phones too.
looolest! have a great weekend my cyber frendz. And let us keep on reading stuff on our sites during working hours hehehe.
Noms on Fri, 4th Dec 2009 2:38 pm
Yes sis Debra even us blks hv da internet website wuuuuuuhahhaa. Get used to it. a frend of mine that used to work with her says she’s not a very pleasant person to work with. But she’s not racist that much I’ve been told. Good luck gal I know u will crack her smart “nose”. beta than her…….
koko on Mon, 7th Dec 2009 1:51 pm
I probably wud have hung up….tjo.!!
segs on Mon, 7th Dec 2009 4:25 pm
lmao! tjo! this is hilarious… but great, gal! I love Debs and no matter what people say, she asks the questions I also need answers to with the tact that makes me feel she is a powerful being… so, my tip, be prepared.. she will be interviewing YOU on the interview you want to do so be prepared and YOU must ask the questions, not her… lol!
Dibaba on Mon, 7th Dec 2009 6:35 pm
eish, i know i’ll be getting hate responses but Debora’s right, and some of you might have alluded to this – that article on her was..for a lack of better word…shallow. Phathu, you’re an ok writer. nothing spectacular – a little amateurish if you ask me. this is not a personal attack on you and i hope you dont take it as such. i’;; continue to read your material. there’s huge potential there
Ms'Funkay on Tue, 8th Dec 2009 12:18 am
I wonder if she’s always been like this or if she maybe got tough after being pushed around in this field. That’s what I’d ask her.
Nombulelo on Tue, 8th Dec 2009 11:13 pm
Ki ki ki
yhu I wish you the best of luck. Phela even when she greets, she has that stay away look! Wish I could be the fly of the wall, lolest!
Xman! on Wed, 9th Dec 2009 2:13 am
Debra is human too. She’s as smart as you are. She prepares for her shows the same way you do for your website. Both of you are intelligent people with journalistic backgrounds. She’s probably more confident in her TV show’s ratings than ratings of your newly-formed website. This is a classical case of Big guns versus small guns. I’m sure with good preparation you’ll be able to engage her intelligently.
Let the games begin!!!
Khaya on Wed, 9th Dec 2009 7:05 pm
Hahahahaha! This is brilliant!
Brown Shuga on Wed, 9th Dec 2009 7:09 pm
Tjo! Xman, uyaphoxa neh? LOL
Thanks for that question Funkay,
LaToya on Wed, 9th Dec 2009 7:24 pm
Classic. I love that the point of the article was covered and in such a humerous fashion.
I look forward to that interveiw. I commend you Lelo, you are brave. To email her a link of the article and still want to meet her. Rather you than me. lol..he he he! Good luck!
simjoz on Fri, 23rd Apr 2010 12:25 pm
Tjo! thank goodness it was her air time, you can say that again but its good that you will get the interview.I don’t want to liar I like the she speaks to her guests because some of these fools they liar on a national TV and it gets exposed.I wish she cant have Malema,jaco zuma,and judge hlope not forgeting Shaik on live TV show.Tjo Tjo I wont miss that for the world.
shosho2010 on Sun, 6th Jun 2010 11:50 pm
still waiting for the interview BS…
lebza4sh0 on Fri, 3rd Sep 2010 2:41 pm
kwaaaaaaaaaa feels like yesterday LOL
MaCMash on Tue, 30th Nov 2010 11:18 pm
Kwaaaaaaa @ “when they are supposed to be working?”