THABILE Makapela went from hosting Kids News to being part of SABC News and Newzroom Afrika.
She said her career has been a dream come true.
Hailing from Queenstown in the Eastern Cape, Thabile said she always wanted a television career. Since February 2023, she's been able to deliver content in her mother tongue.
As the weather anchor, Thabile (35) is part of Iindaba Zethu on Mzansi Wethu (DStv channel 163).
She opened up about getting into journalism and moving from being a young TV presenter to a journalist.
"For as long as I can remember, I've always had a love for television, and this love led me to a career in news. I knew I belonged in broadcasting since my primary school days," she said.
Speaking about the most memorable news story she's covered, she said she's interviewed former president Jacob Zuma.
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"When I was a Kids News anchor, I went to question former president Jacob Zuma. That experience was mind-blowing because. As a young person in my early 20s and still new in the news anchoring world, I didn't expect to engage with someone so high profile. I was attending a story in Pretoria during Child Protection Week, and I was afforded the opportunity to interview the then president. I was excited and enjoyed all the attention that came with it, especially being a kids' anchor," she said.
She said she loves working in her mother tongue.
"Presenting on the show is so exciting. I look forward to each bulletin like it's my first. And presenting in isiXhosa makes it even more fun! It's my mother tongue, so I can play around with the language while being informative," Thabile said.
The legendary Noxolo Grootboom has trained the Nguni reporters at Newzroom Afrika, and Thabile said she's enjoyed working with her.
"Working with Dr Noxolo Grootboom has been an experience that I'll treasure forever. She has become more than just a mentor, more like a mother and a friend," she said.
