Newzroom Afrika brings Dr Noxolo Grootboom ‘out of retirement’

Viewers are in for a pleasant surprise when Newzroom Afrika’s first ever IsiZulu and IsiXhosa Nguni news bulletin premieres on DStv’s Mzansi Wethu Channel 163 on 27 February at 19:00.

This follows an announcement made at an intimate channel launch event at Aurum Restaurant in Sandton.

Fans and followers alike, will be excited to know that Grootboom’s return to news anchoring, has been confirmed for the next six weeks, as she’ll firmly hold the fort for Lisakhanya Pepe who’ll be on maternity leave.

After spending 37 years as an isiXhosa bulletin broadcaster, Dr Noxolo Grootboom publicly announced her retirement in March 2021. Nearly two years later, she’s temporarily back, in front of South African screens,  doing what she loves on Newzroom Afrika’s Izindaba Zethu/Iindaba Zethu. 

The news bulletin which will air daily, will be  anchored by seasoned journalists and broadcasters familiar to millions of Nguni news viewers in South Africa, including in IsiZulu: Thabile Mbhele (Anchor); Dicksy Mdlalose (Weather Presenter) and Khethukuthula Makoatsane (Sign Language Interpreter) and for IsiXhosa: Lisakhanya Pepe (Anchor), Thabile Makapela (Weather Presenter) and Pumza Sikumba (Sign Language Interpreter).

Being part of this wonderful project is an honour for me. My retirement is not of the ordinary kind, because it means me coming to plough back into this new era of news. Seeing these young people being so enthusiastic and embracing our mother tongue makes me proud and I hope that they will also pave the way for the next generation of news anchors. 

Tune in to Mzansi Wethu (DStv Channel 163) from Monday-Sunday 27 February at 19:00 for a daily review of Mzansi’s news in Nguni languages. Is’khathi Sifikile/ Ixesha Lifikile – for a new generationof news.