There is a difference between newsreaders and broadcasters, Mam Noxolo Grootboom has successfully exemplified the fine difference between the two over her illustrious career. And so many lessons, I personally take from her story of hope, triumph and strong will. Her humility, for someone of her caliber, is not only rare but is absolutely breathtaking.

Her story is proof that in life you always start somewhere and she does not shy away from the fact that she is not a journalist but that she started off as a typist – which was her window inside the public broadcaster. From thereon, she successfully navigated her path to where she would discover would be her life and calling. What’s your window position now to where you see yourself in the near future?

She is also proof that in whichever role or job you may be finding yourself at the present moment, do it well, to the best of your ability and consistently so – you shall reap the rewards of that. Her rewards included a spot in many South African hearts and a resounding hype and outpouring of love from the nation for the impact she has had on their world. The amount of passion she exuded for her job meant more to her than any other form of public status or affirmation. May we all take a leaf from this great tree of wisdom.

Many people simply read the news to us and they think – ‘that’s just about it, I’ve done my job‘. Mam Noxolo had a different approach to this. She had a way with words, how she would relate each word to the emotion while she read was beyond me. She flowed with the story, pacing herself appropriately to ensure that she gives the viewers enough time to take in and filter the essence of each news story before moving on to the next. She has made news reading a craft. She connected with the viewers at home while doing so, not once did it ever feel like she is reading a script to us. I love how she treated the news as an opportunity to tell a story, this while putting the spotlight back into our indigenous languages, their significance and power with how she excellently commanded Isixhosa. She made it poetic and beautiful to listen to each night. She also made many of us learn and take interest in the language.

I dare not forget her impact on unity – people from across different tribes, coming together to celebrate her, even though some would not understand a word she utters yet could feel something and easily get moved by her. People who do that in this country of ours that’s filled with so much tension and division, even amongst tribal groups, are rare.

When her final news bulletin opened at 7pm on the 30th March 2021 and I had a look at what she chose to wear for her last broadcast, it sent a very strong message. As the bulletin proceeded, I was amazed by how, after an incredible 37 years, she went through each of the stories in that bulletin like it was indeed her last, with so much professionalism, poise and grace. You discover how much work she put in to that bulletin, I mean after so many years, one would easily assume she arrived in studio a couple of minutes before going live and need no preparation but still deliver. Not her, she still invested her all and prepared thoroughly for it. Proof again that you are considered as best as your last performance at anything in life. What an icon.

Many people are also too quick to say, people don’t watch news these days. Although to some degree, I share those sentiments but I would refer them to the figures each night for the past couple of years for the 7pm news bulletin. I bet the numbers also did justice to Mam Noxolo’s final curtain call that night. And for a change, this week’s bulletin was all about her. She became the main news story of the evening.

It’s only a pity that her historic farewell broadcast comes at a time when the public broadcaster is shredding jobs. May the many careers that she’s helped propel and nurture during her successful tenure at the SABC, continue to thrive with grace, as they take over from where she left off.

Siyazidla ngawe Ma, futhi nathi emakhaya, siyakuthanda. (We are proud of you and our homes and families also love you too).