Nohiya speaks for the downtrodden
Respected journalist Ntsiki Nohiya is driven by desire to improve lives of marginalised people
Seasoned Eastern Cape journalist Ntsiki Nohiya, known for her award-winning work with the less privileged and the heartbroken, is driven by a desire to be the voice of the voiceless.
With a career spanning more than two decades, Nohiya has dedicated herself to telling the stories of those who would otherwise go unheard.
The journalist from Xhorha joined the industry 23 years ago.
Her ability to capture the triumphs and tragedies of everyday life has earned her a loyal following.
She worked as a reporter at before joining Africa as a
Newzroom producer.
Nohiya studied journalism at Wits University before dropping out because of financial constraints. She then enrolled at Damelin College.
“After obtaining my diploma, I continued studying through Unisa,” she said.
“I have completed a higher certificate in journalism and I am at present pursuing a BA in communication science.
“I have developed my journalism knowledge with a short course with Rhodes University and with the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism in Johannesburg.
“Changing the lives of the marginalised is what has kept me going for so many years.
“It has also been interesting being part of the dawn of democracy in SA where there’s a free press and it has been easy to expose injustice without fear.
“I’m also thrilled to be part of the voices that help build our nation and strengthens our democracy by holding those in power to account.”
Her journey began as an intern at the SABC in 2001.
“It had never crossed my mind that one day I would tell the stories of people on TV, but I was ambitious and always told my peers I wanted to be a journalist — not knowing what it entails to become one.
“I grew up listening to radio and I was blown away by news readers who gave a detailed description of what the story was all about.”
Her dream was supported by her late mother.
“She told me dreams could come true, I just needed to stay focused.”
Nohiya said she looked up to news anchor Mam’ Noxolo Grootboom, who was a Xhosa presenter and now works for the same company as hers.
“My primary goal and dream is to see a poverty-free SA.
“I believe that continuing to give a voice to the voiceless will close the gap of inequality.”
She said hearing painful stories about murder, rape and other illegal activities was not an easy task.
“It’s not easy to separate work life and personal life.
“As a parent and mother of five it always hits hard, but it is vital to remember journalism ethics demand you remain impartial and independent at all times, and be fair and truthful in your reporting.
“Self-counselling has been the best remedy. I am still using it to deal with the harsh realities I come across every day.”
She said young people who wanted to succeed in journalism needed to have a love and the passion for it.
“They need to have passion and respect for others and not allow anything to deter them from achieving their goal.
“I’m mentioning passion first because if you pursue something you don’t love, you will never perform to the best of your ability when you get to the workplace. Even as an entrepreneur, you need to be a team player to motive your employees.
“If you respect others, you will earn it back and it contributes to reaching the sky in your career,
“No-one wants to work with someone who is difficult to work with, deterring you from achieving goals.
“Always believe in yourself. Make sure you have positive energies in your inner circle.
“A few years back I was informed that when a particular lecturer was checking entrance tests for most, if not all, first-year journalism applicants at CPUT, she discovered that they mentioned my name as their mentor for joining journalism.
“I truly appreciated that and it means there’s something right we are doing as journalists who are telling stories in our indigenous language in the main.”