Abongile Zizi’s love for language, storytelling, and South Africa’s complex narratives was nurtured in the small town of Komani in the Eastern Cape. From an early age, she knew she wanted to tell stories — though she could never have imagined how that dream would unfold. Today, as a news editor at Newzroom Afrika, Abongile, 35, is at the forefront of shaping how the country sees itself. Her role involves more than editorial oversight; she steers the daily news agenda, guides field and studio teams, and ensures that voices and issues that are often overlooked are amplified. “Telling the South African story daily is a forever dream come true,” she reflects. Abongile’s career highlights include being executive producer for landmark programmes like The Watchdog, The Late Edition, and Battleground Election Debates. Starting productions from scratch, she says, taught her bravery, deepened her storytelling skills, and cemented her commitment to journalism. Abongile believes women shouldn’t be de ned by titles alone. “We are multi-faceted, and we deserve to thrive in all spaces we occupy,” she says. That belief has driven her fearless approach to media and leadership.
I admire women such as Mam’ Winnie Mandela and, in the same breath, women such as Brenda Fassie. It has always been important to me to see women not as their titles but as multi-faceted people. As a young black girl and now as a woman, this has not only shaped my politics but also how I negotiate my place in the world, understanding that I do not have to be just one thing and that I can thrive in all the spaces I occupy. This has made me brave and uncompromising in the pursuit of fairness, and it always reaffirms that I deserve a seat at the table — always.