“When the time is right, I, the Lord, will make it happen.” — Isaiah 60:22

Abongile Zizi

Category

Film & Media
 

Organisation / Company

Newzroom Afrika

 

Position

News editor

 

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Profile

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.

Qualifications

  • BA degree, Rhodes University.
  • Short course in in Supervisory Management Skill, University of Pretoria

Achievements

  • Proudly been the executive producer of The Watchdog (SABC), The Late Edition (SABC), Battleground Election Debates (2016) and On the Record (2016). These were very important as they added a new dynamic to my repertoire as a broadcaster.
  • Expanded from news production into current affairs executive production — an opportunity to explore the South African story in more niche ways than bulletins allowed. Starting with a production from episode one taught me bravery and reaffirmed dedication to the skill and art of journalism, as they challenged but also allowed growth and the exploration of potential, deepening understanding of the South African story.

Mentors

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.