Growing up in the small Eastern Cape village of Sterkspruit, Vuyokazi Kafile, 27, always dreamed of becoming both a news anchor and an advocate — two careers bound by a shared goal: giving a voice to the voiceless. Today, she’s well on her way to achieving both dreams. As a news and show producer at the SABC, Vuyokazi plays a crucial role in shaping accurate and impactful news bulletins. Her work ensures South Africans receive stories that matter — stories that hold power to account and spotlight those too often overlooked. Her passion for justice goes beyond the newsroom. Vuyokazi believes journalism and the legal system are powerful tools for driving change. That belief is reflected in her work with shows like Kids Newsroom and Playroom Live, platforms that broke away from traditional storytelling by giving children the space to speak for themselves — particularly important in a country where many, like missing children Joshlin Smith and Amahle Thabethe, remain unheard. Vuyokazi’s greatest motivation? “What gets me up each morning,” she says, “is knowing I’m becoming the person I’ve always wanted to be — someone who speaks up for those society too often silences.”
In a world that can often be brutal to children, speaking for Joshlin Smith, who is currently missing, Amahle Thabethe, who has been missing since 2019, and many more, there is pride in having been part of a few powerful shows — Kids News Room under SABC and Playroom Live on Channel 300 on DStv — that gave children a voice and allowed them to tell their own stories. Too often, journalists focus on telling stories about children rather than with them, without giving them the space to speak for themselves. Being involved in projects that challenged this norm has been one of the most meaningful parts of a career, as they serve as a reminder of the need to protect the most vulnerable in society.
I look up to Noxolo Grootboom for the incredible mark she has made in television. Her grace, authenticity and commitment to storytelling have been deeply inspiring. While I do not often find myself looking up to many individuals, I draw strength and motivation from the image of myself that I have created. It is an image rooted in purpose — about changing the current narrative, breaking barriers and using my voice to represent those who are often unheard. That vision keeps me grounded and focused on the impact I want to make.