Nikiwe Bikitsha is one of very few talented female ‘newshounds” in the world of TV journalism. She is confident, eloquent and comes across as well-prepared and sussed about her subject matter.
She was born in Cape Town but grew up in Umtata before the family moved back to Cape Town. She cut her journalistic teeth on Cape Talk, a programme aired by a commercial radio station based in Cape Town.
During her stint with the station she covered many of the city’s biggest stories. One of these was the Planet Hollywood bombing in 1998, which she covered for international media networks BBC and CNN.
So what inspired this feisty, intelligent woman to choose journalism? ‘I have always loved words — to be creative with words. I harboured the romantic notion of becoming a writer. I like the adrenalin rush that goes with finding and writing news,” says Bikitsha.
She enjoys analysing and interpreting issues and wants to be informed about the world and developments in it. Because of her news savvy, her sharp mind and her fearlessness in tackling controversial topics, she easily climbed her way up the media ladder.
Perhaps one of her biggest breaks was during the 2004 elections when she was included in a team that travelled the country with President Thabo Mbeki.
Bikitsha, who has just left SAfm, established herself as a talk and current affairs expert there and on SABC3. She has endeared herself to viewers and listeners alike with her vast knowledge and amazing ability to tease out information from her subjects.
Bikitsha says she enjoys the challenges that come with the job — like ‘thinking on your feet” and always being curious. She says as a journalist ‘although your day is planned, you don’t know how it will end”. Anything is possible and one must be ready at all times, she says.
Her hobbies include ‘spending a lot of time” with her extended family and, more importantly, her son, who loves going to the zoo. She also loves swimming and her favourite cooling-off spot is at the beach, especially on the Wild Coast.
Bikitsha is an avid traveller and has been to scenic sites in the country, on the continent and overseas.
At the time of writing Bikitsha was serving her notice at the SABC, before joining CNBC Africa as a news anchor.
Which school did you go to?
Cape Town High, where I matriculated in 1995.
Who was your favourite teacher and why?
Mr van Dyk, my English and speech and drama teacher. He encouraged me to work hard and he was very supportive. I used to be a shy person but, because of him, I was reassured that I could do what I wanted to, and indeed it led to bigger things.
What were your favourite subjects and why?
English and drama. Drama enabled me to come out of my shell, and English nurtured my creative writing skills — I always wanted to be a writer.
What do you miss most about your school days?
The sense of camaraderie among my fellow learners, and discipline, which played a great part in shaping me to become the individual I am today.
What is your advice to learners out there?
To be grounded and dedicated. They should not stray into other areas and they should read, constantly. In particular, parents should encourage their children to read more, and widely. This is the lesson I got from teachers and parents. Nothing beats good, quality education!
Nikiwe Bikitsha was interviewed by Thabo Mohlala