A journalist is a not a celebrity
30 may 2021
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Mthobisi Mkhaliphi a senior journalist at the SABC
Mthobisi Mkhaliphi (34) is a senior journalist at the SABC Mpumalanga, Mkhaliphi started as a sports reporter in the community radio station in Durban. His dream was to be a hard-news journalist that is when he decided to move to Mpumalanga province where he joined the SABC as a hard news reporter.
Mkhaliphi’s dream to become a journalist surfaced when he was doing standard eight (8) which is grade ten in our modern days, he always wanted to make it in the engineering industry either electrical engineering or motor mechanic because he is a multi-talented individual, he can fix cars and do electrical related jobs without a formal qualification during his spare time.
Mthobisi Mkhaliphi matriculated in 2005, he enrolled in a private college in Durban where he studied journalism and completed his Diploma in Journalism in 2009. In 2015, Mkhaliphi was awarded as the best journalist in Mpumalanga. “On my side, the best achievement is to see change, people getting help after reporting a story,” said Mkhaliphi.
“One of the challenges I faced was to be threatened by a politician after I had covered a story about her and she was not happy about it,” said Mkhaliphi when asked about the challenges he faced as a hard news journalist.
Mkhaliphi looks upon great legends like Victor Mpho Molefe the current sports presenter at Ukhozi FM. He likes the way Molefe presents his show and his style of questioning guests or sources. This all started when he was listening to one of the SABC radio stations Ukhozi FM “one day I was listening to Ukhozi FM, it was six o’clock (18:00), the presenter was Victor Mpho, “I listened to him and the way he presented the show and I was inspired,” said Mkhaliphi.
He said his favorite bible verse is “Philippians 4:13 “I can do all through Christ who strengthens me”. His interests and hobbies include music, it is his wish that one day he can play his recordings on-air (playing the guitar), travel.\ Mkhaliphi is a football lover, he is an Orlando Pirates fan.
“As a journalist, you will be required to work beyond the call of duty. A journalist is not a celebrity but a servant of the voiceless; your story should be known before you are known,” said Mkhaliphi.
