Veteran SABC news anchor Noxolo Grootboom is retiring after 37 years of service.#NoxoloGrootboom joined the top trending topics on Twitter as the country celebrated her immense contribution.
Today is the last time she will be reading the news and Mzansi is set the timer for 7pm tonight to witness this momentus occasion.
After 37 years of service #NoxoloGrootboom is retiring. What an absolute legend she is! I’m glad the country is celebrating her immense contribution. She certainly remains a fixture of my childhood; watching IsiXhosa news at 7pm.
SABC political editor Mzwandile Mbeje also shared the news, He tweeted: “Don’t miss out on #Xhosa news on Tuesday the 30th, as the legendary sis Noxolo Grootboom bows out to take a well-deserved retirement. She will read the news for the last time.”
She’s had so much impact in the South African media industry. Her career dates back to many years ago when she joined SABC as a typist. She was later transferred to the newsroom, which opened doors for her to become a news anchor in the SABC’s Xhosa news desk.
Some of the highlight in her career include presenting during the funeral procession of the former president Nelson Mandela 2013, reading the obituary of the late television presenter and actor Akhumzi Jezile, she was also requested to anchor during the funeral proceedings for former first lady Winnie Madikizela-Mandela back in 2018.
South Africans have taken to social media to celebrate the legendary newsreader. @AndileLawson tweeted: “This is so sweet, I mean I woke up this morning and found the whole of South Africa celebrating Noxolo’s unmatched role she’d played especially in Isixhosa news. She made the Xhosa language fashionable and personally I will always miss her.”
Multi-Award-winning news anchor Chriselda Lewis shared pictures of her and other colleagues wearing traditional attire. She said Noxolo borrowed her the attire to wear for her key broadcasts. “Our broadcast mum sis #NoxoloGrootboom will read her last news bulletin next Tuesday on @officialSABC1. What a legend. The traditional attire in these pictures is her clothes which she borrowed me to wear for key broadcasts. ‘Hayi Chrissy’ kufuneka ubemhle kaloku, she would say.” Tweeted Chriselda.
Many will remember her for her signature “Ndinithanda Nonke emakhaya,” her unmatched work ethic, and how she made reading news in a home language fashionable and interesting.
Make sure to catch the veteran’s final broadcast on Tuesday next week at 7 pm on SABC 1
