When Gogo Elizabeth Makwana from Orlando East turned 105 in 2015, she requested that Jozi FM newsreader Sakhile Sithole be present.

Gogo Makwana was taken by Sithole’s style of reading the news and how he played with isiZulu words. This is one of the main incidents that prove how much impact Sithole has in Soweto as a news reader.

Now a TV journalist, Jobe as he is affectional known to his friends and colleagues continues to be an inspiration to the young and old.

This week we shine a spotlight on a young man whose story of rags to riches has just begun. His humble beginnings can be traced back to rural KwaZulu-Natal in a village called Moyeni on the outskirts of Estcourt.

That is where he did his primary and secondary schooling. Poverty and all the hardships that come with being from the rural areas did not deter him from perusing his dreams.

When Jobe came to the big bad city of gold, he had no intentions of becoming a well-known journalist across Soweto.

“I wanted to study to be a chef and follow in my father’s footsteps. My father was a chef but he did not study for it so I wanted to honour him by professionalizing that career,” he says.

That career move did not last as things changed after orientation and Boston College. Something clicked and reminded him of his love for news and telling stories.

The following day after orientation, he went to register for a journalism programme and was accepted. It is in a journalism class where Sithole felt at home and fro then, he has never looked back.

“The journey is very long, I started doing radio at the age of 21 when I was a news reader for Newcastle Community Radio. I enjoyed working there even though it was difficult because I was not getting paid,” says Sithole.

He worked at that station until he decided to come back to the city of gold to start a new hustle. The hustle was not an easy one at that time but he never lost hope and kept on pushing. After a few knocks on Jozi FM, he was taken as a news reader.

The three-year stint as a newsreader on Radio ended when he joined Soweto TV as a reporter in 2016.

The love of journalism for Sithole started way back when even thought of becoming a journalist. “When I was still in high school back in 2010, one of my classmates told me that one day I’ll be a radio DJ.

At that time I didn’t take it seriously because I wanted to be a professional chef. Looking back now, I realise that the guy was actually prophesying,” explains Sithole with a giggle.

Besides the prophecy from that high school friend, Sithole was inspired by Xolani Gwala when he was still presenting Asikhulume let’s talk on SABC1.

Watching Gwala interviewing prominent people and holding public representatives accountable is what inspired Sithole the most. Put that inspiration and love for writing, you will definitely get a community journalist like Sithole.  Even though many people are inspired by what Sithole is doing, he believes in taking slowly and lives that everything has its time.

He puts it thus, “as a person you need to start small and work your way up so there is no need to rush. Pay your dues and be happy where you are while making the best of it.”

When he’s done paying his dues, Sithole plans on taking over the media industry in terms of business as well. Ever since he started his journalism journey, Sithole has had many highlights and working for Jozi FM is one of them.

The most important highlights for him though is doing stories that impact his community and help change the lives of the most vulnerable.

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