Veteran news anchor Noxolo Grootboom will now be prefixed with ‘Dr’ after she received an honorary doctorate from Rhodes University on Friday.
Watch: Noxolo Grootboom handed honorary doctorate
The tertiary held its virtual graduation ceremony for the second year in a row and on Friday, Masters and PhD students were honoured. Grootboom, whose careers spans more than three decades as a Xhosa news anchor at SABC, retired in March 2021.
For the university’s vice-chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela, bestowing Grootboom with an honorary doctorate was a fitting show of appreciation “for all that she has done to give much-needed hope to many South Africans in times of national loss and despair and for being a passionate advocate of the isiXhosa language in our society.”
“Mam’ Noxolo read the news so beautifully and with such pride. We thought it was important for Rhodes University to acknowledge her many contributions to our society. Her trademark sign-off line “Nanga ngobubusuku ningalala nombethe ingubo yemvisiswano, uxolo, nothando. Ndinithanda nonke emakhaya” will remain her profound and lasting gift of love, peace and care to our nation. Her humility and humanity is something that will never be forgotten. She deserves this highest honour of the University,” Mabizela said.
The 61-year-old was accompanied by family, friends and former colleagues who regard her as the inspiration behind their pursuit of journalism, as she took the stage to receive her honorary doctorate.
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— Chriselda 'Babes We Ndaba' Lewis (@Chriseldalewis) October 29, 2021
Emotional scenes with her parents as veteran retired #SABCNEWS anchor #NoxoloGrootboom arrives at a surprise ceremony as she is being awarded an Honorary Degree by Rhodes University.#SABCNEWS pic.twitter.com/OoYQXyNAUC
Ladies and gentlemen,
— Chriselda 'Babes We Ndaba' Lewis (@Chriseldalewis) October 29, 2021
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It is now , Dr #NoxoloGrootboom.
The veteran SABC News Anchor receives an Honorary Doctorate from Rhodes University.#SABCNEWS pic.twitter.com/ny9xCNcQz9
Grootboom joined SABC as a typist in 1983, at the age of 23. Leaving her hometown of Lady Frere, Eastern Cape, to pursue a better life in Soweto, where she stayed with her siblings, Grootboom could not have fathomed that decades later, she’d be revered as the mother of Xhosa news.
Her opportunity came in 1990 when she was asked to stand in for the late Mam’ Thandi Mesetywa as a substitute anchor. What was supposed to be a temporary assignment turned into a long-lasting career filled with great milestones.
Her last bulletin aired on 30 March 2021 and according to the Television Audience Measurement Service, more than 3.83 million viewers tuned in to wish Grootboom farewell, a third of all TV views during that time slot on the day.
“I feel so speechless; I am out of words to thank Rhodes University for the honour bestowed on me. Each event of my life is a life lesson that cannot be merely explained. Even though I had minimal opportunities to further my studies, it seemed as if my dreams about my future were perishing.
“Today, Rhodes University teaches me that hope is always ignited when it seems as though your dreams are perishing. And when that hope is ignited, it leads you to a new dream. Today, I feel like I am a living example to the youth. This is because, when you devote yourself to your work, new opportunities open up. I am very thankful to Rhodes University for this opportunity. Only a wicked person despises success. Lastly, my fellow people, I would have failed if I did not express my sincere gratitude to my home language. I am being honoured today because of isiXhosa,” said Grooboom.