Noxolo Grootboom: Celebrating the icon behind South Africa's heartfelt broadcasts
Noxolo Grootboom is one of South Africa’s most respected broadcasters, celebrated for her warm delivery and distinctive storytelling style. Her career at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) made her a familiar and trusted voice to millions of viewers. Noxolo also played an important role in elevating isiXhosa-language broadcasting.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Noxolo Grootboom is a legendary South African broadcaster and news presenter.
- She became widely recognised for presenting isiXhosa news on the SABC.
- Her distinctive voice and warm delivery made her a beloved figure among viewers.
- Noxolo spent decades contributing to South African television and isiXhosa-language broadcasting.
- She officially stepped down from her 37-year career at the SABC on March 30, 2021.
Noxolo Grootboom's profile
Full name | Noxolo Grootboom |
Nickname(s) | uMamNoxolo, uMam |
Gender | Female |
Date of birth | 8 October 1960 |
Age | 65 years (as of 2026) |
Place of birth | Lady Frere, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
Nationality | South African |
Religion | Christian |
Sexuality | Straight |
Height | 5'6" (167 cm) |
Hair colour | Black |
Eye colour | Brown |
Marital status | Married |
Children | 4 |
Schools | Healdtown Primary School, Lovedale Primary School, Davis Primary School and Lamplough High School |
College | Bethel College |
Profession | Retired isiXhosa television newsreader |
Who is Noxolo Grootboom?
Noxolo Grootboom is a celebrated South African journalist best known for her work as an isiXhosa television newsreader. She became a familiar face on the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), where her distinctive voice and warm presentation style earned her widespread admiration.
How old is Noxolo Grootboom?
As of 2026, her age is 65. She was born on 8 October 1960 in the Eastern Cape.
Where is Noxolo Grootboom originally from?
Noxolo was born at Lady Frere Hospital in the rural Eastern Cape.
Source: Original
Is Noxolo Grootboom married?
Noxolo is married to Mashwabada Grootboom.
Who is Noxolo Grootboom's husband?
The broadcaster is married to Mashwabada Grootboom. In Q&A sessions, when asked about her husband, Noxolo said,
"When I met him he was a cricketer. He was an all-rounder. After watching him in action, I just knew I had to marry this guy. See how many runs we could score in the marriage pitch. As a wicketkeeper, I trusted him enough to keep our marriage wickets intact.
As a fielder I trusted his skill to field whatever life throws at us and as a bowler he just bowled me over and years later we are still in the pitch with good innings: 37 not out."
There is limited verified information about her husband's pictures. Similarly, most family photos of Noxolo Grootboom are not widely available online.
Does Noxolo Grootboom have children?
Noxolo and her husband have four children: Dawn, Zwelakhe, Bhungane and Nokwanda. The celebrated broadcaster is also a grandmother to five grandchildren, although she has generally kept her family life private.
Education
She attended several schools, including Healdtown Primary School, Lovedale Primary School, Davis Primary School and Lamplough High School. She later continued her education at Bethel College, laying the foundation for her future career in broadcasting.
In October 2021, Rhodes University awarded Noxolo Grootboom an honorary Doctor of Letters (D Litt) (honoris causa) during its virtual graduation ceremony. The university recognised her for her 37-year journalism career, particularly her contribution to promoting national pride, South African culture and the isiXhosa language.
Grootboom was deeply moved by the recognition. Accepting the honour, she said:
“I feel so speechless; I am out of words to thank Rhodes University for the honour bestowed on me. Hope is always ignited when it seems as though your dreams are perishing.”
Career
Noxolo Grootboom began her broadcasting career in 1983 when she joined the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) as a typist. Her fluency in isiXhosa and passion for broadcasting eventually opened the door to newsreading, and she became one of the most recognisable isiXhosa television news presenters.
She went on to spend more than three decades at the SABC, presenting isiXhosa news on SABC 1 and building a reputation for her distinctive delivery and storytelling. Grootboom became particularly known for her memorable closing phrase, “Ndinithanda nonke emakhaya”, which became closely associated with her broadcasts.
In March 2021, she presented her final news bulletin and officially retired after about 37 years with the SABC. Her retirement marked the end of a remarkable broadcasting career and cemented her status as an icon of isiXhosa television news.
In 2023, Grootboom briefly returned to television after coming out of retirement to host Newzroom Afrika's first-ever Nguni news bulletin on Mzansi Wethu. In 2024, uMhlobo Wenene broadcaster Dumza Maswana invited her to speak at the station's Gala dinner in East London.
Beyond broadcasting, Grootboom has remained active as a motivational speaker, addressing students at universities and sharing lessons from her career and life. She has also returned to preaching at a Methodist church in Boksburg, continuing her work in public speaking and community engagement.
Noxolo Grootboom's mantra
Noxolo Grootboom's famous mantra became an emotional part of her decades-long broadcasting career. She regularly ended her isiXhosa news bulletins with the words:
“Nanga ngobubusuku ningalala nombethe ingubo yemvisiswano, uxolo, nothando. Ndinithanda nonke emakhaya.”
This loosely translates to.
“May you sleep tonight covered with a robe of harmony, peace and love. I love you all at home.
Noxolo Grootboom's retirement
Noxolo announced her retirement from the SABC in March 2021 after 37 years with the public broadcaster. She presented her final isiXhosa news bulletin on 30 March 2021, with the occasion attracting national attention. President Cyril Ramaphosa even delayed his scheduled address by 30 minutes so viewers could watch her final bulletin.
Grootboom described herself as a “bundle of nerves” before the final broadcast. She said she had initially wanted a quiet departure, explaining:
“I told them I don’t even want a farewell party. I am trending but I’m not even on social media.”
Reflecting on her career, she said she was grateful for how broadcasting had changed during her time at the SABC. She recalled starting during apartheid, when broadcasters could not freely mention liberation organisations or their leaders, and described being able to later conduct live broadcasts for people she had once not been allowed to name as “the blessing of an opportunity.”
She spoke about the love she had received from South Africans and said it had shown her ubuntu. She told viewers:
“You loved me, and I loved you. May you sleep tonight with the robe of harmony, peace and love. I love you all.”
Afterwards, Grootboom reflected on what the moment meant to her, saying:
“The moment I said ‘Ndinithanda nonke emakhaya’ it was like this is the end of an era.”
Grootboom's retirement therefore marked more than the end of a broadcasting job. It closed a 37-year chapter in which she became one of the most recognisable voices in isiXhosa television news and left behind a signature sign-off that became part of South African television culture.
Noxolo Grootboom and funerals
Funeral coverage became one of the most significant parts of Noxolo Grootboom’s broadcasting career. She covered the funerals of several prominent South African struggle figures, including Chris Hani, Nelson Mandela, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Joe Slovo and Albertina Sisulu.
Rhodes University later noted that these high-profile assignments earned her the nickname “the undertaker”, reflecting how often she was entrusted with live funeral broadcasts.
Grootboom described covering Chris Hani’s funeral in 1993 as particularly difficult because Hani had been her neighbour and she had witnessed the aftermath of his assassination. She later described covering the funerals of struggle heroes as one of the high points of her career, explaining that the assignments gave her a sense of redemption for a childhood experience. She said,
“It was my way of redeeming myself from my childhood prayer.”
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is Noxolo Grootboom now? Noxolo is officially retired from full-time broadcasting, though she occasionally steps back in for special projects and mentoring.
- When did Noxolo Grootboom retire? She retired from the SABC in March 2021 after 37 years with the broadcaster.
- How old is Noxolo Grootboom? The former broadcaster was born on 8 October 1960, making her 65 years old in 2026.
- How many children does Noxolo Grootboom have? She has four children: Dawn, Zwelakhe, Bhungane and Nokwanda.
- What is Noxolo Grootboom's famous saying? Her famous sign-off is “Ndinithanda nonke emakhaya,” meaning “I love you all at home.”
- Did Noxolo Grootboom receive an honorary doctorate? Yes, Rhodes University awarded her an honorary Doctor of Letters (D Litt) in 2021 in recognition of her contribution to journalism, isiXhosa and South African culture.
- What did Noxolo Grootboom do after retirement? After retiring, Grootboom became involved in motivational speaking and other public engagements. She also briefly returned to television in 2023 to host a Nguni news bulletin on Mzansi Wethu.
Noxolo Grootboom remains an influential figure in South African broadcasting after decades of service. Her contribution to isiXhosa news and television has earned her widespread admiration and recognition. Noxolo’s legacy continues to inspire broadcasters and audiences across the country.
Source: UGC
Briefly.co.za published interesting details about Erin Burnett. Her story is one of a kind; you should check it out. Erin is one of the most successful and coveted media personalities. She boasts years of experience as a host on CNN. Her net worth of $20 million is significantly attributed to her media career!
Source: Briefly News
Priscillah Mueni (Lifestyle writer) Priscillah Mueni is a lifestyle and entertainment content creator with more than 4 years of experience. She graduated from Meru University of Science and Technology with a Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering in 2019. In 2023, Priscillah finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. She has been writing articles on Briefly.co.za since 2019. Email: pshmueni@gmail.com
Kevin Omuya (Lifestyle writer) Kevin Omuya is a professional content writer with over three years of experience. At Legit.ng, he has contributed to extensive research on various topics such as celebrity news, fashion, and biographies. He has also worked as an editor and content creator at SportsCulture and CottageMed. In 2019, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Digital Media from KCA University. You can reach him through his email: komuya89@gmail.com
