Who is Thulasizwe Simelan, and what shapes his life as a husband?
Thulasizwe Simelane is a respected South African journalist and news anchor known for his integrity and depth in political and current affairs reporting. From humble beginnings in Mpumalanga, he has built a strong reputation as a credible media voice. Currently, he is pursuing a legal career as a candidate attorney at Mametja and Associates Inc. in Johannesburg, marking a new professional chapter.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Thulasizwe Simelane is a seasoned South African journalist and TV news anchor.
- He has worked with major media houses, including the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and eNCA.
- He is known for political reporting, editorial leadership, and anchoring roles.
- Beyond journalism, he has expanded his expertise into the legal field by pursuing a Bachelor of Laws degree.
Profile summary
Full name | Thulasizwe Simelane |
Gender | Male |
Birthdate | February 1980 |
Age | 46 years (as of March 2026) |
Birthplace | Dundonald, Mpumalanga, South Africa |
Nationality | South African |
Ethnicity | African |
Religion | Christianity |
Eye colour | Brown |
Hair colour | Black |
Relationship status | Married |
University | Rhodes University; Wits University |
Occupation | Journalist, Media Strategist, Candidate Attorney |
Thulasizwe Simelane's biography
Thulasizwe Simelane was born in February 1980 in the eastern part of South Africa. He was born in one of the remotest villages in Mpumalanga called Dundonald. Thulasizwe Simelane holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of the Witwatersrand, which he completed between 2019 and 2023. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Rhodes University, where he studied from 1999 to 2001.
After graduating from Wits in 2023, he shared a heartfelt message on his LinkedIn profile reflecting on achieving his long-held dream of becoming a lawyer. He expressed his belief that God would not have placed the desire for a legal career in his heart without a plan to bring it to fruition, writing:
Few people would know that when I left my village of Dundonald, Mpumalanga, in 1999, headed for Rhodes University, the actual dream I was going to pursue was that of being a lawyer. I had been admitted to do the BCom Law degree, in pursuit of this dream, which had co-existed concurrently and somewhat ambidextrously alongside my dream of being a broadcaster (not necessarily a journalist, but a broadcaster). But as fate would have it, 19 year old me felt overwhelmed and intimidated by the BCom part of the degree (especially Accounting, which I hadn't done in high school), and merely a day after registering, I switched to journalism, which, thankfully, led me down a long and moderately successful career path.
But the dream to study law and become a legal practitioner just wouldn't leave me (you know, to be like Kavanagh QC or the guys on The Practice - 90s TV series that only those of a certain age would know about). And after nearly 19 years of stalling, about five years ago, I just decided I was done postponing this dream, and it was time to get this LLB thing done once and for all, and done the hard way - starting as a part time student at WitsPlus and then later switching to full-time, while holding down a job, with family commitments, road running etc. The losses and sacrifices of the past five years are incalculable, some (not all) occasioned by this journey I undertook because "I have a dream".
How old is Thulasizwe Simelane?
Thulasizwe Simelane's age is 46 years old as of 2026.
What tribe is Simelane?
He prides himself on the enhanced proficiency of Ndebele and Shona. This way, he can easily communicate with people from the region. Besides, he spent a relatively lengthy stint in the country during his role at SABC.
Source: Original
Career
Thulasizwe joined the SABC in November 2001 and stayed for 11 years. During this period, he handled different roles. Between 2001 and 2004, he produced PM Live on SAFM. This show focused on current affairs. Between 2004 and 2007, he was a senior radio news reporter, based at Auckland Park, Johannesburg.
In 2008, he became a bureau chief and correspondent in Harare. Here, his responsibilities included daily radio and TV coverage. As such, he covered distinct realms of social affairs, economics, and even politics. In June 2011, he presented a flagship program known as asikhulume. Its focus was on vital political and economic issues affecting the country. Later that year, he took up the role of a senior political journalist at SABC.
In November 2012, Simelane started working at the Department of Infrastructure Development in Gauteng. Here, his role as a media liaison officer involved organising and facilitating various media interactions.
Later on, he became a political editor and an anchor at Newzroom Afrika. He played a central role in ensuring the company maintained excellent editorial standards and integrity. He quit the position six months later, intending to pursue other career prospects. But what was Thulasizwe Simelane's new job that everyone was talking about?
There was jubilation when eNCA announced that its top anchors were returning. Thulasizwe Simelane was one of them, having been absent for almost twelve months. Here, he took over the show between 2 and 4 pm. This show is not only incisive but also insightful. For as long as you want an invaluable outlook on the country's current political and economic landscape, this will be the program to watch.
Is Thulasizwe Simelane leaving eNCA?
Thulasizwe Simelane left eNCA in May 2022 after serving as a full-time news anchor for nearly nine years. During his time there, he was based in Johannesburg and became a well-known face in South African broadcast journalism. Thulasizwe said in a statement:
eNCA has been and will always remain my home, a place that shaped and moulded me, and gave me tremendous growth opportunities over the past 6 years. I will miss my colleagues but am confident they've deposited enough of the 'e-DNA' in me to carry me to great heights in my next venture
Where is Thulasizwe Simelane now?
Thulasizwe Simelane is currently working as a Candidate Attorney at Mametja and Associates Inc. Attorneys, a role he has held since September 2025. Prior to this, he was active as a broadcaster and writer with TSMS: Thulasizwe Simelane Media Strategies in Johannesburg, South Africa, between 2022 and 2023.
Who is Thulasizwe Simelane's wife?
Source: UGC
Information about Thulasizwe Simelane's marriage remains undisclosed to the public, as he keeps his personal life private. He posted his wedding photo on his Facebook page back in 2017. He also has a daughter.
Is Sakina Kamwendo South African?
Sakina Kamwendo is an award-winning South African radio presenter and television broadcaster.
Trivia
- He is fluent in multiple languages, including Ndebele and Shona.
- He spent part of his career working in Zimbabwe as a correspondent.
- He has held both media and government communication roles.
- He is known for maintaining a low-profile personal life despite public fame.
- His favorite topics for discussion include international relations, business, and the law.
Thulasizwe Simelane’s journey reflects dedication, growth, and professionalism in South Africa’s competitive media industry. While his career achievements are widely recognised, his personal life remains private, adding to the intrigue surrounding him as both a journalist and an individual.
Briefly.co.za shared an article about Nikki Haley’s net worth and how the American politician built her fortune. She served as the 116th governor of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017.
Nikki also served as the 29th US ambassador to the United Nations from January 2017 to December 2018. At the height of her career, her family was short on cash. Haley quit the Trump administration—and made millions.
Source: Briefly News
Peter Kinuthia Peter Kinuthia is a 2018 graduate of Kenyatta University with a Bachelor's degree in Health Services Management. With over five years of copy-writing experience about media, lifestyle, and health affairs, Peter has cemented a solid career in copy-writing/journalism. He previously worked with Ace My Homework before joining the Briefly team in 2017. With over 5 years of experience in Briefly, Peter has become a remarkable wordsmith. (Email: petekinuthia9@gmail.com)
Peris Walubengo (Lifestyle writer) Peris Walubengo has vast experience in search engine optimization through digital content generation, research, editing, and proofreading. She joined Briefly.co.za in November 2019 and completed the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can email her at perisrodah254@gmail.com.
