Although she is only 26 years old and has just two months of experience in the radio-presenting industry, Khathutshelo Raliphaswa is rapidly making her mark in the local media world. The Musina FM newcomer has proven to be a force to be reckoned with, scooping up three awards at the station's year-end function on Friday, 29 November.
Raliphaswa, who hosts the midday show Tsumbavhuyo (airing weekdays from 12:00 to 15:00), walked away with accolades for Most Improved Presenter, Best Newcomer as Newsreader, and Best Newcomer at Musina FM 2024.
"For me, these awards were unexpected," Raliphaswa said with a smile. "All I can say is, when hard work meets dedication, one can never go wrong."
Originally from Mpheni, just outside Louis Trichardt, Raliphaswa's journey in media began long before she stepped behind the mic. Her career started as a journalism intern at Limpopo Mirror, where she also began translating articles into Tshivenda.
She credits the paper's editor, Anton van Zyl, for giving her a chance, despite her lack of experience in translation. "He believed in me, and that gave me the confidence to grow," she said.
In June this year, Raliphaswa joined Musina FM as a Tshivenda newsreader. By October, she had been entrusted with her three-hour show— a significant milestone that came with its challenges.
"At first, I was scared," she admitted. "Three hours alone behind the mic felt like a big responsibility, especially since I was stepping into someone else's shoes. But with the guidance of my programme manager, Ms Sharon Matamela, and our station manager, Mr Justice Langa, I overcame my fears and started enjoying the journey."
Interestingly, broadcasting was not part of Raliphaswa's original career plan. Her first love was writing. As a child, she channelled her creativity into poetry and aspired to be a journalist who tells stories with words.
"I always wanted to be a writer," she said. "But when the opportunity in broadcasting came, I looked up to news anchors like Tshifhiwa Doyoyo and Tshifhiwa Mbedzi. They inspired me to listen to radio and watch current affairs shows to sharpen my skills."