Rilise Raphulu (21) is quickly making a name for herself on the local airwaves. The ambitious young radio presenter from Tshakhuma Muhovhoya recently joined the Vhembe FM team as a news reader, and the future looks bright for her.
Rilise started her schooling career at Tshakhuma Primary. In 2018, she matriculated from Mbilwi Secondary School and registered for a BA degree in media studies at the University of Limpopo.
Her career in radio took off in 2021, while she was still studying, when she started working at Heita FM – an online radio station based in Polokwane. After she graduated in 2022, she joined the then Vuwani FM as a news reader, and that is how everything began for her.
Nothing makes this young woman happier than breaking a story first and this, she says, has made her something of an idol to a few people. "Radio has taught me how to speak to a large audience, and now I am confident to voice my opinions."
But she says that her current success does not mean that she is where she has set out to be; she still plans on achieving a lot more in life. "I'm still young and there is still so much more to offer to my community. I am that kind of person who is positive about every aspect of life. There are many things I like to do, to see, and to experience. As a hard worker, my personal objective is to establish myself in a dynamic environment where my theoretical knowledge and practical experience can be fully utilised," she says.
Rilise considers herself as an innovative, talented, free-spirited, disciplined, and hardworking person who is forever ready to learn. She is especially grateful for the love and support she has received from her family in pursuing a career in journalism. She admis that breaking into radio journalism was not an easy thing. "I had to work even harder to prepare myself for employment, but along the way I have already grown into a responsible young lady. Prosperity is what I want to achieve," she says.