WSU GRADUATE SHARES INSPIRATIONAL JOURNEY THAT LED HIM TO THE SABC

WSU graduate Kamvelihle Kalani is making waves as an intern producer and stand-in presenter at SABC Lehae, the national broadcaster’s twenty-four-hour news channel.

The 26-year-old Public Relations graduate went into SABC Lehae as a production intern responsible for translation, securing guests for the show, doing research, as well as field reporting.

His versatility and continuous learning ethos opened a new door for him when he got the opportunity to host the show and conduct interviews whenever the main anchor was unavailable.

“This role for me means a very simple thing, that it was all worth it. Pushing my passion and purpose despite my challenges finally came through for me,” he said.

Kalani’s journey to the National newsroom was rooted in survival and sheer determination.

Raised by a young mother who struggled to provide structure, Kalani was exposed to instability from a young age. He recalled frequent school changes, being taken in by different families, and witnessing gender-based violence as constant features in his young life.

“I was exposed to so many things that I should not have been exposed to as a child, though at the time, I thought such things were normal. It wasn't until I was grown that I understood that some of the things I experienced and witnessed I should not have,” Kalani said.

In a fortunate turn of events, a family member took Kalani in and raised him as her own.

“It was because of the mother who raised me, my mom’s cousin, that I am the person I am today. Apparently, she saw that I was a “bright” child; she took me in, and she raised me as her own child,” he recalled.

In 2018, Kalani enrolled for the Public Relations programme at WSU’s Buffalo City campus, where he honed his academic and interpersonal skills.

Not confining his interests to only the academic side, he joined multiple student organisations such as ENACTUS, determined to learn as much as he could before venturing into the world of work.

Kalani emphasised that more than earning an income in his early career days, he prioritised learning and gaining invaluable skills that would set him aside from the rest. 

“I am the epitome of doing everything, especially in the Eastern Cape. I have worked as a volunteer in several radio stations around East London, as a news reader, producer and a radio presenter. I volunteered in the PR, Marketing and Communications space for several years. I only started getting a paying internship back in 2024 when I started an internship at Buffalo City TVET college under the marketing department,” he shared.

Now working his way up at the country’s largest broadcasting corporation, Kalani implored his peers to have a teachable spirit and pursue knowledge above all else. 

“My advice to young people is; upskill yourself, be cognitive of the fact that you do not know everything. When I got to Johannesburg, I did a short course on mobile storytelling, which was a course that capacitated me for broadcasting news using a mobile phone. Young people should not wait until they get employed, with a smart phone you can do the job while sticking to the core principles and values of journalism,” he advised.

By Yanga Ziwele