Seasoned Xhosa newsreader Noxolo Grootboom, who hung up her mic yesterday after serving the SABC for almost four decades, says retirement will afford her enough time to spend quality time with her family.
Grootboom joined the SABC in December 1983 as a typist in the dubbing department that was responsible for dubbing the speech of American television shows and translate them into different African languages.
Her opportunity to be a newsreader came while working as a secretary for a current affairs news show called Ezisematheni, which was anchored by Mkhokheli Thanda. Three years later, Xhosa news anchor Thandi Mesatywa fell ill, and she was asked to help.
After Mesatywa's death, Grootboom took over permanently. She said knowing that she was stepping on the shoes of intrepid newsreader like Mesatywa, she knew that she had to raise the bar.
“I admired Sis Thandi, she was one of the best news anchors. What was in my heart when I assumed her role was that I did not want to let her down. When I came out of the studio, Sis Thandi, though she was sick, called me and praised me. She gave me pointers and mentored me,” she told Sowetan.
Grootboom explained that she enjoyed reading news though she was always overwhelmed by nerves. “I was nervous almost every day when I read news. The nerves started as soon as I say... 'Bhotani Mawethu'. They will continue until I say… 'Ndinithanda nonke emakhaya.'”
The 60-year-old said now that she has called time at the SABC, she will have ample time to spend quality time with her husband, her five grandchildren, four kids and extended family.
She wants to make up for all the quality time she missed when she worked awkward hours from 11am to 7.30pm. Her schedule denied her the opportunity to attend her kids’ school meetings and her husband has been playing that role.
"I'm looking forward to cooking for my kids everyday to appreciate them for cooking for me for all these years when I got home late. I even said to them, bantwana bam, kufuneka niyitye imali kamama yeritirement (my children, you should enjoy your mom's pension money). We also plan to go to expensive restaurants and have dinner there. We want to close the VIP section and just have fun. Moreover, I will be playing cricket with my grandchildren.”
Grootboom, who is also known as Mamfene, is one of the well-known ambassadors of Xhosa language. Her talent and passion for the language endeared her to television viewers across the country.
Though of late she has been focusing on behind-the-scenes work, leaving the front of the camera to the younger generation, viewers will always remember her broad smile and passion when reading news.
Grootboom said that she was tired and overwhelmed by media calls wanting to interview her. She explained that since announcing her retirement she has been getting nothing but love and praises from the whole country.
“You know, I am speechless. I feel very much humbled by the love that I am getting. South Africans have shown that they love and appreciate me. This is beyond my imagination,” she said.
“It is time to go. I told myself I need to give young people an opportunity. I wanted to quit while my job is still appreciated."
Grootboom, who now lives in Boksburg, on the East Rand, grew up in Healdtown near Fort Beaufort in Eastern Cape.
She was raised by her maternal grandparents who were teachers. She remembers vividly how one of the aunts that she calls Sisi Nomazotsha used to read a book for them every night.
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