Biography

Siphiwo Magoda is a 75-year-old Iconic Eastern Cape broadcaster. He is best known for working at the public Broadcaster SABC for 20 years.

Magoda presents the midnight talk show, Umxholo since February 1, 2017. He has spent over 40 years in the industry.

Siphiwo Magoda
Siphiwo Magoda biography
Siphiwo Magoda trained as a journalist at the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Quick Facts
Full Name:Siphiwo Magoda
Other Names:Zizi
Age:75 years old
Place of Birth:Weza village, Willowvale
Nationality:South African
Education:St John’s College
Occupation:Journalist, television host, reporter
Years Active:1982 – date
Siblings:2
Workplace:Umhlobo Wenene FM

Early Life

Siphiwo Magoda was born in Weza village in Willowvale, Eastern Cape, South Africa, and has two older siblings. Many fondly called him by his clan’s name Zizi.

Education

Magoda attended St John’s College in Mthatha from 1976 to 1979. After matric, he trained as a journalist at the British Broadcasting Corporation in London. 

Siphiwo also trained in change management at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Toronto.

Career

Magoda joined Radio Transkei in 1982 and worked as operations controller, reporter and news reader, senior reporter, and news and current affairs presenter.

In 1993, he moved from Radio Transkei to the SABC in Auckland Park, Johannesburg. He worked for the SABC in many management areas for twenty-eight years.

The then SABC executive editor Barney Mthombothi tasked him to develop current affairs on Umhlobo Wenene FM. 

After spending a decade in Gqeberha, Siphiwo moved to Cape Town to head TV news at the Sea Point office.

In February 2017, he rejoined Umhlobo Wenene FM in Gqeberha as the host of the uMxholo kuMhlobo Wenene FM talk show. He interned at the CBC’s St Johns Radio and Television in New Foundland, Canada. 

Magoda worked for Good Morning South Africa as a News Reporter. In 1994, he interviewed many South African Political Party Leaders ahead of the elections.

In 2016, he replaced Luzuko Koti as host of the midnight talk show Umxholo on Umhlobo Wenene FM. He had his debut show on Wednesday, February 1, 2017.