Award-winning journalist Alpha Ramushwana wants to make difference beyond newsrooms

Fresh from being named Radio News Reporter of the Year, Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) alumnus, Alpha Ramushwana, wants to make a difference beyond the newsroom. According to him, his greatest ambition is not only to excel in journalism but also to give back to the institution and people who helped shape his career.

Award-Winning Eyewitness News Journalist, Alpha Ramushwana. Source: Muimeleli Alpha’s Facebook, captured by Sphamandla Dlamini. Ramushwana received top honours at the 2025 National Press Club Awards, held in June 2026, where he won the Radio News and Radio Features/Investigative Journalism categories. He was also named Radio News Reporter of the Year, strengthening his place among South Africa's leading broadcast journalists.

Reflecting on the achievement, Ramushwana described the recognition as a defining moment in his career.

“It is such a strong validation of the work I have put in. At my young age, being honoured with this award is a huge achievement. It is by the grace of God that I've been recognised for the hard work I put in every day.”

These awards carry even greater significance for him because they came from respected industry veterans whose work had inspired him from the start.

“It is amazing that the people I grew up looking up to are the same people applauding me today.”

According to Ramushwana, journalism is more than a profession, it is a public service that demands integrity, diligence and a commitment to the truth.

“When you are fully cognisant of who you serve, you understand the diligence that comes with the job.”

He says that commitment has guided every step of his career.

“It's one of the promises I made to myself that anything I do as a journalist, I need to do it wholeheartedly and with great diligence.”

Although the awards are an important achievement, Ramushwana sees them as encouragement to keep serving the public well.

Looking to the future, he is determined to invest in the next generation of journalists by returning to the very institution that nurtured his talent.

“I often say that one day I look forward to going back to TUT to lecture, either full-time or part-time. I need to give back to the institution that helped to build me and to the people who believed in me.”

His long-term ambition is to host his own talk radio show focused on politics and current affairs. For now, however, his priority is to build on his skills as a field reporter.