“At only 16, VUT FM news reader and Grade 10 learner Oarabile Nkaota from Sharpeville is balancing school and radio, using his voice to inspire, uplift, and create change.”
30 September 2025 | Story By: Qhawekazi Memani | Picture: Supplied
2 minutes read time.
When most teenagers are still figuring out who they want to be, Oarabile Nkaota is already waking up to deadlines, scripts, and the thrill of a live broadcast. At just 16, the Grade 10 learner from Tshepiso, Sharpeville, has carved out a place for himself on VUT FM as one of the station’s youngest news readers, proof that passion can sometimes outrun age.
His love for radio began as a child. “From the very beginning, I knew radio was where I belonged,” he says with a shy smile. At only 10 years old, while many of his peers were still glued to cartoons, Oarabile was behind a community station microphone, learning how to tell stories and connect with strangers he would never meet face to face.
For him, radio is not just about bulletins. “It’s about amplifying voices, telling stories that matter, and connecting with people.” That belief was cemented on Mandela Day, when he reported on a community outreach where a poverty-stricken family’s home was renovated and a blind single mother was given support. “That day showed me that radio isn’t only about what happens in the studio. It’s about being out there, giving a voice to the voiceless, and showing the real heart of humanity.”
Balancing high school and radio is not easy. Oarabile admits to late nights and long weekends spent preparing for shows, but he shrugs it off with the maturity of someone twice his age. “It’s not about juggling blindly. It’s about knowing what needs to be done and giving each responsibility my full attention,” he says.
He is also still a teenager at heart. Between classes and airtime, Oarabile loves singing, dancing, and even tried his hand at a pageant, winning on his very first attempt. “I like to keep people guessing,” he laughs.
Looking ahead, his dreams stretch far beyond Sharpeville. He hopes to step into television, digital media, and gospel music, while also studying in the health sciences. His role models include media powerhouse Anele Mdoda and, closer to home, the quiet resilience of his family and community.
Behind the polished newsreader’s voice is a young man with an old soul, one who believes that radio is more than entertainment. For Oarabile Nkaota, it is a mission: to inspire, to uplift, and to remind people that change often starts with a voice.