Biography

JOHANN ABRAHAMS - Executive Producer

Zinhle Dlamini Johann Abrahams has a broadcasting and film degree from the University of Kansas in the USA. After working for a several television stations in the American Midwest as cameraman/journalist, he came back to South Africa. He joined the SABC’s, Cape Town office in 1994 where he worked as a cameraman/reporter. Johann has also travelled extensively covering conflict and stories in Rwanda, Malawi, Russia, Brazil, Namibia, Bali, Nigeria and recently Angola. He joined Special Assignment in 2004 and has since won several awards including SABC Journalist of the Year in 2006.

SASHA WALES-SMITH - Producer

Ntsiki Nohiya Sasha Wales-Smith is a writer and producer of current affairs and documentary television. She has worked extensively in current affairs throughout Africa and Europe. In addition, she has produced and directed social and human interest documentaries in the UK and in Southern Africa. She started her career in rural development as a free-lance consultant, before becoming involved with television and media.

HAZEL FRIEDMAN - Producer

Ntsiki Nohiya Hazel Friedman is a television producer, investigative journalist, author and culture writer. She has published several books on the visual arts. In 2006 she wrote a fact-based thriller called Hijack!, which was described by literary critics as “the best thriller this country has produced”. Also in 2006 she won the SABC News Producer of the Year Award. In 2007 she won the Vodacom Journalist of the Year Award. She is the proud parent to a nuclear family of cats.

BUSISIWE NTULI - Producer

Ntsiki Nohiya Busisiwe has six years experience in Journalism. She formally started her journalism work at Summit Television, before joining the SABC in 2003. She is currently doing her Journalism Honours degree with Wits University, and has a Financial Journalism and Economics Literacy qualifications with the Johnnic Pearson Financial Journalism institute and Wits Plus, respectively. Since joining the corporation, she has been working as an Economics journalist and has produced business news inserts for the SABC Economics desk. She joined the Special Assignment team in October 2007. Her particular understanding of Economics news makes her a valuable addition to the investigation team considering the specialised nature of the issues involved.

COBUS VAN STADEN - Producer

Cobus Cobus van Staden started his career in journalism in 1998, working at the English TV News desk. He subsequently became a TV reporter in the SABC’s Johannesburg office. In 2001 he went to Japan for postgraduate study, receiving an MA and then a PhD in media studies from the University of Nagoya. He joined Special Assignment in May 2008.

ASANDA MAGAQA - Producer

Ntsiki Nohiya Asanda Magaqa began her career at the SABC 4 years ago, when she became a Radio News Journalist. Based in the Eastern Cape, stories on Human Rights, and specifically those of service delivery are her passion. In her career she has won the BBC Africa Radio Award: News Journalist of the Year (Southern Africa), the Vodacom Journalist of the Year in Radio News and the SABC News Award in Radio Current Affairs. Asanda joins Special Assignment as a Specialist Producer.

PETER MOYO - Producer

Ntsiki Nohiya Peter Moyo holds a qualification in Mass Communication and Journalism from Zimbabwe. Moyo is an award winning journalist and was recently nominated for the CNN/MultiChoice Journalist of the Year award for his story on the smuggling and illicit trade of diamonds from Zimbabwe to South Africa. He has worked for companies like Sunday World, Mnet, African News Dimension and e.tv. He joins Special Assignment as a Specialist Producer with more than eight years journalism experience

LEBOHANG MABUSELA - Intern

Ntsiki Nohiya Lebo is a final year student in Communications Science at UNISA. She has worked on many hard-hitting investigations since starting as an intern with Special Assignment last year. She started looking into xenophobic attacks early this year, before it became a headline story. She forms a vital part of our investigating team.