What began as a high school passion for radio has grown into a promising journalism career for Rorisang Rampheteng, whose journey has now earned him a nomination for Free State Sports Journalist of the Year.
For Rampheteng, the nomination is not simply recognition of his work. It is a reflection of years spent learning, adapting and pursuing his passion for telling stories through sport and news.
His introduction to journalism came while he was still in high school when he joined Bergman Square FM, now known as BBT Radio. Working as a sports presenter and newsreader, he gained his first experience behind the microphone and developed an interest that would eventually become a professional career.
The community radio station provided him with an important foundation, teaching him the fundamentals of broadcasting while giving him the confidence to engage with audiences and report on sporting matters.
His journey continued at CUT FM, where he spent two years as a stand-in broadcaster. The opportunity exposed him to a different broadcasting environment and allowed him to sharpen his skills as a presenter.
Rampheteng later joined Free State Live Radio, where he continued presenting sports programmes while expanding his work into news reporting. His experience in both sports and general news helped him develop into a more versatile journalist capable of covering stories beyond the sporting field.
He subsequently joined NewsSA, further broadening his experience through coverage of sport, hard news and general news. Each newsroom added another layer to his development and strengthened his understanding of journalism as a profession that requires accuracy, consistency and a willingness to keep learning.
Currently, Rampheteng serves as a Free State World correspondent, where he provides coverage of provincial news and sport across the Free State. Through his reporting, he continues to bring stories from communities across the province to a wider audience, while maintaining his focus on sports journalism.
He also works as a sports journalist at Sports Eye and as a journalist at the University of the Free State. His work covers sporting achievements, human-interest stories, student success and developments affecting communities.
For Rampheteng, the Free State Sports Journalist of the Year nomination is particularly significant because of the journey behind it.
“This nomination means more than an award to me. It represents every challenge I have faced, every setback I have overcome and every moment when I considered giving up. It reminds me that perseverance, consistency and faith eventually lead to opportunities,” he said.
The recognition has also strengthened his determination to continue developing as a journalist.
“Whenever I face difficult moments in the future, I will look back at this nomination as a reminder that hard work does not go unnoticed. I hope my journey encourages young journalists to believe in themselves, remain committed to their craft and never stop pursuing their dreams,” Rampheteng said.
From his early days at a community radio station to working across several newsrooms and becoming a correspondent providing provincial news and sports coverage, Rampheteng’s journey has been built on persistence.
The nomination may mark another chapter in his career, but for him, it is not the final destination. It is another reminder of why he entered journalism in the first place: to tell stories, amplify sporting achievements, give communities a voice and continue growing through the craft he has chosen.
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