Gugulethu Mahlalela: Telling the Untold Stories of Rural Eswatini

 

From a quiet border community to the studios of national broadcasting, a young woman is ready to give a voice to Eswatini’s rural storytellers.

Rooted in the Borderlands

In the calm yet resilient community of Lomahasha, near Eswatini’s borders with South Africa and Mozambique, Gugulethu Mahlalela is preparing to make her mark in the world of broadcast journalism. The final-year Journalism student at the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) has a passion for storytelling shaped by her upbringing among hardworking families striving for a better life.

“Growing up in the bundus, I saw people hustling every day just to survive. That inspired me to tell stories that reflect their struggles and triumphs,” she said.

Raised in a Christian home by two “hustlers,” as she fondly calls her parents, Gugulethu’s values of faith, perseverance, and community drive everything she does.

Finding Her Voice

Her educational journey took her from Emafusini Nazarene Primary School to Lomahasha Central High, and now UNESWA, where she majors in Broadcast Journalism. A confident speaker since childhood, Gugulethu remembers her days of reading aloud in class a skill that blossomed into her love for public speaking. Inspired by Siphesihle Nkwanyana, one of Eswatini’s admired broadcasters, she found motivation to follow a similar path.

“I guess she was the best I had seen at the time,” she recalled.
“She made me fall in love with mass communication. Mhlalela adds”

Gugulethu is passionate about giving rural communities a voice, focusing on the issues that rarely make it to mainstream headlines: poverty, poor sanitation, lack of access to education, and the daily realities of survival in Eswatini’s most neglected regions.

Dreams Beyond the Studio Walls

Her long-term goal is to join Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Services (EBIS) and use its extensive reach to champion community-based storytelling.

Still, her aspirations stretch further.

“I wish to be part of the SABC Newsroom one day,” she said confidently.
“I’m in love with Siswati news reading. I want to share our stories with a wider audience.”

She also dreams of pursuing a Master’s degree at the University of KwaZulu-Natal to strengthen her broadcasting and journalistic expertise.

Challenges Along the Way

The path to success in media is rarely easy. Gugulethu points out the many hurdles young journalists face particularly in Eswatini’s limited and competitive media landscape.

“Creating and maintaining an audience isn’t as simple as it looks,” she said.
“Penetrating established institutions and getting your voice heard takes a lot of time.”

She also highlighted censorship and low remuneration as ongoing challenges in the journalism sector.
Despite these obstacles, her determination remains unwavering.

“These challenges only push me to work harder,” Gugulethu said.

Hope and Opportunity

While the industry presents difficulties, Gugulethu remains positive about the future of broadcasting. She believes that digital migration, citizen journalism, and growing sponsorship opportunities are opening doors for young reporters to innovate and express themselves.

“Digital platforms give us a chance to tell stories instantly and reach more people,” she noted.
“Young journalists need to take advantage of these changes.”

A Rising Voice for the Voiceless

From the remote village of Lomahasha to the corridors of the University of Eswatini, Gugulethu Mahlalela’s journey embodies the spirit of hope and resilience.

Grounded in her community and guided by purpose, she strives to ensure that the stories of Eswatini’s rural people challenges, their hopes, and their resilience are told truthfully and loudly.

“People want to hear their stories being told,” she said.
“And I want to be the one who tells them.”