For more than three decades his distinctive voice has helped South Africans make sense of politics, democracy and a changing nation. Now veteran broadcaster and media personality Tim Modise will receive an honorary doctorate from the North-West University (NWU).
The university will confer the honorary doctorate on Modise during a special ceremony at the Great Hall on the NWU’s Mahikeng Campus on Thursday, 22 October 2026 at 10:00.
Timothy Molefe “Tim” Modise is regarded as one of South Africa’s pioneering broadcasters and public communicators. His 30-year career in radio and television has closely followed the country’s transition from apartheid to democracy.
Modise started his broadcasting career as a sound technician at Radio 702. He later became a music DJ before moving into radio presenting, news and current affairs journalism and political broadcasting.
Over the years he has worked across some of South Africa’s leading broadcast platforms, including the SABC, eNCA, Business Day TV, 702, SAfm, Metro FM, Soweto TV and M-Net’s Carte Blanche. He has also worked with BBC Radio and Radio Bop and helped launch Power FM.
Public dialogue and political tolerance
His contribution has extended well beyond the broadcasting studio. Modise has moderated major public policy discussions and facilitated debates involving political leaders, business executives, academics, economists, artists and other influential South Africans.
During South Africa’s political transition in the 1990s, Modise used broadcasting to promote public dialogue, political tolerance and greater understanding. He interviewed political leaders across the spectrum and helped audiences navigate some of the defining debates of the period.
One of the highlights of his broadcasting career came in 1994 when he served as a panellist during the nationally televised debate between Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk. The debate was carried internationally through broadcasters including CNN, the BBC and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and reached a global audience.
Modise has continued to promote informed public debate, active citizenship, social cohesion and democratic participation. His work has covered issues ranging from politics and governance to the economy, education, health, labour and nation-building.
His contribution to public life has also included serving as the founding chairperson of Proudly South African and as chief communications officer for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Local Organising Committee.
His broadcasting and communication work has earned him several honours. These include being named SABC Broadcaster of the Year in 1991 and being inducted into the South African Radio Hall of Fame in 2011. He also received a Reconciliation Award conferred by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and an international human rights award from the Jaime Brunet Foundation in Spain.
“The honorary doctorate from the NWU recognises Modise’s distinguished contribution to South African broadcasting, public communication and democratic discourse, and his longstanding role in creating spaces for informed national conversation.,” said Prof Gilbert Motsaathebe,the deputy dean of teaching and learning in the Faculty of Humanities.
©Higher Education Media Services.
I will not explain it, but I had an unhealthy heartbeat starting to read the headline…worrying that it could say something. Times are tough😰