By Thapelo Molefe
Tributes continued to pour in on Thursday for Tshidi Madia, a respected political journalist and associate editor for politics at Eyewitness News (EWN). She passed away in hospital on Wednesday morning after a short illness.
Her sudden death has left the media fraternity, political leaders and the public in shock, with many describing it as a devastating loss to South Africa’s democratic discourse.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile said Madia was “the darling of the media”.
“South Africa has lost a formidable voice, a voice that could be heard at the time of passing on EWN and a host of radio stations. Tshidi was one of media’s most renowned, respected and well-loved members,” Mashatile said.
“She was a consummate professional, known to many of us not just for her incisive reporting, but for her profoundly human touch. She possessed that disarming smile and easy-going banter that made it difficult to refuse her an interview.”
The government described Madia as a “beacon of integrity and a voice of reason”.
It praised her ability to make complex political issues accessible to the public and recalled her role in countering misinformation while she was in the United States for work.
“During the unfounded allegations made against South Africa about white genocide, she rose above sensationalism to provide clarity and truth to a global audience. Her legacy is one of unwavering dedication, ethical journalism and a deep-seated love for her country.”
The SA Communist Party also paid tribute to Madia, saying she spent her entire career probing the quality of the country’s democracy, while at the same time inspiring other journalists and South Africans to continuously hold leaders to account
“While the enemies of informative scrutiny opposed her, the masses of our country cherish her bravery to hold even the powerful to account.”
The Economic Freedom Fighters reflected on her long-standing engagement with the party, especially through her political podcast named “Politricking with Tshidi Madia”.
“She will also be remembered for representing South Africa with distinction in global media discourse, particularly her well regarded engagement with American journalists earlier this year on the false narrative of so-called ‘white genocide’, where she defended the truth and integrity of our country,” EFF said.
ActionSA also extended its condolences, remembering her Madia as a journalist who combined kindness with firmness.
“She was always welcoming, yet unafraid to be firm and probing when the moment demanded it. These qualities earned her the respect and admiration of colleagues, leaders and the wider public alike,” the party said.
“It is with deep sadness that we reflect on her life, which although far too short, was deeply impactful and meaningful.”
The Congress of SA Trade Unions said Madia would be remembered for her insightful reporting.
Madia had a way of looking beyond the obvious and unveiling what lay beneath the surface, it said.
“She seemed to always have the inside story because she had cultivated relationships with sources based on trust. In addition to her superior journalist instinct and skill, her disarming manner was an effective weapon in her arsenal, she used it to develop a rapport with political actors,” it said in a statement on Thursday.
Inside her newsroom, colleagues described Madia as irreplaceable.
Madia’s career began at Primedia Broadcasting, where she worked on EWN’s traffic desk. She later joined Power FM as part of its first reporting team, before moving to News24 as a political reporter. She returned to EWN, where she rose to the position of the politics associate editor.
Her career highlights included securing a one-on-one interview with President Cyril Ramaphosa before the 2024 elections and persistently pursuing former president Jacob Zuma for an interview at his Nkandla homestead.
Earlier this year, she reported from the Oval Office in Washington, covering Ramaphosa’s meeting with the United States President Donald Trump.
Her podcast brought candid and often robust political conversations to the public.
Madia will be remembered for enriching the nation’s democracy.
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