A refreshing and delightful day of 18 July 2024 as long time news anchor and broadcaster at the SABC, Masego Ezekiel ‘Easy’ Matjila was awarded the accolades by the North West University in Mahikeng, in recognition of his significant contribution to promoting and preserving the Setswana language. Matjila has graced the Television screen as a Setswana newsman whom viewers looked forward to watching his cheerful semblance each evening. Known for his deep emotional expression both in voice tone and facial expression his aura inspired many in celebrating our African language heritage. People love a person they can relate to in a realistic way, and that his delivery was as close as having a conversation with someone we are familiar with.
“Allow me to express my gratitude and appreciation to the NWU for honouring an individual such as myself while still alive. I consider myself lucky and I am truly humbled,” Mentioned Dr Matjila.
Born of royal descent Easy maintained calmness and humility in broadcasting and yet his audibly capturing voice commanded authority that it impacts you even as you may be listening to news across another room without fixing your eyes on the screen. He had a way of articulating the interplay of Setswana figurative speech that accentuated the relaying of the occurrences of the daily news scenarios that gave a whole picture as if one was physically there. A breakthrough if not unmatched excellence in engaging his telly audience community across the nation. Even so in sport he would go direct in giving out an illustrious description of a superior triumph of one team’s win over another especially in soccer, or vice versa unpacking the lamentation of the losing team, conjuring the emotional soft spot of the game’s followers.
More so Easy was real, and executed the language subtly to its highest of command of royal beauty and splendour. He inspired many enthusiasts in the creative arts who loved and admired his literary art form. It is remarkable that he received a great honour from his former boss at the national broadcaster, Hlaudi Motshweneng, who referred to him as “the best”.
Easy’s meritorious work set the highest standard in broadcasting and paved a long standing towering legacy for those entering and those practicing in the media space. During his illustrious career, he advocated for more multilingual youth programmes on SABC2, noting that Setswana, Sepedi, and Sesotho-speaking youth were underrepresented. His efforts at the SABC earned him numerous awards, including Best News Writer (SABC, 2008) and Commentator of the Year: AFCON 1996.
He holds qualifications from institutions such as UNISA, WITS, and Regenesys Business School. He also received awards from the Pan South African Language Board for excellence in the command and promotion of the Setswana language and culture.
In keeping with his signature sign-off Matjila mentioned at the awards ceremony, “re bantle botlhe!”, “Our work here is done. Now the road is paved and all I can say is that we are all beautiful. With love and peace, God be with you!
Jerry Sokhupe
Soweto Sunrise News
