WATCH | South Africans congratulate author and TV host Onkgopotse JJ Tabane on his PhD
Twitter is celebrating author and host of “Your View” on Newzroom Afrika, Onkgopotse “JJ” Tabane, who has received his PhD in media studies from Wits University.
Tabane shared a short video in which he was wearing his graduation gown on what would have been the day of his graduation.
He captioned the video, “PhD conferred by Wits University this morning, glory to God.”
His Twitter bio has also been changed to “Dr Onkgopotse JJ Tabane.”
PhD conferred by Wits University this morning. Glory to God! pic.twitter.com/raGPLd8NJA
— Dr.Onkgopotse JJ Tabane (@JJTabane) July 7, 2020
Congratulatory messages continue to flood his timeline and his video has gone viral with more than 176,000 views since it was posted on Tuesday morning.
In May, Tabane shared a letter from the institution confirming that he had successfully finished his PhD. He thanked his family for supporting him in his journey and dedicated his degree to his parents.
His research is titled “Bridging the gap: An analysis of a complicated relationship between government and the media 23 years into democracy.” Speaking to 702 in May, he said, “My research showed that the impact of that relationship has to do with who sets an example at the very top. Mandela set a different example to Mbeki, and Mbeki set a different example from Zuma.”
He said his research has had a positive contribution to his work as a television host.
“Having interviewed 20 or 30 colleagues has strengthened my own work. I’m a host of a TV show, I have to pick up the phone from time to time to make sure that I can have whatever guest I want ... at the same time I need to make sure that they are able to come back because they feel treated fairly. I have to navigate both sides.”
These are some of the messages shared on Twitter:
Inspired by you. Keep rising. So proud of you. You lead, We shall follow!
— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) July 7, 2020
Congratulations JJ in you we see ourselves, we are inspired by black fearless academics. Enjoy your moment with your family...
— Manqoba_282 (@Manqoba_282) July 7, 2020
I love it! Congratulations Dr Tabane! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
— Madeleine Fullard (@mfullard2) July 7, 2020
Congratulations Dr Tabane, but remember that we still miss your robust dialogues on NEWSROOM AFRICA . When are you coming back Dr, we dearly miss you?
— Thomas Nkosi (@ThomasNkosi8) July 7, 2020
Congratulations #DrTabane 🎉🎈🥳
— Sakina Kamwendo (@SakinaKamwendo) July 8, 2020
Congratulations Dr Tabane 🙏🏽your hard work has paid off. You’ve done incredibly well!
— KatlegoDanke (@KatlegoDanke) July 8, 2020