Sophie Mokoena: South African Journalist Making Waves on Kenyan X

Sophie Mokoena, a seasoned journalist and International News Editor at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is trending on Kenyan X (formerly Twitter) for her incisive question directed at Kenyan leader Raila Odinga.

Her January 5th query to Raila Odinga read, "My question to @RailaOdinga. You are campaigning for the position of the AU Commission Chair. Why must Africa consider you when your country can’t provide answers on the abduction cases in Kenya? You want to lead the continent when you are failing to lead in your own country."

The tweet garnered over a million views within hours, with Mokoena’s question coming amid rising public pressure on Kenyan authorities to address recent abductions that had caused fear and outrage.

She later acknowledged the impact of her tweet, stating, “No leader can ignore how people responded to the question. One million people is not just a number. It speaks to Africans who are hurting. Leadership is about listening."

But who is this woman whose tweet is credited with potentially fueling the call for the release of the abductees?

Early Biography

Born in Frankfurt, a small town in South Africa's Free State province, Sophie began her career during South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy.

While a student leader at Sebokeng College of Education, she focused on voter education, democracy training, and non-violent conflict resolution.

In 1994, she worked as an electoral monitor during South Africa’s first democratic elections in communities such as Sharpeville, Sebokeng, and Boipatong.

Career

Mokoena joined SABC in 1994, where she started as a reporter and current affairs presenter. She initially anchored the program SiSuthu Stereo, now Lesedi FM, and later became a political reporter before transitioning to international news.

In 2012, Mokoena was removed from SABC’s political team in controversial circumstances but eventually rose to become the International News Editor.

In this role, she has conducted interviews with heads of state and played a key role in shaping SABC’s global news coverage.

Controversies

Throughout her career, Mokoena has faced allegations, including irregular expenditure related to a foreign news agency and alleged misconduct during a 2009 pay strike.

In some instances, her decisions—such as engaging a foreign news agency without a formal contract—were defended by colleagues as practical solutions to organizational challenges.

Advocacy 

Mokoena has often used her platform to address issues of justice and accountability. Her recent statements on Kenya’s abduction cases showed her commitment to addressing human rights concerns. Commenting on Kenyan activism, she tweeted, “Kenyans are their own liberators.”

Personal Life

While she has been open about her professional journey and personal experiences, detailed information about her family life, including her husband, is not widely publicized.

In a Facebook post, it was mentioned that Sophie and her husband, Lukas, hired a contractor to build an extra room in their house.

Additionally, Sophie has shared moments with her granddaughter, Tina, and family in Livingstone, Zambia, as seen in a post on X (formerly Twitter).