Robert Marawa Biography: Age Milestones and Family Life of the Sports Journalist

Robert Marawa (born March 1, 1973) is a 51 year-old South African media personality, sports journalist, radio, and television presenter. He is best known for his time as a presenter for SuperSport and host on Metro FM.

Marawa has built quite a name for himself in the past two decades as a result of the brilliance, enthusiasm, and expertise that is very obvious in his work. It is no surprise he is one of South Africa’s highest-earning and most popular sports personalities.

The Media Guru Initially Wanted To Be A Lawyer

Robert Marawa’s career took off quite early but his decision to follow the journalism path wasn’t set in stone initially. He was born and raised in the community of Vryheid in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He attended Hilton’s college in Pietermaritzburg and then moved on to the University of Witwatersrand where he studied Law. He discovered immediately that he wasn’t cut out to be a lawyer and decided to make a change that would lead him to the illustrious career he has now.

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Robert Marawa Was 23 Years Old When He Got His First Job at SABC in 1996

Robert Marawa was very young when he launched his broadcasting career. He was a student at Wits University when he heard about auditions at the South African Broadcasting Company (SABC). He knew he had some interest in broadcasting and decided to apply. He was hired in 1996, at the age of 23, as a Zulu and English continuity presenter for the SABC. He got bored with the position and one year later, he transferred to the sports department and has never looked back since then.

The world of sportscasting required only presenters who loved games and were in tune with the crazy world of sports to the point of addiction. This was what made Robert so perfect for the job. He remained with the SABC in the capacity of a sports presenter for one more year. In 1997, Robert Marawa went on to anchor a football show called Laduma on Topsport. He was also the host of the football highlights show called Soccerzone, which aired every Monday on the SABC1 radio station.

On Metro FM, an SABC owned radio station, Marawa served as the presenter of the Discovery Sports Center which aired on weekdays from 6 pm to 7 pm. His sportscasting prowess wasn’t confined to just football because he also hosted the boxing show, Blow by Blow, at the SABC2.

His Career as a Well-Known Sports Journalist Really Took Off in 2006

Robert had a very successful run with SABC and all the different positions he took enabled him to become one of the country’s best sports broadcasters. He hosted prestigious events like the France World Cup in 1998, which had a total of 48 games. He was still technically a rookie, so he shared the job with another sports anchor. About 8 years later, Robert single-handedly hosted the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany when he was 33 years old.

At Age 33, Robert Joined Supersports TV But Was Fired Indiscriminately

After a brilliant run with SABC, Robert joined Supersports TV in 2006. On the new network, he presented a popular show called Thursday Night Live with Robert Marawa. The show aired on the Supersport4 channel. While he worked as a television anchor for Supersports, he also retained his job as the anchor of Discovery Sports, which was later changed to Sports@6 on Metro FM. It looked like things couldn’t get any better for the young sports guru.

He however ran into work issues in the middle of his career. After working with Supersports for over 13 years, it came as a big shock to fans when he announced on social media that he’d been unceremoniously fired from his job in May 2019. It was alleged that the sack letter came in the form of an SMS just two hours to the time he was meant to come on air. In the midst of all the confusion felt by fans across the country, the sports channel issued a statement claiming the sack was done in preparation for an ‘exciting’ reshuffling procedure. And thus, Robert’s contract was terminated.

I received a text around 18H50 tonight informing me that I should not bother coming to Studio for Thursday Night Live with Marawa Show on @SuperSportTV… I would like to thank all those who have supported my journey as a Sportscaster & those I've worked with at Supersport! ✌🏼✌🏼

— robertmarawa (@robertmarawa) May 16, 2019

Robert did not buy this excuse and replied that he was sacked for blowing the whistle on the sexual misdemeanours going on in the workplace. Supersports replied by denying all the allegations. Robert’s sack sparked a lot of outrage across the country and the South African Football Association (SAFA), had to intervene. All efforts to get Robert Marawa back on the network proved futile as he had decided to move on to other things.

Robert Marawa Also Fell Out With the SABC

It looks like our sports host extraordinaire has a penchant for being unceremoniously dismissed from work. In 2021, he alleged that the SABC fired him through a Whatsapp message. He made this revelation on Twitter and tweeted that the sack was done by an unauthorized ‘lackey’ in the corporation. This was apparently not the first time that the SABC had done such a thing.

So after serving the Public Broadcaster through time, I am sent yet another text from a person in an "acting" position informing me of this.👇🏾👇🏾
Same modus operandi as SS.

What do they fear about the last Show??

Thank you Mzansi for the love & support thru the years. #MSW 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/WIoqZpbFX0

— robertmarawa (@robertmarawa) July 30, 2021

In 2017, he was booted out of his Metro FM show in the same cavalier manner. It looked like Robert was at loggerheads with some of the top dogs in the company and the attempts to take his job appeared suspicious to the public. When the backlash got too much, he was reinstated back into the network where he remained until July 30, 2021, before he was fired the second time.

TV Shows That Robert Has Appeared On

Here is a list of the television shows that Robert Marawa has featured in since the inception of his career to date:

• Blow By Blow –  as a Host
• FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 – Season 1 as a Presenter (Germany)
• Laduma – Season 1 as a Host
• Miss South Africa – Season 56 as a Judge
• MTN Soccerzone – Season 1 as a Host
• The Metro FM Music Awards – Season 12 as a Host
• The People’s Celebration Concert – Season 1 as a Voice Artist (Voice)
• Zaziwa – Season 1 as Himself

Robert Marawa’s Net Worth is Incredibly Impressive

It is no secret that Robert Marawa has amassed a sizeable fortune in his 20-year sojourn as a sports journalist. In 2018, he reportedly signed an employment contract with the SABC worth over R5 million and at some point, his take-home salary was estimated to be about R154,000. This is why it isn’t surprising that he is worth over R6 million earned from his successful career as a broadcaster in one of South Africa’s top media companies.

The sports journalist has since left the SABC but continues to grow financially. Earlier, he created a YouTube channel called Marawa TV and his earnings are calculated to be around the sum of R300,000 every month. In spite of his bulky earnings, Robert has described himself as a very simple man. He doesn’t flaunt his possessions online like some of his counterparts. When interviewed about it, he admitted that he grew up simple, and so the simple lifestyle stuck with him, even in adulthood.

Robert Marawa’s Car Collection

The sports anchor, unlike other wealthy celebrities, is not one who loves to flaunt his possessions for the gram. In spite of this, the sports personality, who is one of the highest-paid sportscasters in the country, happens to own quite an impressive fleet. He tends to gravitate towards sports cars, which is no surprise, given his line of work and he has managed to acquire some very exotic birds for his car collection. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Audi RS5 Sports

Challenge accepted by legend. All roads are blocked in Sandton for #testdriveaudi with ⁦@robertmarawa⁩ on Audi RS5 Coupe 🔥 ⁦@audisouthafrica⁩ #audisandton pic.twitter.com/yFZtkgjhbN

— Thembinkosi Pantsi (@themkopantsi) September 29, 2020

This luxury sports car was purchased by Marawa just 3 days after his controversial sack from SABC. The car is estimated to have cost a whopping R1.5 million and boasts of the following specifications:

• Maximum power of 443.87 bhp @ 5700-6700 rpm
• Automatic transmission type
• A V6 Engine
• A petrol tank with a capacity of 58 l
• A 4-seater coupe body type
• Boot space of 465 liters
• The car also has driver and passenger airbags,
• Alloy wheels
• Anti-Brake System
• Air Conditioning
• Multi-function Steering Wheel

Lexus IS 300F Model

A few days ago, Marawa signed a highly coveted ambassadorial deal with the luxury car manufacturer, Lexus. The deal was signed on the 3rd of November, 2021, and Robert was presented with a brand new Lexus sports car, 2020 model. The features of the car among many others include:

• Maximum horsepower of 241 hp @5800 rpm
• Torque of 248 lb-ft @ 1650 rpm
• 8-speed shift automatic gear
• 5-seater capacity coupe
• 5 gallon boot size
• A V6 Engine
• Front, back and rear airbags
• Pre- and Post- Collision safety system
• 4-Wheel ABS system
• A Tire Pressure Monitor
• Emergency Braking Assist

Robert Marawa’s Family and the Truth About Vanessa Marawa

When one becomes a celebrity, there is always curiosity from their fans about their backgrounds – and Robert is certainly no exception. Information reveals that Robert Marawa was born to Phumlile Marawa (mother) and Frank Marawa (father) on the 1st of March in the year 1973. He grew up with his siblings in KwaZulu.

Robert’s father, Frank was his role model but he, unfortunately, passed away in 2006, which ironically was Robert’s breakout year. His mother is still alive and healthy at 87 years. Robert’s family is an interesting one; this is mainly because he is not the only famous one among his three siblings.

His oldest sister’s name is Nomvula but not much is known about her other than the fact that he visits her often. His second sister, Gugu Marawa, also had a football-related career. She was once the Deputy Manager of the South African Senior Men’s National Football team and also worked briefly as the manager of the Lamontville Golden Arrows. He also has a third sister named Vanessa. Vanessa Marawa is not a new name in the South African entertainment scene and has been famous since she won the first season of the Survivor South Africa: Panama in 2006.

She was a real estate agent and model before the show. After the show, Vanessa went on to become a successful actress, fashion icon and radio host. It seems like this love for talking runs in the family.

Despite Being Involved In Notable Celebrity Relationships, Robert Marawa is Still Single

Marawa has managed to lead a relatively quiet personal life but news of his romantic relationships somehow make it to the public. About three years ago on the 29th of July, 2018, the media icon was interviewed by lifestyle journalist Pearl Tsotetsi about his non-existent marital life. Robert then jokingly replied that he would get married when there was a Black Pope.

This sounded like a subtle way of saying ‘No’. When called out on his apparent aversion to marriage, he later clarified that he had nothing against marriage but that he was focused more on his career and his family. And true to his word, he is unmarried 3 years later but still going strong at his job.

The 51-year-old sports expert does not have a wife yet but Robert Marawa has had a very rich love life and has been intimately involved with some of South Africa’s most beautiful women.

His Relationship with Baby Mama, Zoe Mthiyane Ended on a Rough Note

Robert Marawa was in a relationship with Zoe Mthiyane, a famous actress best known for playing Katherine in “She Is King” and who has also featured in The Lion King, Disney Theatrical Production. The relationship ended on a very unfriendly note and they were together for only a short while. Together, they have a 13-year-old son, Awande, who was born on July 18th, 2011, in KwaZulu. The nature of their relationship was heavily guarded and it is not clear if they were ever married.

When the two separated, Zoe took custody of Awande and has since done her best to raise him in a comfortable environment. The couple got into a nasty legal fight where Robert accused her of denying him visitation rights. Zoe fired back saying that Robert was a deadbeat father who never made any attempt to raise the boy. She also accused him of fishing for compliments about his non-existent parenting skills on social media.

Robert Marawa Was Also in a Committed Relationship With Pearl Thusi

Soon after his relationship with Zoe ended, he began another one with Pearl Thusi, a South African actress most famous for her role as the titular character of the Netflix series, Queen Sono. Being two popular figures, their relationship was the rave of the tabloids. At first, the two media personalities tried to keep the relationship low-key but soon enough, they made their first public appearance together at the annual Vodacom Durban event in July 2016.

The relationship was supported by fans of the two and when Pearl was spotted wearing an engagement ring, the tabloids went agog. They however never got to walk down the aisle together. And by the end of 2017, the relationship had ended with both parties confirming it.

I confirm the rumour & speculation that our relationship with Miss Pearl Thusi ended a few months ago.We continue 2 be good friends though.

— robertmarawa (@robertmarawa) August 6, 2017

Robert Marawa Was Rumoured To Be Involved With Zola Nombona

Around the month of June in 2018, rumours began flying that Lockdown actress Zola Nombona and sports personality Robert Marawa were in a serious relationship. The story was apparently created by an unconfirmed inside source claiming that Robert and his actress girlfriend were choosing to keep things very low-key. While the gossip was swirling around notable entertainment blogs, the duo remained nonchalant about all the talk going on about them. As a matter of fact, when Zola was asked to confirm her new relationship, she vehemently denied having anything to do with the sports guru. Robert on the other hand was notoriously silent about his so-called involvement with the South African actress.

To date, there remains no confirmation that the two celebrities were ever romantically involved. If they truly were an item in 2018, it obviously didn’t last very long because less than two years later, Zola was pregnant with her new lover, Thomas Gumede’s child. The two seem very happy and are raising their son together.

Robert Marawa Has Been Accused Of Being A Deadbeat Dad

As mentioned before, the talented sportscaster has a child with his ex-girlfriend, Zoe Mthiyane. Their son whose name is Awande was born in July 2011 in KwaZulu-Natal and is 13 years old now. Robert was dragged by the tabloids around the same period of his son’s birth as a result of allegations of him being an unfit and unavailable parent. Robert never bothered to respond to all the allegations about his parenting skills, until 2018, when he revealed in an interview just how involved he was in his child’s life.

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According to the interview, he drops off and picks up Awande from school, he cooks and cleans up after him also. This was a very different image of him from the one we had known nine years earlier when his ex-girlfriend accused him of failing to pick up his fatherly duties and neglecting to pay child maintenance fees. We can only be glad that those accusations no longer hold true of him.