The Press Council of South Africa (PCSA) is proud to announce the appointment of Thabo Leshilo as the new Public Advocate, effective 1 November 2025, for a five-year term. Leshilo replaces Fanie Groenewald, who is retiring in December 2025.
He will work with him until the end of his term to ensure a seamless transition. Leshilo assumes this role at a time when public trust in the media, ethical journalism, and accountability is at the heart of national and global conversations about the future of journalism.
With an illustrious career spanning decades in newsroom leadership and public affairs, he brings invaluable expertise, insight, and integrity to the PCSA’s work.
As Public Advocate, Leshilo will serve as the primary point of contact for members of the public who lodge complaints about the journalistic and ethical conduct of the PCSA’s member entities.
His mandate includes advocating for the complainants and guiding them through the complaints process, ensuring their cases are handled fairly and transparently, and upholding the principles enshrined in the Press Code of Ethics and Conduct.
In this role, he will also act as a bridge between the public and the media, reinforcing the PCSA’s commitment to accessibility, accountability, and fairness.
Welcoming his appointment, PCSA Chair of Appointments Panel, Justice Bess Nkabinde said, “The PCSA is delighted to appoint Leshilo as Public Advocate.
He is a highly respected figure in the South African media landscape, and his appointment strengthens the Council’s work of protecting press freedom while ensuring that the public has recourse when the standards of ethical journalism are not met.”
Leshilo is an accomplished journalist and media leader with over three decades of experience in newsroom and editorial leadership, as well as media development.
He is the former Editor-in-Chief of the Sowetan and Sunday World. He has been at the forefront of advancing ethical journalism and media accountability as the former Public Advocate at Avusa Media. Among his qualifications, he holds a Master’s degree in Applied Ethics from the University of the Witwatersrand.
He is also an alumnus of the prestigious Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University, where he explored global perspectives on media freedom and editorial governance.
These academic achievements, combined with his extensive professional background, make him well-suited to serve as Public Advocate of the PCSA.
Speaking on the appointment, the Executive Director of the PCSA, Dr Phathiswa Magopeni, said, “It affirms our commitment to an accountable and accessible media. Leshilo’s integrity, grounding in applied ethics, and wealth of journalistic experience bring both wisdom and credibility to this role, at a time when public trust in the media is under scrutiny.”
Leshilo expressed his gratitude at being entrusted with this responsibility, “I am honoured to serve as Public Advocate of the PCSA.
Media accountability is fundamental to sustaining trust, and I look forward to ensuring that the public has an accessible and fair platform to raise concerns, and to working with newsrooms to entrench a culture of ethical, responsible journalism.”
The appointment of Leshilo reflects the PCSA’s recognition of the evolving challenges facing both the media and the public in the digital era.
In an environment where misinformation, disinformation, and disruption continue to test the resilience of journalism; the role of the Public Advocate remains central to maintaining credibility and protecting the integrity of the media.
{Chairperson} Judge Fritz Brand [Deputy Chairperson] Amina Frense | Faizal Dawjee | Themba Sepotokele | Mary Papayya | Izak Minnaar | Marietta Lombard | Dunisani Ntsanwisi | Chris Borain | Sisanda Nkoala | Pippa Green | Kemantha Govender | Thivhudziswi Lukoto
[Executive Director] Phathiswa Magopeni [Public Advocate] Fanie Groenewald [Press Ombud] Herman Scholtz [Deputy Ombud] Tyrone August [Deputy Ombud] Franz Kruger
About the Press Council of South Africa:
The PCSA is an independent co-regulatory body established to promote and maintain the highest ethical and professional standards in South African media. It adjudicates complaints from the public about the content of media entities that subscribe to its Code of Ethics and Conduct.
The PCSA has more than 400 media members that subscribe to the Code of Ethics and Conduct and is a member of the Network of Independent Media Councils in Africa (NIMCA), chaired by the PCSA’s Executive Director, Dr Magopeni.
