MLive presenter Nikiwe Bikitsha, who has lived in Joburg for five years, loves the energy and vibrancy of the people. And she hasn't missed the Cape Town rain one bit.

Nikiwe Bikitsha

AT least Johannesburg is not rainy and miserable in winter, says AMLive presenter Nikiwe Bikitsha, and that's why she's staying put in the city for a while.

She admits that Joburg winters are colder than winters in her home town of Cape Town, but it's the rain that she hasn't missed one bit in her five years in Johannesburg. Although she admits she misses the ocean, Bikitsha says she is "here to stay". She loves the "energy, vibrancy and go-getting attitude" of Joburgers.

Bikitsha began her radio journalism life in Cape Town in 1997, doing commercial talk shows. She was one of the first journalists on the scene at the Planet Hollywood bombing in 1998, covering it for both the BBC and CNN. She worked her way up in the industry, becoming news editor and hosting talk and current affairs shows on 567 Cape Talk.

In 2000 she moved to Johannesburg, where she was senior reporter, desk news editor, afternoon news reader, and occasional talk show host at Radio 702. She was also involved in covering the 2004 elections for the station, travelling the country with President Thabo Mbeki's road show in the build-up to the elections. In October last year she joined John Perlman on the SABC's early morning news show, AMLive - one the country's most talked-about shows.

Because of her early morning wake-up calls - the alarm clock goes off at 4am - she is always looking for great spots for lunch. Allora in Sandton and JBs in Melrose Arch have become favourites. And when her two-year-old son is along, it's the San Pablo Spur in Rivonia. Otherwise, it's lunch in her "great garden" at home. And when she doesn't have to get up at 4am the following morning, she takes in the vibe at the Bassline in Newtown.

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