Carol Tshabalala is South Africa's most recognisable female sports broadcaster. Born in Soweto in 1981, she built a 26-year career across radio, television, and international productions. Carol is best known for her work on SuperSport and for being the first African to host the FIFA Ballon d'Or ceremony in Zurich.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Carol Tshabalala was born on 11 August 1981 in Pimville, Soweto.
- She began her broadcasting career at SABC in 2000 at age 18.
- In 2011, Carol became the first African to host the FIFA Ballon d'Or in Zurich.
- Tshabalala has been a SuperSport International presenter since 2011.
- She remarried in 2022; her husband's identity remains private.
Carol Tshabalala's profile summary
Full name | Carol Tshabalala |
Date of birth | 11 August 1981 |
Age | 45 (as of October 2026) |
Zodiac sign | Leo |
Place of birth | Pimville, Soweto, South Africa |
Nationality | South African |
Profession | Sports broadcaster, producer, voice-over artist |
Education | Krugersdorp High School |
Relationship status | Married (2022) |
Children | Joel, Solomon, and adopted son Mpho |
Height | Approx. 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
Net worth | Estimated $100,000–$1 million (unverified) |
Twitter/X | |
Carol Tshabalala's early life and education
Carol Tshabalala was born on 11 August 1981 in Pimville, Soweto. She is South African and identifies as Zulu.
She attended Krugersdorp High School and graduated in 2000. Shortly after, she joined the SABC junior sports programme Sports Buzz as an apprentice at 18. Tshabala is widely known by her nicknames: "Simply Carol" and "the First Lady of Sport".
Is Carol Tshabalala related to Siphiwe Tshabalala?
No. Carol Tshabalala and former Bafana Bafana midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala share only a surname. They are not related in any way.
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Carol Tshabalala has spent more than 25 years in sports broadcasting, covering football, boxing, and basketball. She is regarded as a trailblazer for women in African sports media.
Early career at SABC (2000–2011)
Tshabalala began at SABC as a sports broadcaster in 2000 and spent 11 years there. In that time, she covered a wide range of sports and established herself as one of South Africa's most trusted on-screen voices.
Radio: Kaya FM and Radio 2000
In 2005, Carol joined Kaya FM 95.9 as a sports news journalist, staying until 2007. In 2008, she moved to Radio 2000 as a drive-time sports show presenter, a role she held until 2013.
SuperSport International (2011–present)
Carol joined SuperSport International in 2011. She hosts Extra Time, one of the channel's flagship football discussion shows, and continues in this role today.
Premier League Productions (2016–present)
In 2016, Tshabalala joined Premier League Productions (IMG Productions) in the United Kingdom as a live studio anchor. She is one of very few African women to anchor Premier League coverage at an international level.
Historic FIFA Ballon d'Or hosting
In January 2011, Carol became the first African to host the FIFA Ballon d'Or ceremony in Zurich, co-hosting with CNN anchor Pedro Pinto. A 2024 feature in TRUELOVE also cited co-hosting the 2009 FIFA Confederation Cup draw alongside South African Hollywood star Charlize Theron as a major career highlight.
SuperSport describes Carol Tshabalala as "South Africa's First Lady of Sport."
Carol Tshabalala's relationship and family
Carol Tshabalala has been married twice and has three children.
First marriage and children
Carol married Solomon Manana when she was 19. She has spoken openly about experiencing abuse during the relationship. The couple divorced in 2006 after six years together.
She has two biological sons from that marriage: Joel (born 2002) and Solomon (born 2007). She has full custody of both boys. Tshabalala also adopted her late sister's son, Mpho, and raises him as her own.
Carol's second marriage (2022)
In February 2022, Carol publicly announced her engagement via Instagram, sharing a video of a large diamond ring. She did not name her fiancé.
By August 2022, she had married. Her Instagram posts showed a traditional lobola ceremony, described as a union of Zulu and Pedi families. Carol Tshabalala's husband's identity has remained private by choice.
The 2020 rumours linking her to Liverpool footballer Sadio Mané were never confirmed by either party and are no longer relevant given her 2022 marriage.
Latest news
In April 2026, global CEO Tandi Potgieter announced that Carol Tshabalala would step into the role of CEO for Africa at iME. The UK-based video technology company focuses on digital tools, one-way interviews, video calling, and live-streaming capabilities. Carol assured her audience that this corporate milestone does not signal a departure from sports broadcasting.
I haven't transitioned away from sports broadcasting... It remains a core part of who I am and what I do.
Carol Tshabalala's net worth
Carol Tshabalala's net worth has not been officially confirmed. Celebrity finance sites estimate it at between $100,000 and $1 million, based on her combined broadcasting work. These figures are unverified. Her sources of income include:
- Presenter role at SuperSport International
- Live studio anchor for Premier League Productions in the UK
- Brand ambassadorship (Hollywoodbets and others)
- Voice-over and production work
Carol is widely regarded as one of the highest-paid female sports broadcasters in South Africa, though no official salary figure has been publicly disclosed.
Carol Tshabalala is active on social media:
- Instagram: @simplycarol8
- Twitter/X: @SimplyCarol8
- LinkedIn: Carol Tshabalala
FAQs
- Who is Carol Tshabalala's husband? Carol Tshabalala remarried in 2022. She has kept her husband's identity private. Her first husband was Solomon Manana; they divorced in 2006.
- Does Carol Tshabalala have a brother? There is no verified public information about Carol Tshabalala having a brother. She has spoken about her late sister, whose son she adopted.
- Is Carol Tshabalala related to Siphiwe Tshabalala? No. They share only a surname and are not related. Carol is a sports broadcaster, and Siphiwe is a retired footballer.
- How many kids does Carol Tshabalala have? Carol has three children: biological sons Joel (born 2002) and Solomon (born 2007), and an adopted son, Mpho, the child of her late sister.
- Where is Carol Tshabalala from? Carol Tshabalala was born in Pimville, Soweto, South Africa.
- How old is Carol Manana? Carol Manana — known professionally as Carol Tshabalala — was born on 11 August 1981. She is 45 years old as of October 2026.
- Who is Carol Manana? Carol Manana is the name Carol Tshabalala used during her first marriage to Solomon Manana. She has since returned to using Tshabalala professionally.
- Is Carol Tshabalala the same as Carol Bouwer? No. Carol Bouwer and Carol Tshabalala are two different South African media personalities. Carol Bouwer is a businesswoman, fashion designer, and TV producer.
Conclusion
Carol Tshabalala has earned her crown as the undisputed First Lady of Sports for rewriting the playbook for women in African sports journalism. Beyond her illustrious sports broadcasting career, Carol is a doting mother of three and a wife, having married in 2022.
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Source: Briefly News