Tim Du Plessis: Biography, Age, Qualification, Award
July 31, 2025Tim Du Plessis (born 23 June) is a South African media personality. He is best known for working as editor-in-chief of Afrikaans newspapers at Media24.
The news legend has also worked as the editor of Rapport, Beeld, and The Citizen. He was also head of current affairs for kykNET. He retired from Media 24’s Afrikaans newspapers in 2014.
| Tim Du Plessis | |
|---|---|
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| Personal Details | |
| Name: | Tim Du Plessis |
| Born: | 23 June |
| Place of birth: | Gauteng, South Africa |
| Nationality: | South African |
| Education: | Communication Journalism |
| Alma mater: | Rand Afrikaans University University of Stellenbosch |
| Occupation: | Media personality Editor |
| Years active: | 1976 – date |
| Children: | Charl |
| Residence: | Johannesburg |
Early Life
Tim Du Plessis was born on 23 June in Gauteng, South Africa. He grew up a Gautenger but spent his youth in the old Western Transvaal.
Education
Du Plessis studied communication at Rand Afrikaans University (now the University of Johannesburg). He holds a BA Honours in Journalism (cum laude) from the University of Stellenbosch in 1978.
From 1992 to 1993, Tim was at Harvard University in the United States as a Nieman Fellow for Journalism scholar.
Career
Tim Du Plessis worked as a student reporter at Beeld during the summer holiday of his first year at the university. After completing his studies, he started working as a full-time staff member at Beeld. He later became the editor of Beeld in February 2009.
He became a journalist in 1976. He has interviewed notable personalities, such as Thabo Mbeki in October 1988 in an office at the Kremlin in Moscow, in the old Soviet Union.
Tim had a brief editorship at The Citizen and stayed for almost eight years at Rapport. He has also worked as an independent journalist and political writer.
He was a consultant editor for the production company that produces news and current affairs content for kykNET until 2022.
He also headed News and Current Affairs at kykNET from 2014 to 2020 and has worked in the media space for over 47 years. His portfolio also included Die Burger, Volksblad, Rapport, and Kaapse Son.
In 2011, Tim started a bi-weekly column for Rapport. He regularly takes part in discussion programs about politics and public issues on the radio and television.
He received the Prestige Award from the ATKV for his huge contribution to Afrikaans and Afrikaans journalism. He was the editor of the hostel newspaper in Helshoogte.
Personal Life
Tim has a son, Charl, a Journalism student at Stellenbosch in 2009. He started running in December 1998, and had never exercised before that. He lives in Johannesburg.
References
- “Tim du Plessis leaves Media24”. News24.
- https://www.sun.ac.za/english/donors/Documents/CV_Tim_Du_Plessis.pdf
- https://modernathlete.co.za/2009/11/in-the-news/
- https://www.iono.fm/e/479206
