eNCA Journalist Nabeelah Shaikh Dies During Childbirth Complications

Award-winning investigative journalist Nabeelah Shaikh died on Saturday evening, November 14, 2026, after experiencing complications during childbirth, a family member told The Citizen.

The eNCA reporter’s unborn baby also died during the incident. The family’s loss comes less than two weeks after Shaikh announced her second pregnancy, marking what should have been a joyous new chapter for her household. She leaves behind her husband, Waseem Ally, and their young daughter, Maahira.

Shaikh and her baby were laid to rest together at Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg on Saturday night. Born and raised in Tongaat, KwaZulu-Natal, she built a reputation as a tenacious journalist whose work tackled important issues of public interest.

Starting out at the Sunday Tribune in 2013 before moving to eNCA, she reported on national news, current affairs, and major criminal investigations. Among her career achievements was receiving the regional Editor’s Choice award at the 2015 Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards at age 23 for her investigation into South Africans recruited by the Islamic State group.

She gained further regional acclaim in 2017 thanks to her reporting on alleged corruption tied to the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. During her time at eNCA, she also reported on the killings of women in Ekurhuleni and the 2026 local government elections.

Her passing prompted an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and former newsroom associates, who remembered her as a courageous journalist, dedicated storyteller, and compassionate colleague.

“The creative energy in this room that day was electric. And now we have to say goodbye. I’m thankful she knew how much we valued her, not just as a reporter, but as a friend. The one who left this brainstorming session, struggled through rush-hour traffic just…” said Dasen Thathiah.

Her passing is a devastating blow to the media community and her relatives, cutting short an impactful career defined by a relentless drive for investigation and a dedication to meaningful storytelling.