Lebo Diseko

I am a reporter for the BBC , where I focus on global religion and international news. I graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand and I am a 2024 Harvard Nieman Fellow.

I am a South African born journalist, and have worked for the BBC for almost two decades. In 2024 I completed a Harvard Nieman Fellowship, having studied how journalists can adapt to and help protect democracy from the rising threats of post-truth politics, populism and polarisation. Previously, as North America correspondent for BBC News I reported on the 2020 US presidential election and the January 6th insurrection at the US Capitol, and the trial of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd. I also covered the lead up to Brazil’s 2022 presidential election, and have reported extensively on the African continent.

I was born to anti-apartheid activist parents who sought political asylum in the UK, and grew up with both a deep connection to the country of my birth. My family’s story was the inspiration for my memoir “The House at 6001”, published in May 2026. I completed my BA degree at Johannesburg’s University of the Witwatersrand during Nelson Mandela’s presidency, and have been deployed as a reporter to the country on a number of occasions, most recently in 2022.

I am currently based in London where I report primarily on global religion. I also cover international and domestic stories for the BBC’s TV, radio and digital platforms.