Best News & Entertainment '24

Bongiwe Mati

Education: BA Honours, Linguistics, Communication, Women & Gender Studies, University of the Western Cape (2021), BA Language & Communication Linguistics, Communication, Women & Gender Studies, University of the Western Cape (2005).

Experience: Freelancer at UWC campus newspaper (2005), Sales Executive at Leadership Magazine (2007-2009), Editorial Assistant and writer for BONA magazine (2023-2024), Briefly News (2024 -Present)

Bongiwe Mati is a Human Interest reporter at Briefly News, focusing on social commentary, community stories, viral human-interest features, and public discourse. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree from the University of the Western Cape. Bongiwe began her editorial career in campus media before contributing across print and digital platforms at BONA Magazine, where she covered current news and societal trends. She specialises in reporting on local community accounts, social media discourse, and viral South African events. Contact: bongiwe.mati@briefly.co.za

3281 articles published since 08 Aug 2024

Author's articles

"It's becoming a witch hunt": Protesters support street vendor upon realising she's South African

"It's becoming a witch hunt": Protesters support street vendor upon realising she's South African

Women Empowerment

4 months ago

"Don't bully others": Young man sued and jailed after mean remarks about Dominic Zaca, SA debates

"Don't bully others": Young man sued and jailed after mean remarks about Dominic Zaca, SA debates

People

4 months ago

"You weren't invited, chomy": Woman reacts to why white South Africans are not toy toying, SA amused

"You weren't invited, chomy": Woman reacts to why white South Africans are not toy toying, SA amused

People

4 months ago

"Touched me deeply": Afrikaner refugees in America remember Mzansi with heartfelt post, SA moved

"Touched me deeply": Afrikaner refugees in America remember Mzansi with heartfelt post, SA moved

Family and Relationships

4 months ago

"Best place on earth": Photos of the 100th year celebration of Kruger Park National Park move Mzansi

"Best place on earth": Photos of the 100th year celebration of Kruger Park National Park move Mzansi

People

4 months ago

"UTatakho TV show must intervene": Mzansi astonished by Makazole Mapimpi's viral lookalike

"UTatakho TV show must intervene": Mzansi astonished by Makazole Mapimpi's viral lookalike

Family and Relationships

4 months ago

"Shoprite is not happy": Woman piles trolley with chicken during trolley dash challenge, SA wowed

"Shoprite is not happy": Woman piles trolley with chicken during trolley dash challenge, SA wowed

People

4 months ago

A viral video shared on X shows the shocking moment a woman emptied a Shoprite chicken fridge during a trolley dash, starting a massive online debate.

"Why isn't this on Netflix?": Woman speaks about being raised by her kidnapper, SA astonished

"Why isn't this on Netflix?": Woman speaks about being raised by her kidnapper, SA astonished

People

4 months ago

A 2025 podcast clip shared by Joshwideawake shows Zephany Nurse discussing her complex relationship and broken trust with her kidnapper, Lavona Solomon.

"I laughed hard": American skateboarder gets attacked by a drone while delivering speech, SA amused

"I laughed hard": American skateboarder gets attacked by a drone while delivering speech, SA amused

People

4 months ago

A TikTok video by @jaayfilms shows American skater Jason Vanporppal getting hit by a drone while speaking to a crowd the day after arriving in Cape Town.

"This business has been in decline": Taxi driver shows fleet of parked taxis due to slow business

"This business has been in decline": Taxi driver shows fleet of parked taxis due to slow business

People

4 months ago

A viral video shared on X shows a taxi driver exposing an empty rank, blaming diesel hikes and low commuter numbers for a major industry slump, sparking a debate.

"First time seeing this": Taxi driver spends 3 days deep cleaning his ride, SA impressed

"First time seeing this": Taxi driver spends 3 days deep cleaning his ride, SA impressed

People

4 months ago

A video shared on TikTok by a proud South African taxi driver showed him completely removing the seats and carpets of his Quantum for a deep clean.

"Olive oil is a scam": Dietitian shares mistakes people make when trying to lose weight, SA debates

"Olive oil is a scam": Dietitian shares mistakes people make when trying to lose weight, SA debates

People

4 months ago

A local dietitian shared a TikTok video explaining how hidden olive oil calories and a lack of water stall weight loss journeys, sparking a massive online debate.

"Best Chicken Licken advert ever": Throwback '1994' Chicken Licken advert has SA feeling nostalgic

"Best Chicken Licken advert ever": Throwback '1994' Chicken Licken advert has SA feeling nostalgic

People

4 months ago

A classic 2011 Chicken Licken commercial showing a family hiding in a bunker has gone viral on Instagram, with netizens calling it the best advert ever made.

"Madlanga gave us characters": SA dusted by Brown Mogotsi's facial expressions at his bail hearing

"Madlanga gave us characters": SA dusted by Brown Mogotsi's facial expressions at his bail hearing

People

4 months ago

A viral video shared on X shows businessman Brown Mogotsi making a funny facial expression during his bail postponement, sparking wild reactions.

"What wrong did Zuma do?": SA clashes over Jacob Zuma’s video call with Ngizwe Mchunu

"What wrong did Zuma do?": SA clashes over Jacob Zuma’s video call with Ngizwe Mchunu

People

4 months ago

A video shared by @daddyhope shows Jacob Zuma comforting Ngizwe Mchunu over his burnt house, sparking intense online debate over immigration and violence.

Bongiwe Mati