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

3288 articles published since 08 Aug 2024

Author's articles

"Danger and beauty in one package": Black mamba dances on its tail, SA divided

"Danger and beauty in one package": Black mamba dances on its tail, SA divided

People

6 months ago

"We pray for full recovery": Elderly snake catcher in ICU after highly venomous snake bite, SA moved

"We pray for full recovery": Elderly snake catcher in ICU after highly venomous snake bite, SA moved

People

6 months ago

"One bite, and it's game over": Most liked snake of 2025 gives SA the chills

"One bite, and it's game over": Most liked snake of 2025 gives SA the chills

People

6 months ago

"This video is too short": ZCC brass band plays gospel classic at Moria, SA wowed

"This video is too short": ZCC brass band plays gospel classic at Moria, SA wowed

People

6 months ago

"This is most civil servants": Review of immigration officer's payslip with 20 years of experience

"This is most civil servants": Review of immigration officer's payslip with 20 years of experience

People

6 months ago

"Even church goers?": Traffic cop gives churchgoer breathalyser test during Easter, SA stunned

"Even church goers?": Traffic cop gives churchgoer breathalyser test during Easter, SA stunned

People

6 months ago

"There's power in unity": Zulus receive a warm welcome in East London amid Nigerian coronation drama

"There's power in unity": Zulus receive a warm welcome in East London amid Nigerian coronation drama

People

6 months ago

A group from KwaZulu-Natal travelled to East London to protest the coronation of a Nigerian king, sparking a display of unity between the Zulu and Xhosa tribes.

"This is beautiful": Becoming Mrs Ashmore, Botswana culture on display in traditional wedding video

"This is beautiful": Becoming Mrs Ashmore, Botswana culture on display in traditional wedding video

Family and Relationships

6 months ago

A Tswana woman shared a TikTok video of her stunning traditional wedding ceremony to her partner from the United Kingdom, impressing many social media users.

"Blessings to you and the family": Sihle Dambuza's traditional thanksgiving ceremony impresses SA

"Blessings to you and the family": Sihle Dambuza's traditional thanksgiving ceremony impresses SA

Family and Relationships

6 months ago

Popular content creator turned reality TV star Sihle Dambuza took his young family to the Eastern Cape to perform a Thanksgiving ceremony, impressing many viewers.

"Don't let taxi drivers see you": E-hailing wheelbarrow goes viral as locals react to fuel hike

"Don't let taxi drivers see you": E-hailing wheelbarrow goes viral as locals react to fuel hike

People

6 months ago

A hilarious clip of a man hitchhiking in a wheelbarrow labelled "Uber" went viral as locals reacted to the record-breaking fuel price increase on 1 April 2026.

"Her love is deep": Xhosa woman defends the coronation of the Nigerian king, SA divided

"Her love is deep": Xhosa woman defends the coronation of the Nigerian king, SA divided

People

6 months ago

A viral video of a Xhosa woman from East London defending a Nigerian king’s coronation in South Africa sparked a massive debate in X about local authority.

"You are awesome": Woman shows 1-year body transformation from cutting sugar, SA wowed

"You are awesome": Woman shows 1-year body transformation from cutting sugar, SA wowed

People

6 months ago

An Instagram creator stunned followers after dropping from 103kg to 76kg by following a one-meal-a-day programme and cutting sugar for 12 months.

"This cop has bigger dreams": Video of traffic officer allegedly refusing R10k bribe has SA debating

"This cop has bigger dreams": Video of traffic officer allegedly refusing R10k bribe has SA debating

People

6 months ago

A viral video showed an RTMC traffic officer counting a stack of cash after allegedly refusing a R10,000 bribe from a suspect caught with R800,000 cannabis.

"He is never there": SA astonished by the price of living next door to the president in Cape Town

"He is never there": SA astonished by the price of living next door to the president in Cape Town

People

6 months ago

A man shared a video showing two properties belonging to President Cyril Ramaphosa in Camps Bay and a R100 million plot of land on sale next to him.

"Son of the soil": Mlungu proves he's a true Zimbabwean with viral traditional dance moves, SA wowed

"Son of the soil": Mlungu proves he's a true Zimbabwean with viral traditional dance moves, SA wowed

People

6 months ago

A human rights activist shared a clip of himself dancing and noted that he was challenging those who claim that he was not Zimbabwean because of his skin colour.

Bongiwe Mati