Best News & Entertainment '24

Maryn Blignaut

Education: BA in Communication Science, University of South Africa (2012–2016), AFP Digital Investigation Techniques (GNI, 2023), Google News Initiative training (2024), Thomson Reuters Foundation AI Adoption Training and WAN-IFRA Women in News Programme (2025)

Experience: Briefly News (2017-present)

Awards: - Best Appealing Storytelling: Highest Average Pageviews, 2023 by Briefly News - Awarded the 2023 Gender Mainstreaming Award (Empowerment of Women in the Community) as part of the Briefly News team

Maryn Blignaut is the Editor-in-Chief at Briefly News, with nine years of experience in digital journalism. She holds a BA in Communication Science from the University of South Africa (2016) and specialises in digital storytelling and feature writing. She has completed advanced professional training in media and innovation, including the AFP Digital Investigation Techniques course, multiple Google News Initiative programmes, Thomson Reuters AI Adoption Training, and the WAN-IFRA Women in News leadership programme. For enquiries, contact maryn.blignaut@briefly.co.za

1172 articles published since 30 Oct 2017

Author's articles

Duduzane Zuma's love life: A look at his wife Shanice and his alleged ties to Thuli Phongolo and Tatum Keshwar

Duduzane Zuma's love life: A look at his wife Shanice and his alleged ties to Thuli Phongolo and Tatum Keshwar

Family and Relationships

3 years ago

5 South Africans save a combined R186 000 in just a year: A look at their saving tips

5 South Africans save a combined R186 000 in just a year: A look at their saving tips

People

3 years ago

Zenani Mandela-Dlamini: The royal life of Winnie and Nelson Mandela's daughter

Zenani Mandela-Dlamini: The royal life of Winnie and Nelson Mandela's daughter

People

3 years ago

TikTok video of white people dancing at the groove has Mzansi busting with laughter

TikTok video of white people dancing at the groove has Mzansi busting with laughter

People

3 years ago

Consumers can now purchase the premium HUAWEI Mate50 Pro in South African retail stores

Consumers can now purchase the premium HUAWEI Mate50 Pro in South African retail stores

Technology

3 years ago

Hollywoodbets Super Subs: Sit back, relax and enjoy the game!

Hollywoodbets Super Subs: Sit back, relax and enjoy the game!

Football

3 years ago

Amapiano lands in the Netherlands: Dutch DJ has people dancing to SA music abroad

Amapiano lands in the Netherlands: Dutch DJ has people dancing to SA music abroad

People

3 years ago

A Dutch DJ had local TikTok users both proud and protective of Amapiano. He played music from the hit SA genre in the Netherlands and people there loved it.

Matric results 2022: Mom buys car for daughter after she matriculates with distinctions, video shared on TikTok

Matric results 2022: Mom buys car for daughter after she matriculates with distinctions, video shared on TikTok

Family and Relationships

3 years ago

An 18-year-old girl got a new car from her mother after she matriculated with distinctions. The stunning young woman took to TikTok to show off her wheels.

TikTok video of young white man singing ‘Labantwana Ama Uber’ goes viral, Mzansi is loving it

TikTok video of young white man singing ‘Labantwana Ama Uber’ goes viral, Mzansi is loving it

People

3 years ago

A young white man has won over Mzansi when a video of him went viral om TikTok. In the lit clip, he sings ‘Labantwana Ama Uber’ word for word while partying.

TikTok video shows Eskom Employee switching off electricity and his amusement hurts Mzansi

TikTok video shows Eskom Employee switching off electricity and his amusement hurts Mzansi

People

3 years ago

A guy, who is believed to be the one switching off the power for loadshedding, has rubbed SA the wrong way. A clip of him enjoying his job went viral on TikTok.

TikTok video of white man and 2 ladies dancing to Mandoza's 'Nkalakatha' goes viral, Mzansi stans

TikTok video of white man and 2 ladies dancing to Mandoza's 'Nkalakatha' goes viral, Mzansi stans

People

3 years ago

A 50th birthday party got lit when three people decided to show off her moves to Mendoza's 'Nkalakatha'. The video quickly went viral and Mzansi was in awe.

'It Ends With Us' and 8 other books the Briefly News team recommends in 2023

'It Ends With Us' and 8 other books the Briefly News team recommends in 2023

People

3 years ago

The Briefly News team has shared which books they recommend for 2023. From local rockstars to global best-seller authors, take a look at our top book picks.

Cars, jet and mansion: A look at the luxurious lifestyle of billionaire Patrice Motsepe

Cars, jet and mansion: A look at the luxurious lifestyle of billionaire Patrice Motsepe

People

3 years ago

Mzansi billionaire Patrice Motsepe has more than enough money to live a comfortable life and Briefly News took a look at what all that moola bought for him.

Man invents cooler box that lights up and keeps booze cold at groove during loadshedding

Man invents cooler box that lights up and keeps booze cold at groove during loadshedding

People

3 years ago

Zolani Brown is helping people party in Dezemba during loadshedding. The innovative man built a cooler box that lights up and charges phones with solar power.

Volodymyr Zelensky named Time Magazine's 2022 Person of the Year

Volodymyr Zelensky named Time Magazine's 2022 Person of the Year

Europe

3 years ago

President Volodymyr Zelensky has won over the hearts of people worldwide with his devotion to Ukrainian people following the Russian invasion in February 2022.

Maryn Blignaut