---
title: "20 questions with Mabatho Marakalla"
description: "Get to know Mabatho Marakalla, the Joburg newsroom’s newest addition. When she’s not keeping up with the news (or late-night scrolling on X) this shopaholic is keeping a close eye on fashion trends. She says she’s shy at first… but we’re not entirely convinced."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "20 Questions"
author: "Daily Maverick"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/dailymaverick/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-09-03-20-questions-with-mabatho-marakalla/"
published: "2026-09-03T15:00:08"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 388
---

# 20 questions with Mabatho Marakalla

> Get to know Mabatho Marakalla, the Joburg newsroom’s newest addition. When she’s not keeping up with the news (or late-night scrolling on X) this shopaholic is keeping a close eye on fashion trends. She says she’s shy at first… but we’re not entirely convinced.

By Daily Maverick · Published 3 September 2026, 17:00 SAST

## Key points
- Joburg intern Mabatho Marakalla answers 20 questions for Maverick Insiders.

## Content

**Favourite book. Recently?**

I recently read a book by Leon Schreiber called Coalition Country.

**Favourite series. Of all time?**

My favourite series of all time has to be The Day of the Jackal.

**What is the most random thing you’ve ordered online?**

A tambourine.

**What is the last thing on your phone that you took a screenshot of?**

A pair of heels that I really want to buy, but the price is just unreasonable.

**What app do you spend the most time on?**

I am always on X, any time of the day or night.

**What’s your favourite piece of trivia?**

That we share 50% of our DNA with bananas.

**If you could relive one specific experience, what would it be?**

My first year in university. It was the best time of my life.

**Window seat or aisle seat?**

Definitely window seat, let the air come in.

**If you could live as someone else for the day, who would it be and why?**

Nicki Minaj, she is rich plus she has the best wigs and shoes.

**Career highlight?**

Being an intern at Daily Maverick, I learnt a lot about the multimedia industry, worked with incredible people and got great advice from everyone. I really hope to work with them again in the future.

**What are people always surprised to learn about you?**

That I am a shy person, I just have my own people who I’m loud and bubbly with. Funnily enough, I love meeting new people.

**You’ve just been arrested. What crime were you likely to have committed?**

Stole a pair of Christian Louboutins, the Miss Z version.

**If you weren’t working in your current role, what industry would you be in?**

Maybe a legal adviser.

**What is the most-worn item in your wardrobe?**

My white sneakers. I feel on top of the world every time I put them on.

**What’s the best advice you’ve received?**

Don’t doubt your ideas, any idea can turn into a story. This is what Bheki C. Simelane told me last Monday during our conversation.

**Name one person you admire?**

Mfundo Mabalane, she just makes anchoring look easy.

**What’s your current guilty pleasure?**

Ice cream, even though I’m lactose intolerant.

**If you could travel anywhere tomorrow, where would you go?**

Seychelles, the place is beautiful, it would be a great vacation spot.