20 Questions: 20 questions with Mabatho Marakalla

Mabatho Marakalla’s online shopping habits include one particularly random purchase: a tambourine. Her latest phone screenshot, however, shows a pair of heels she wants but considers far too expensive.

The Joburg newsroom’s newest addition says she spends much of her time on X and counts “The Day of the Jackal” as her favourite series of all time. She recently read Leon Schreiber’s “Coalition Country” and enjoys the trivia that humans share 50% of their DNA with bananas.

Marakalla looks back fondly on her first year at university, calling it the best time of her life. She prefers a window seat, would like to visit Seychelles, and says she would choose to live as Nicki Minaj for a day because the rapper is wealthy and known for her wigs and shoes.

Her career highlight so far has been working as an intern at Daily Maverick, where she learned about the multimedia industry, worked with colleagues she admired and received valuable advice. She says Bheki C. Simelane recently told her, “Don’t doubt your ideas, any idea can turn into a story.”

Marakalla describes herself as shy at first, although she becomes loud and bubbly around people she knows well. She admires Mfundo Mabalane for making anchoring look easy, wears white sneakers more than anything else, and admits to enjoying ice cream despite being lactose intolerant. Asked what career she might have pursued otherwise, she names legal advising.

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Don’t doubt your ideas, any idea can turn into a story.