Emma Botha

Emma Botha is a Cape Town-based journalist who chronicles the city’s shifting social-justice landscape for the Mail & Guardian, tracing stories from Parliament floor to Khayelitsha kitchen tables. Born and raised on the slopes of Devil’s Peak, she still hikes Lion’s Head before deadline days to remind herself why the mountain and the Mother City will always be her compass.

When Rugby Gold Turned into a Family Feud: The Bryan Habana Money Story

Bryan Habana, a famous rugby player, faced huge money problems because of his own father, Bernie. His dad stole about…

4 days ago

A Vegetable Wall Rises: Botswana’s December Shock Tests 110 Years of SACU Unity

Botswana suddenly stopped South African vegetable imports, causing chaos for farmers and markets. This big move was to help local…

4 days ago

From Dirt Runway to Smart-Airport City: Inside Cape Winelands Airport’s R8-Billion Gamble

Imagine a dusty old airstrip, once just for small planes and skydivers, now becoming a supersmart airport city! This R8billion…

4 days ago

Bursting at the Seams: Inside South Africa’s 200 % Prisons, the 27 000 Foreign Inmates, and the Slow-Motion Race to Empty Cells Before They Implode

South African prisons are bursting at the seams, holding double the number of people they were built for! Thousands of…

4 days ago

A Saturday That Shattered Innocence in Factreton

A peaceful Saturday in Factreton shattered when a 14yearold girl, simply enjoying the sun, was tragically killed by stray bullets…

4 days ago

Springboks Face Gauntlet of Giants and Giant-Killers in Bid for Rugby Immortality

The Springboks face a super tough Rugby World Cup! They're in a pool with tricky teams like Italy, Georgia, and…

4 days ago

When Healing Hands Meet Hooded Shadows: The Siege of Siyahlala

A brave veterinary team faced a scary attack by nine masked men who wanted their van and medicines. The team,…

4 days ago

Cape Town’s Friday Night Fever: How the Blitzboks Flipped the Script

The Blitzboks, South Africa's rugby sevens team, flipped their season around at the Cape Town Sevens! They powerfully beat tough…

4 days ago

Cape Town’s Rent Wars: Why a Simple Cap Can’t Fix a 350-Year-Old City

Cape Town is caught in a rent war, tangled by history, fast growth, and global money. Simple rent caps sound…

4 days ago

Cape Town’s December Lock-Out: A Resident’s Battle Plan for 2025

Cape Town's government offices close for the holidays from December 20, 2025, to January 2, 2026. This means important services…

5 days ago

South Africa’s Invisible Export: When the Children of Power Meet a 1998 War-Law

South Africa has a law from 1998 that stops its citizens from helping foreign armies without permission. Recently, five people…

5 days ago

The Unfinished Symphony: Gavin Hunt’s Winter of Discontent

Gavin Hunt, a respected coach with lots of wins, just lost his job at Durban City. Even though he has…

5 days ago

**Operation Sweet Truth – How South Africa Hunts Down Fake Honey**

South Africa launched "Operation Sweet Truth" to stop fake honey sales. Police and food experts raid places, finding syrup mixed…

5 days ago

Cape Town Holiday Waste Playbook 2025/26

Cape Town residents, get ready for a sparkling clean holiday season! This guide is your secret weapon to handle all…

5 days ago

Cape Town’s Unmissable Weekend of Sporting Action

Cape Town is bursting with sports action from December 5th to 7th, 2025! You can cheer for the Proteas Women's…

2 weeks ago

South Africa’s Social Grants: Balancing Compassion and Sustainability in the 2025 Budget

South Africa’s 2025 budget lifts key social grants, giving more money to the elderly, disabled, war veterans, foster carers, and…

2 weeks ago