Marsha Bothma: From Beacon Valley to the world through music, storytelling, and community

Growing up in Beacon Valley, Mitchell’s Plain, shaped experiences that are still very much a part of who I am today.

I am a multimedia journalist for Cape Community Media's central team, proudly serving my community for over seven years, telling its stories, capturing triumphs, struggles, and the heart of the people I grew up alongside. 

I am also a singer and songwriter, and through my music, I tell stories rooted deeply in Beacon Valley, embedding the essence of my home into every note, lyric, and narrative I share. This duality - journalism and music - allows me to carry the spirit of my community wherever I go, a special part of my story and grassroots.

Growing up in Beacon Valley was a mix of simple joys and complex realities. I remember some of my earliest memories. When I was three, I went missing for a few hours, and my family panicked. I had put on my sister’s high heels and walked to the nearby shop, Shoppers.

When they finally found me, I was sitting on the counter with sweets the shopkeepers had given me. That early curiosity, that fearlessness, was my first brush with independence and a hint of the resilience I would need in life.

As a child, I played freely in the streets. We played nickies, hokkies (hopscotch), tou'entjie (skipped ropes), and even improvised games we called rekkie, where we used pantyhose and turned it into a game. 

Adults would stand outside, some with tea, some with cigarettes, just watching over us. It was a community where 'your child is my child' wasn’t just a saying - it was a way of life. I had friends I played with in Bicycle Crescent, Rolbal Crescent, Netball, or Tennis Crescent, and knocked on anyone’s door without fear.

Libraries, churches, and schools became havens for learning and exploration. Watching from my friend’s wall, the Liberty Promenade Mall, which was being built around 2010, was an exciting milestone - proof that change and growth could happen even in our backyard.

School shaped me profoundly. I attended four different schools: Alpine Primary, Meadowridge Primary, Cedar High School, and Oval North High School. 

At  Alpine, I thrived academically and enjoyed small joys, like helping remove little bits of fluff from my teachers’ jerseys - a lesson in focus that felt like play. Meadowridge offered me dance, folk performances, and sports, and I relished every moment.

At Cedar, an arts-focused school, I discovered my voice, literally, through singing. At Oval North, I learned perseverance and community, often navigating fear as gang violence occasionally pierced our routines.

My husband, Adrian Bothma, and I went to the same primary and high schools, faced similar challenges growing up, and learned from each other while our parents did everything they could.

I learned early on to look out for others and to value education, discipline, and the people who cared about my growth, like my former principal at Oval, Na-aim Kassiem; my former teacher and principal, Nazeem Jacobs; former principal at Meadowridge, Norman Daniels and Sister Dolly Petersen, who headed the community project, the Junior Choir at Shekinah Full Gospel Church. These mentors shaped my understanding of excellence, care, and community impact.

By age 16, surrounded by social ills like teenage pregnancies, drug dealing, and gangsterism, I made a personal vow: my future would not be determined by my surroundings.

That decision became my compass, guiding me through adolescence into adulthood. Music and storytelling were always part of me - singing from the age of eight and writing songs at the age of 12, but they were intertwined with a commitment to education and community.

My path into journalism began unexpectedly. While studying Theology at Stellenbosch University, I discovered a love for storytelling. I applied for my Honours in Journalism and remember the moment my name appeared on the acceptance list - I bawled. 

That was validation, not just that I was accepted through a rigorous process, but of the resilience instilled in me by Beacon Valley. Journalism became my way of sharing stories, holding space for others, and exploring the world beyond my community, all while staying rooted in the place that shaped me.

Music continued to evolve alongside journalism. The Junior Choir and later the Mitchell’s Plain Music Academy helped me hone my voice, learn music theory, and perform across Cape Town. 

Singing became a language of healing, connection, and encouragement. Releasing my first single Stronger in 2022, which topped charts and played on over 50 radio stations worldwide, and my Afrikaans EP Gereed in 2024, were milestones not just for my career, but for sharing a piece of Beacon Valley with the world.

Collaborating with Adrian, who also grew up in Mitchell’s Plain, made these achievements even more meaningful ("Marsha releases her first Afrikaans EP" Plainsman March 13, 2024 and Plainsman’s Marsha comes back stronger" Plainsman May 18, 2022)

Returning to Beacon Valley as a journalist reinforced my love for my community. Covering schools, civic centres, events, and local stories, I realised how much untold potential exists here. 

Meeting local changemakers, ward councillors, storytellers, and international artists has been a privilege, but the real joy comes from sharing the stories of residents - people whose resilience and creativity inspire me daily. 

Our community is complex; crime, violence, and poverty are real challenges. But so is hope, creativity, and the enduring belief in each other’s potential.

Reflecting on Beacon Valley, what stands out most is the deep sense of neighbourliness. Children were never left to fend for themselves. Neighbours raised us, guided us, and protected us, embodying a care no formal program could replicate. 

This foundation allowed me to dream beyond my circumstances - to embrace music, storytelling, and journalism with confidence. My mentors, peers, family, and faith reinforced that belief: our potential is not limited by where we start, but by the choices we make and the support we embrace.

As Mitchell’s Plain nears its 50th anniversary, I am proud to carry its stories forward. I strive to inspire younger generations, showing them that despite challenges, their future is full of possibilities.

Beacon Valley shaped me, but I carry it everywhere. My journalism, music, and storytelling are all threads woven from the same cloth - the vibrant, resilient, and loving community that raised me.