Jo-Anne Richards is a South African journalist and author.

She grew up in Port Elizabeth, and was educated at Collegiate Girls' High School, graduated Rhodes University in Grahamstown in 1979 followed by Honours in Journalism and Linguistics. She worked full-time for four South African newspapers – The Star, the Sunday Express, the Cape Times and Evening Post – reporting, sub-editing and news-editing. She has written features and supplements for local magazines and newspapers. These include Fair Lady, Leadership, Living, Elle, Diversions, True Love, Quality Life and Sunday Times Magazine as well as the Sunday Times Lifestyle section, The Star and the Mail & Guardian. She was editor of The Star Mother, a glossy magazine supplement to the newspaper.

She is currently employed teaching basic skills of journalism to Honours students at Witwatersrand University. She is also National Chair of the South Africa Turner's Syndrome Support Group.

Published novels

The Innocence of Roast Chicken, (a best-seller in South Africa) 1996.

Touching the Lighthouse, 1997,

Sad at the Edges 2003

My Brother's Book 2008