The Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Awards remind us of the important role that journalism plays in South Africa’s democracy.
The Awards are a benchmark of the best journalists, their stories and the concerns that they write for.
And while locally, and across the globe, the journalism profession has been under pressure from budgets to model changes as well as threats to journalists not only in war zones but in all societies, the industry continues to raise the issues and expose the corrupt pertinent to their countries.
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF), which hosted the Awards for the first time in 2021, with sponsor Standard Bank, will acknowledge and honour the bravery of journalists and their stories at a live event at The Venue, Melrose Arch this Saturday, 24 June.
Standard Bank CEO, Lungisa Fuzile, and various media stakeholders and journalists were all in attendance.
Last year SANEF Chairperson, Sbu Ngalwa, said, “We are now seeing green shoots and can build.”
Also at the event last year, Standard Bank CEO, Lungisa Fuzile Fuzile said that the pandemic robbed the country of some of the best journalists in this country as he paid tribute to he industry.
Veteran editor Anthony Heard was honoured with the Allan Kirkland Soga: Lifetime Achiever Award, in 2021. He said that very few other institutions in society have the capacity to effect major change like the journalism industry can.
The shortlist for this year’s edition of the Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Awards, brought to you by South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF), has been announced.
The winners will be announced at an event on Saturday, 24 June at The Venue, Melrose Arch, Gauteng.
All category winners receive the coveted Sikuvile Journalism Award Trophy as well as R15,000 prize money (to be shared if there is more than one winner in a category).
SHORTLIST
CATEGORY 1: HARD NEWS
NAME TITLE COMPANY
Myles Illidge
“Department of Justice ransomware attack”
MyBroadband
Norman Masungwini
“R480 Million Bill for Idle State Cars”
“2024 National Elections under threat”
City Press
Noxolo Sibiya
“How many more must die?”
Sowetan
CATEGORY 2: INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE REPORTING IN COMMUNITY MEDIA
Cleopatra Jones
“Not Just a Body Number”
“Inkolelo Engaziwa”
SABC
Vukosi Mathonsi
“Carjacking”
“Drugs”
“Miss SA 2022 Profile”
SABC
CATEGORY 3: COMMUNITY SERVICE REPORTING
Liezl Human
“Plan to create ‘Khoisan Orania’ in Grabouw”
Ground up
Malibongwe Dayimani
Kayleen Morgan
“Enyobeni tavern tragedy”
News24
Nomvuyo Ntanjana
“Left off the grid”
SABC
Sune Payne
“Heartache of forced removals lingers as claimants prepare to make ‘history’ and move back to District Six”
Daily Maverick
Zikhona Tshona
“Siyabonga”
Newzroom Afrika
CATEGORY 4: POPULAR JOURNALISM
NO FINALISTS
CATEGORY 5: INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM
Dewald van Rensburg
“The Laundry”
AmaBhungane – Daily Maverick
Jeff Wicks
“Silenced: Why Babita Deokaran was murdered”
News24
Raymond Joseph
“Gaming the Lottery”
GroundUp
Tankiso Maketha
Graeme Hosken
Aron Hyman
“Zama Zama Investigation”
TimesLIVE
CATEGORY 6: BUSINESS JOURNALISM
Ann Crotty
“Spar: Has the friendly store lost its way”
Financial Mail
Antoinette Slabbert
“Einde van die pad”
Rapport
Carol Paton
“From AK-47s to business forums: This is how SA’s ‘construction mafia’ is winning”
News24
Dewald van Rensburg
“The ANC’s Manganese ‘Gold Mine”
“Gold ‘scam’ robs SA of billions, says SARS”
AmaBhungane
Lisa Steyn
“Will Transnet be the next Eskom? Industry warns rail is in free fall in SA”
News24
Thanduxolo Jika
Philani Nombembe
Lwazi Hlangu
“Extortion mafias hold SA hostage”
Sunday Times
William Horne
“Hier is die amper 100 munisipaliteite wat Eskom R50 mjd. Skuld”
Netwerk24
CATEGORY 7: FEATURES
Franny Rabkin
“Still Searching for the Truth/The Woman in the Blue Dress”
Sunday Times
Jorisna Bonthuys
“Mother of asthmatic children fights for air in dirty shadow of coal power stations”
“The moral question that hangs over ‘more bang for your buck’”
Daily Dispatch
Mariëtte Olwagen
“Die lokomotief met die kruishoedjie”
Die Burger
Mia Lindeque
Abigail Javier
“The Homeless Graduate – Gibson’s Nzimande’s story”
Eyewitness News
Murray La Vita
“Nonconformers to hetero-normative values”
Netwerk24
Nomvuyo Ntanjana
“Carving Out Hope”
SABC
Phemelo Motene
“Forced Sterilisation” “Understanding the realities of raising a child living with Autism”
Kaya 959
Toast Coetzer
“Dierbare Woestyn”
Taalgenoot
Willemien Brümmer
“Biblioteke: Is daar ‘n toekoms?”
Netwerk24
CATEGORY 9: COLUMNS/ EDITORIAL
Hamilton Wende
“The first casualty of the war is truth – and humanity is close behind”
“Adriaan Vlok – the old man and the dark shadow of the past”
Daily Maverick
Johanna van Eeden
“Wat is SA se atarimae?”
Beeld
Kgaugelo Masweneng
“Faku was right: ‘Where there is fire, there is politics”
TimesLIVE
Mpumelelo Mkhabela
“Babita Deokaran faced politically connected procurement terrorists and lost”
News24
Sibusiso Mjikeliso
“With adequate help, Nkosi’s story can have a different ending to Tyibilika”
News24
CATEGORY 10: VISUAL JOURNALISM
Financial Mail
Sarah Buitendach,
Shaun Uthum
Vuyo Singiswa
“FM Covers 2022”
Financial Mail
Isabella Maake
“Paniekaanvalle aan die toeneem in SA”
Netwerk24
Johnn-Grant Munro
Queen Elizabeth 70 years of history”
Die Burger
Nolo Moima
“Where’s the Justice?”
Sunday Times
Rikus Ferreira
“Wakers en Makers van belofte
“SA kinders sukkel”
“Die soet druppels van oorreding”
Taalgenoot
Theuns Kruger
“Beeld F1-voorblad”
Beeld
Thulani Ntsong
“Phala Phala”, “Junkee for coal” and “Koko”
City Press
Vernon Janse van Rensburg
“Koning Charles III”
Beeld
Wilson Mgobhozi
Body of work
“How Did We Get Here?”
City Press
CATEGORY 11: NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY
Ashraf Hendricks
“Huge fire destroys Langa homes”
GroundUp
Ashraf Hendricks
“Taxi drivers burn streets of Hout Bay”
GroundUp
Kayleen Morgan
“KZN floods: KwaNdengezi father carries son’s body for 10km, joins sea of families desperate for help”
News24
Phandulwazi Jikelo
“Parly Fire Flares as Questions Mount”
Cape Times
Siphiwe Sibeko
“Mohlakeng descends into chaos as community burns zama zama homes and belongings”
Reuters- Timeslive
CATEGORY 12: FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
André Badenhorst
“Lank leef die konings!”
Taalgenoot
André Badenhorst
“Ouskool in Lalaland”
Taalgenoot
Felix Dlangamandla
“No Sanitation”
Daily Maverick
Sandile Ndlovu
“Fallen Reed”
Sunday Times
Thulani Mbele
“A Muddy Story”
Sowetan
CATEGORY 13: SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY
Ashraf Hendricks
“Gugulethu goes gaga for go-karts”
GroundUp
André Badenhorst
“Elke Tutu het ‘n storie”
Taalgenoot
André Badenhorst
“Hoe ry die boere sit-sit so”
Taalgenoot
Deaan Vivier
”Reekssege nog nie in sakkie”
Netwerk24
Lefty Shivambu
“Coach likens himself to Biblical Noah and Moses”
Sowetan
Categories 14 Manager/Publisher of the Year Award, 15. Juby Mayet Rising Star of the Year, 16. Journalist of the Year and 17. The Allan Kirkland Soga / Standard Bank Chairman’s Lifetime Achievement Award (previously the Allan Kirkland Soga: Achievement Award) will be announced at the awards event.
The jury that judged the entries included: Kim Cloete, Tyrone August, Melanie-Ann Feris, Ryland Fisher
The Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Awards (Sikuvile Awards) 2023, brought to you by the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF), closed with 400 entries, more than the number of entries received in 2022.
The top five categories with the most entries are Lifestyle, Hard News, Business Journalism, Community Service, and then Sports Photographs.
The popular Features category was in sixth place and Investigative Journalism in seventh place.
In this year’s edition, there has been a drop in the entries in Features and Investigative Journalism which speaks to the disturbing trend of shrinking newsrooms.
The finalists will be announced shortly, and the winners revealed on the 24th of June, in Johannesburg.
All category winners receive the coveted Sikuvile Journalism Award Trophy as well as R15,000 prize money (to be shared if there is more than one winner in a category).
Journalist of the Year and Juby Mayet Rising Star of the Year are selected from the entries in the categories by the judges.
The Allan Kirkland Soga / Standard Bank Chairman’s Lifetime Achievement Award (previously the Allan Kirkland Soga: Achievement Award) recognises a sustained and extraordinary contribution to journalism on the part of an individual and the winner will have demonstrated impeccable ethics and craft excellence.
Campaign for Freedom of Expression, Media Monitoring Africa and the South African National Editors Forum welcome the dismissal of Zuma’s case against Downer / Maughan
The judgment handed down today in the Pietermaritzburg High Court is an overwhelming win for media freedom and freedom of expression in South Africa!
The judge’s action in throwing out former President Jacob Zuma’s case against journalist Karyn Maughan is a victory for all of journalism, as it reinforces the right of reporters to be free to do their job of covering important court cases without hindrance or harassment. Zuma’s attack on a journalist has been decisively slapped down. Maughan was collateral damage in Zuma’s “Stalingrad” strategy to delay his trial and deflect from the accusations against him – and Maughan should be commended for standing firm against this onslaught.
A few other interesting points emerge from the judgment. Firstly, how flimsy the accusations made by Zuma and his lawyers against Maughan were; secondly, how Zuma’s family and supporters have relentlessly trolled Maughan online; thirdly, that the judgment strengthens the argument that we have to guard against SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) cases.
We entered this case to argue that it should be considered a SLAPP case – one that is intended not to serve justice but to silence a journalist or critic, and we urged the court to protect against this. This judgment has done so. We welcome the specific clause [192], which states “If one accepts the submissions of Maughan relating to the relief she seeks in the application to interdicts the Respondent, then we agree with the first to third amici that the Respondent’s private prosecution of Maughan has all the elements of a SLAPP suit in that, it relates to her obligations as a journalist to report on matters in the public interest. It infringes on her right to freedom of expression, specifically, press freedom and the public’s right to receive such information. It has the effect of intimidating, harassing and silencing her as its ulterior motive and for reasons already mentioned in the judgment, the prosecution lacks prospects of success. If one accepts Maughan’s submissions, then she has demonstrated that the Respondent’s private prosecution has been instituted for the sole purpose of silencing her and not to vindicate a right”. The clause also stands in clear alignment with the Special Rapporteur 2023 Joint declaration on SLAPP suits.
The court didn’t just accept Maughan’s submissions it also awarded costs against Mr Zuma.
We also welcome the precedent-setting comments in the judgment that amici do not have to be completely neutral in their contributions.
As we move into our election period in the lead up to the 2024 National Elections, this judgment stands as a shining defence of media freedom and a warning for those who wish to silence and intimidate journalists and media.
For further information or comment, contact:
Campaign for Freedom of Expression: Anton Harber [[email protected], +27833039497]
The South African National Editor’s Forum (SANEF) is now accepting nominations for the Nat Nakasa Awards for Courageous Journalism, focusing on stories published in print or online or broadcast between June 2022 and June 2023:
1 – Nat Nakasa Award for Media Integrity.
2 – Nat Nakasa Award for Community Media
Nat Nakasa was a prominent journalist and writer who died in exile. This annual award recognises any media practitioner – journalist or editor – who has:
* Showed integrity and reported fearlessly.
* Displayed a commitment to serving the people of South Africa despite insurmountable obstacles.
* Resisted any censorship.
* Showed courage in making information available to the South African public.
* Any combination of the above.
The Award is open to all journalists serving all media platforms from a community / national newspaper, magazine, or an electronic medium (including online publishers).
Nominations of deserving candidates/journalists can be done by members of the public, Editors, fellow journalists, and or their colleagues. Journalists can nominate themselves. Previous winners of this award are, however, not eligible for entry.
Please submit your nomination with a motivation of 300 words and a sample of or the body of work by close of business on Sunday 30 June 2023:
The winner will receive R20 000 in prize money and a certificate.
The winner will be announced at the Nat Nakasa Awards ceremony on 16 September 2023 in Johannesburg.
These awards are sponsored by Sanlam.
Note to Editors:
SANEF is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists, and journalism trainers from all areas of South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics, and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism through fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research, and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) condemns the attempts being made by the Moti Group to stop the publication of more articles written by amaBhungane.
SANEF has over the years been vocal about any threats or intimidation against journalists, including by those who abuse court processes to avoid transparency and public accountability.
amaBhungane only learned of the court action by the Moti Group the judge had granted the order. The publication was not given any opportunity to be heard during this application.
SANEF is encouraged that legal representatives of amaBhungane will challenge the unreasonable, urgent ex parte court order, issued by the Johannesburg High Court.
We believe the Moti Group sought to unreasonably gag further publication of any stories about their business, regardless of the public interest in their matters.
SANEF will closely monitor this matter, which cannot be left unchallenged because of the implications it may have on the work journalists do. The accusation by the Moti Group, that the said papers were illegally obtained, cannot be left unchallenged.
To say the least, the interdiction to stop amaBhungane from publishing any story is not only unreasonable, but tramples on the right of journalists to do their work, and the public’s right to know.
The South African Constitution, among many rights it protects, recognises the upholding of freedom of expression and media freedom.
The media, which is not above the law, has always sought to publish news that is in the public interest, with due diligence being done before any publication.
This matter is of public interest and thus fair and accurate reportage on it must be protected and the rights of its authors, upheld without fear or favour.
Note to Editors:
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists, and journalism trainers from all areas of South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics, and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism through fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research, and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is deeply saddened by the sudden death of political analyst, journalist, broadcaster and debater, Eusebius McKaiser – after he suffered a suspected epileptic seizure.
McKaiser was born in Grahamstown, 45 years ago, enrolled at Rhodes University in 1997 for a BA in law and philosophy, then an Honours and Master’s degree in philosophy, graduating with distinction.
He made his mark as a political activist and an associate political and social analyst at the Wits Centre for Ethics where he participated in research that examined the relationship between civil society and the state in the policy arena, particularly in the light of the changing post-Polokwane political landscape.
His pen contributed to the New York Times, Business Day, Mail & Guardian, Sunday Times, Sunday Independent, City Press, Newsweek International, BBC Focus on Africa, The New Republic, Financial Mail, and Destiny Man, among others. He also hosted a weekly politics and morality talk show on Talk Radio 702, the Talk at Nine Show, and he presented on Interface on SABC3.
SANEF Chairperson Sbu Ngalwa said McKaiser will be missed for his sharp intellect and contribution to the thought leadership discourse in South Africa and beyond.
“He held very strong views that he could actually back up. You just had to admire his mind whether you agreed with him or not.
“He was not shy to challenge anyone, including journalists – pointing out double standards and raising ethical issues. He really made one to sit up and take notice or to check their blind-spots. He made a huge contribution to the South African media landscape We are poorer without him,” said Ngalwa.
Makhudu Sefara, TimesLIVE Editor and Deputy Editor at Sunday Times said: “As a resident analyst on TimesLIVE, McKaiser’s analysis of our country’s political economy and understanding of geopolitics was a cut above the rest. While frustrated by the paucity of depth in our politics, he, like all patriots, believed our hope was in holding those in power to account through the pen or the mic.”
Glenda Daniels, SANEF Gauteng convenor who knew him, said: “Besides the huge loss of his democratic and fearless mind, which South Africa needs so much, I will miss going to his book launches, ones he wrote, and to his other events where he was the discussant; he was a great supporter of other local writers, and he gave the biggest and warmest hugs imaginable.”
Moshoeshoe Monare, Group Executive for News and Current Affairs at the SABC said he felt devastated and heartbroken by the news of McKaiser’s passing.
“Eusebius was one of South Africa’s public intellectuals who contributed to the public broadcaster’s mission to reflect the diversity of opinions and our culture of openly debating our differences. We will remember his courage to express unpopular views,” said Monare.
“A people’s intellectual always on the side of the vulnerable, unashamedly so,” said Thabo Shole-Mashao, broadcaster and close friend.
SANEF sends condolences to the families of this broadcasting giant, and his colleagues. His passing on is a great loss to the media fraternity, and he will be sorely missed.
Note to Editors:
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists, and journalism trainers from all areas of South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics, and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism through fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research, and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is saddened to learn of the deaths of stalwart journalist and anti-apartheid activist Enoch Duma (88) on Thursday after a long illness, and Athule Mazulu, a young community media journalist.
Veteran journalist, Ike Segola, described Duma as “a stalwart of black journalism” in this country. He said Duma was among a band of trailblazing black journalists of the bygone years who truly put a stamp on the ability of black newsmen – who operated under overwhelming odds.
“Duma can be remembered as one of the pioneers in the former The World and The Golden City Post. He was among the first black journalists to work for the newly launched Rand Daily Mail Extra and later The Sunday Times Extra editions. His reports always featured prominently in these papers,” said Segola.
Duma, the son of a Baptist minister, born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, worked his way from reporting the courts in his hometown to working on a national newspaper. He started working for the Post in Durban and later moved to join the City Post in Johannesburg where he focused on crime reporting, especially the plague of gangsterism in the city.
Thami Mazwai, a researcher on small business, a former newspaper editor, and an anti-apartheid activist said he remembered Duma as a very approachable senior journalist who always guided young journalists like himself most of the time. “He was one of the gifted and graphic writers. The youth of today should look up to him for his role in journalism,” he said.
Duma worked with legendary writers such as Can Themba, Henry Nxumalo, Nat Nakasa, Doc Bikitsha, Casey Motsisi, Joe Thloloe, Phil Mthimkhulu, Jubi Mayet, Sophie Tema, Nomavenda Mathiane, Stanley Motjuwadi, Benjamin Pogrund, Patrick Mackenzie and many other celebrated journalists.
He was arrested numerous times and ended up spending nine months in prison. He went into exile in the United States with his wife, Kitty. He was a prime mover in the divestment campaign – encouraging US firms to pull out of South Africa – that helped usher in the end of apartheid.
SANEF is also distraught to hear of the passing on of a young community Cape TV journalist, Athule Mazulu, at the young age of 32. According to her sister Zintle, she was taken to a hospital complaining about stomach pain. “On Monday they took her to Tygerberg hospital, she passed away on Wednesday.”
“She was a mother to us as we grew up without parents, she was a hard worker,” said Zintle.
Siphiwo Nkonki, News Manager for Cape Town Daily News said: “The Cape Town Daily news team and Cape Town TV are devastated by the loss of someone so young with so much life and living ahead of her. May her soul rest in peace.”
SANEF sends condolences to the families and colleagues of both journalists. Their deaths are a great loss to the media fraternity and will be sorely missed.
Note to Editors: The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists, and journalism trainers from all areas of South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics, and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism through fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research, and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.
The entry deadline for the Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Awards (Sikuvile Awards), brought to you by the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF), is around the corner as 25 May nears.
There is no deadline extension this year and with 14 categories to choose from this year, all journalists, from the hard news, investigative, community (including Indigenous language reporting), lifestyle, popular, business features, visual journalism, columns/editorial to photography (sports, news, and features) media are encouraged to enter.
All category winners receive the coveted Sikuvile Journalism Award Trophy as well as R15,000 prize money (to be shared if there is more than one winner in a category).
Journalist of the Year and Juby Mayet Rising Star of the Year are selected from the entries in the categories by the jury.
The Allan Kirkland Soga / Standard Bank Chairman’s Lifetime Achievement Award (previously the Allan Kirkland Soga: Achievement Award) recognises a sustained and extraordinary contribution to newspaper journalism on the part of an individual and the winner will have demonstrated impeccable ethics and craft excellence.
This year the Awards theme is “Journalism: In the Face of Public LIE ability. When seeing is believing, when does the ability to lie end, and the liability begin?”
This year winners will be announced at a live event at The Venue, Melrose Arch, on 24 June 2023.
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