Visiting stalwart icon Joe Thloloe is Nwabisa Makunga, Reggy Moalusi, Glenda Daniels, Hopewell Radebe, Tshamano Makhadi
A SANEF delegation, comprising Chairperson Nwabisa Makunga, Deputy Chairperson Tshamano Makhadi, Secretary-General Dr. Glenda Daniels, Executive Director Reggy Moalusi, and Projects Manager Hopewell Radebe, visited SANEF founding member and journalism icon Joe Thloloe at his home in Johannesburg on the morning of 20 September 2024.
Mr. Thloloe was unable to attend the SANEF Council meeting and the Nat Nakasa Awards ceremony held in Durban on 14 September 2024 due to ill health. In recognition of his immense contribution to ethical journalism in South Africa, the SANEF Council tasked Chairperson Makunga to visit him and deliver their wishes for a speedy recovery and continued good health.
SANEF Chairperson Nwabisa Makunga presents stalwart icon Joe Thloloe with a gift.
Mr. Thloloe warmly welcomed the delegation, describing the visit as a “blessing” that encouraged him to get out of bed. Mrs. Thloloe also expressed her gratitude, referring to the SANEF leadership as “family,” adding that they need no special invitation to visit their home.
During the visit, Chairperson Makunga presented Mr. Thloloe with gifts, while the group enjoyed tea and freshly baked banana bread.
Thloloe is also the former Press Ombudsman who serves as member of the Nat Nakasa awards four-member panel of judges together with former editor of The Star, Peter Sullivan, Crystal Orderson, a producer for Al Jazeera and contributor to The Africa Report on Talk Radio 702, and Moipone Malefane, the founder of Vutivi Business News.
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF), in partnership with Sanlam, is proud to announce the winners of the highly esteemed 2024 Nat Nakasa Awards for Courageous Journalism held at the Radisson Blu, Umhlanga in Durban on 14 September 2024.
These awards celebrate journalists who have demonstrated extraordinary bravery in their work, often in the face of great personal and professional risk.
For the first time in the history of the awards, the main Nat Nakasa Award for courageous journalism has been jointly awarded to three outstanding journalists, each of whom has made a significant impact with their fearless reporting:
– Kyle Cowan has been recognised for his investigative feature on the brutal and gruesome assassination of the Murray family.
– Jeff Wicks is honoured for his relentless reporting on the assassination of whistleblower “Babita Deokran”, a story that uncovered corruption in the health department.
– Theo Jeptha has been awarded for his powerful coverage showing everyday struggles communities face, particularly in accessing basic rights such as education.
These three journalists epitomise the spirit of courageous journalism, risking their safety to shine a light on critical issues and expose injustices, said Crystal Orderson Judge.
Nwabisa Makunga, SANEF chairperson, challenged the media fraternity to be not “deaf to the call of accountability; without fear or favour, nor be lethargic in our response to the abuse of power and injustice”.
“This moment demands that we step up the challenge of history; that we are even more vigilant to the insidious nature of the abuse of power by those who claim to want the best for this nation,” Makunga said.
She said this moment demanded high standards of integrity from editors, a standard to which they must hold themselves as individual media practitioners, media houses, and of SANEF as an organisation. Download her speech
Thami Nakasa, the nephew of Nat, said if the courage of journalists in Nat Nakasa’s era was done without fear or favour, the same excellence is expected in every journalist today.
“This award is a great achievement that needs to be celebrated across our communities in the country. There are school kids who yearn to become not just journalists, but excellent ones,” he said.
Nwabisa Mpondo, market development specialist at Sanlam Mass Retail said Nat Nakasa’s story is one of courage, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to truth. In the oppressive climate of 1960s apartheid South Africa, where the press was restricted and Black voices were systematically silenced, Nakasa dared to speak out. Download her speech
Nakasa’s legacy is woven into the fabric of South African journalism, not because he lived a long life, but because he lived a courageous one, and it serves as a testament to the transformative power of journalism.
Nat Nakasa awards 2024 winners: Kyle Cowan, Jeff Wicks, Vicky Abraham, Slindile Khanyile and Theo Jephta.
“Sanlam, as a cornerstone business in African society, has unwavering faith in the importance of truth. In a world filled with uncertainties and ever-changing economic and social landscapes, truth remains the bedrock upon which trust is established,” Mpondo said.
Sanlam continues to play its rightful role as a responsible corporate citizen and supporter of media development. The group hosts the annual Sanlam summer school, a one-week seminar for emerging journalists from all over Africa that provides skills training on financial reporting. More than 500 journalists have completed the programme and continue in one way or the other to make a meaningful contribution to a thriving media in Africa.
Sanlam also hosts the Sanlam Group Awards for Excellence in Journalism, recognising the best financial journalism on the continent over decades. These awards will celebrate 50 years in 2025 and aim to continue to inspire the next generation of business reporters for the next decades to keep spotlighting Africa’s rightful place in the global economy.
She said the journalists we honour today are not just chroniclers of events; you are custodians of our democracy. They ensure that the South African public remains informed, that the powerful remain accountable, and that our society remains just.
Stephen Wrottesley Award 2024
The Stephen Wrottesley Award, given annually to a SANEF member for exceptional service to the organisation, has been awarded to Ms. Slindile Khanyile, head of Digital Publications and co-director of Likhanyile Tutoring and Media, as well as the editor of online publications Umbele and Umkhanyisi in Durban.
According to the judges’ citation, Khanyile has shown outstanding dedication to SANEF’s goals, stepping up in her region during a challenging period when the regional convenor was on extended sick leave. Khanyile worked tirelessly to ensure SANEF’s ongoing presence and impact, particularly in promoting community media participation. Her continued collaboration with the convenor upon their return has strengthened the region’s media landscape, especially through initiatives like training workshops and partnerships with the IEC.
Her dedication and commitment go above and beyond, and SANEF is proud to acknowledge her contributions with the Stephen Wrottesley Award.
Nat Nakasa Community Award 2024
The Nat Nakasa Community Award, honouring journalists who amplify local voices and foster community engagement, was awarded to Ms. Vicky Abraham.
Abraham was awarded the award for an article that highlighted allegations of racism, discrimination, and unfair labour practice that Deaf employed electrical learnership students were apparently subjected to by their white superiors.
It is understood that some of the students are Deaf-partially-blind. Although, they use South African Sign Language to communicate, others can lip-read.
The students had alleged that they do not have lockers to keep their bags and food. Therefore, their food got infested with ants as they place them on the ground, they explained in the video that they posted on TikTok. This prompted Abraham to investigate these allegations and conduct interview with the students.
The students said, “We place our food on the ground because we do not have lockers, therefore they get filled with lots of ants. We remove the ants and continue eating the same food. That is our daily life, we sit with ants on the grass. It is like the ants are our friends.”
According to the judges, of the Nat Nakasa Awards, the quality of entries in this category was exceptional, but Abraham stood out for her compelling series on Deaf and Deaf-partially-blind students and those with different disabilities who were subjected to inhumane conditions, including eating food crawling with ants. These stories, which exposed racism, exploitation, and unfair labour practices faced by Deaf including the Deaf-partially-blind students at PCD College in Pretoria, were described as “deeply impactful” and “courageous.” The work exemplified the commitment of community journalists, who often work with limited resources but remain determined to tell the most important stories of their communities.”
Sanef congratulates all the winners of the 2024 Nat Nakasa Awards for their exceptional contributions to the profession and their unwavering commitment to truth and justice.
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 by 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) calls on the people of KwaZulu-Natal to reflect and honour the profound legacy of one of their own, the late, world-renowned journalist, Nat Nakasa. On Saturday, 14 September 2024, Sanef, in partnership with Sanlam, will host the 2024 Nat Nakasa Award for Courageous Journalism at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Umhlanga, Durban.
This prestigious event, now in its eighth year of Sanlam’s sponsorship, celebrates the unwavering spirit of the courage that Nakasa embodied.
A panel of esteemed judges, including former Press Ombudsman, Joe Thloloe, former editor of The Star, Peter Sullivan, Crystal Orderson, a producer for Al Jazeera and contributor to The Africa Report on Talk Radio 702, and Moipone Malefane, the founder of Vutivi Business News, will honour the exceptional individuals that demonstrated remarkable bravery in defending community rights and holding authorities accountable. Among these deserving winners will be those who receive the Nat Nakasa Award for Community Media, as well as the recipient of the overall Nat Nakasa Award for Courageous Journalism.
Each year, Sanef also presents the Stephen Wrottesley Award, recognising a dedicated Sanef member whose hard work and commitment reflect the same spirit of service to the profession.
Nat Nakasa was a journalist whose powerful words fuelled the fight for liberation in South Africa. His voice, silenced too soon, continues to echo through the ages. In 1965, Nakasa died in New York while on a Nieman Fellowship, having been forced into exile under a one-way visa, a consequence of his opposition to the apartheid regime. Despite the years and miles that separated him from his homeland, his final wish was to return to the soil where he was born.
In 2014, through Sanef’s tireless efforts, in collaboration with the Nakasa family and numerous other stakeholders, Nat’s remains were brought back to South Africa. He was laid to rest at the Chesterville Heroes Acres, a place of honour in his childhood suburb outside Durban. It was a long-awaited homecoming for a man who paid the ultimate price for his commitment to truth and justice.
As we gather once again to celebrate the courage of today’s journalists, let us remember the towering legacy of Nat Nakasa. His sacrifice, his dedication to speaking truth in the face of oppression, and his unwavering belief in the power of the written word will continue to inspire generations to come.
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 closing date for entries for this year’s Nat Nakasa Awards for Courageous Journalism has been extended to Sunday, 30 June 2024. Journalists, editors and media professionals are encouraged to submit nominees, focusing on stories published in print or online or broadcast between June 2023 and June 2024:
– Nat Nakasa Award for Media Integrity.
– 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 2024:
The winner of the Nat Nakasa Award for Media Integrity will receive R20 000 in prize money and a certificate.
The winner of the Nat Nakasa Award for Community Media will receive R10 000 in prize money and a certificate.
The winner will be announced at the Nat Nakasa Awards ceremony on 14 September 2024 in Durban.
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 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 2023 and June 2024:
Nat Nakasa Award for Media Integrity.
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 2024:
The winner of the Nat Nakasa Award for Media Integrity will receive R20 000 in prize money and a certificate.
The winner of the Nat Nakasa Award for Community Media will receive R10 000 in prize money and a certificate.
The winner will be announced at the Nat Nakasa Awards ceremony on 14 September 2024 in Durban.
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.
SANEF Chairperson Sbu Ngalwa addressing the Nat Nakasa Awards.
17 September 2023
On the 16th of September 2023, the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) gathered in Sandton to celebrate the exceptional winners of the 25th Nat Nakasa Awards for Courageous Journalism.
The Nat Nakasa Awards recognise a special element in journalism – courage, fearlessness, and an unyielding commitment to serving the people of South Africa despite insurmountable obstacles.
The Nat Nakasa Award for Media Integrity was presented to the news agency GroundUp’s journalists, Daniel Steyn and Marecia Damons. The award for the Nat Nakasa Award for Community Media went to Anton van Zyl, the publisher of the Limpopo Mirror and the Zoutpansberger.
Sbu Ngalwa, SANEF chairperson expressed his delight thus: “Your courage and dedication inspire us all. Courage and bravery are not easy to come by. This year, our distinguished panel of judges has chosen to honour individuals whose work embodies these principles.”
“These awards stand as a testament to the unwavering dedication of journalists who go above and beyond in their pursuit of truth, even in the face of daunting challenges,” he says.
SANEF was honoured to have Justice Zukisa Tshiqi of the Constitutional Court, a member of the South African Women Judge’s Association, also involved in various mentorship programs, as our keynote speaker. Her theme of the absolute importance of truth and transparency both in the media and judiciary was inspiring and this will undoubtedly inspire the next generation of courageous journalists.
Judge Tshiqi said; “The Constitutional Court has recognised that the work done by the journalists is very crucial in our democracy … journalists contribute in ensuring that there is transparency and accountability in the exercise of public and private power.”
The awards’ sponsor, Gaffar Hassam, Group Executive – Corporate Affairs, SanlamAllianz, noted, “Sanlam’s partnership with SANEF is on its 8th year and continues to grow in recognition of Sanlam’s ‘s commitment to media freedom.”
“Nat’s sense of justice was so strong that in his pursuit of truth, he chose exile from his native land, travelling to New York on a Niemann Fellowship, without a passport. Just an exit permit. An exit permit from his country of birth meant he was banished and unable to return home and we will continue to honour his legacy,” he told the audience.
In their citation Anton van Zyl, the judges remarked, “It is very difficult to operate in the space of community media. There is not that much money to make because advertisers focus on commercial media to reach out to consumers. The challenges remain despite the government having made promises that part of its advertising should go to community media. When a journalist like Anton van Zyl, who is the publisher of the Limpopo Mirror and the Zoutpansberger, continues to make a difference in this space, we need to commend them for the good work.”
Those who have worked closely with Van Zyl attest to his generosity in sharing his extensive knowledge with other small community-based publishers. He has been a driving force in the Association of Independent Publishers’ sustainability committee.
The judges’ citation of Daniel Steyn and Marecia Damons reads, “When the Thabo Bester story broke, it was unbelievable. We congratulate GroundUp‘s efforts not to give up on the suspicions that Bester was not dead but living large after escaping from jail. He faked his death. The GroundUp stories were so accurate in reflecting the difference that media can make in life. The story touched on bravery as well as social justice.
“Daniel Steyn and Marecia Damons rocked the boat of corruption that happened at Mangaung Correctional Centre, which involved senior officials managing the prison. Since the breaking of the story, the government arrested several officials at the centre for assisting Bester to escape. His girlfriend, Dr. Nandipha Magudumane, assisted him to fake his death and escape from jail. They skipped the country, were arrested in Tanzania, and brought back to South Africa and now stand trial.
“We need to applaud Daniel Steyn and Marecia Damons for the sterling work of exposing this prison corruption without fear or favour.”
Crystal Orderson, one of the judges, expressed, “It is again a pleasure for the four of us – Peter Sullivan, Joe Thloloe, and I, Chrystal Orderson and Moipone Malefane – to go through the entries and again marvel at the high quality of journalism that South Africa continues to produce.
“This is done under difficult economic conditions. We still have journalists who show integrity and report fearlessly, display a commitment to serve the people of South Africa despite insurmountable obstacles, resist censorship, and show courage in making information available to the SA public.
Ngalwa, SANEF chair, also presented our in-house Stephen Wrottesley Award for honouring dedicated members to community media subcommittee chairperson Dunisani Ntsanwisi. This award is bestowed on a SANEF member who shows commitment, and passion to Sanef.
He was awarded for playing a key and definitive role in Sanef’s Community Media Digitisation project for always putting the issues and interests of community media on the agenda; playing a key role in the inaugural Sanef Indigenous Languages Seminar and ensuring that the Association of Independent Publishers continues to be an active and relevant organisation.
The awards were sponsored by Sanlam
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.
Sanlam is the proud sponsor of the Nat Nakasa Awards.
SANEF to announce winners of the Nat Nakasa Awards 2023
15 September 2023
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) will tomorrow, 16 September 2023, honour the 2023 Nat Nakasa Award for Courageous Journalism to winners at The Venue in Sandton, Johannesburg. The awards are sponsored by Sanlam for the seventh year running.
The awards will be addressed by Justice Zukisa Laura Lumka Tshiqi of the Constitutional Court. She is also aligned with organisations such as the Black Lawyers Association Legal Education Centre, the South African Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges, the South African Judicial Education Institute, and the African Regional Judges Forum as a means of ensuring that the constitutional rights of all citizens are not violated.
In 2007, Justice Tshiqi was appointed as Acting Judge at the Competition Appeal Court, and in 2009, she was appointed as Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal where she presided over many matters for 10 years prior to her appointment at the Constitutional Court in 2019. She is also a qualified trainer, facilitator, and mediator and she is a trainer on an ad hoc basis for the South African Judicial Institute.
The applications for the awards are adjudicated by a panel of four judges including former Press Ombudsman, Joe Thloloe, former editor of The Star, Peter Sullivan, Crystal Orderson, Al Jazeera’s producer (Freelance TV) & contributor of The Africa Report Magazine as well as former Sowetan political editor and founder of Vutivi Business News, Moipone Malefane.
These judges will award the Nat Nakasa Award for Community Media to deserving winners for their bravery in defending the community’s rights and demanding justice in their environment and local municipalities. They will then announce the overall winner Nat Nakasa Award for Courageous Journalism
Every year, SANEF also has an in-house Stephen Wrottesley Award for honouring dedicated members which will be given to a deserving, hardworking member.
Nat Nakasa was a man whose writing skills played a pivotal role in the liberation of South Africans. Nat’s legacy is celebrated every year by SANEF, through these awards. Nat died in New York, in 1965.
At the time he was on a one-way visa in the US, on a Nieman Scholarship, to escape threats to his life under the apartheid regime. SANEF, together with the Nakasa family and a range of stakeholders, worked tirelessly for years to bring back Nat’s remains and be reburied at his childhood suburb of Chesterville, outside Durban.
In 2014, his remains were returned to SA for reburial at the Chesterville cemetery Heroes Acres site, a fulfillment of his last wish to return home to the country where he was born. Nakasa paid a high price for his sacrifice.
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 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.
Image: Nat Nakasa Judge Crystal Orderson (Left) poses with winners Cebelihle Mbuyisa and Magnificent Mndebele, and fellow judges Joe Thloloe and Peter Sullivan
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) last night awarded the Nat Nakasa Award for courageous journalism to two former New Frame journalists, Cebelihle Mbuyisa and Magnificent Mndebele, at an awards function held in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. New Frame is now defunct.
The awards, sponsored by Sanlam, are now in their sixth iteration since the sponsorship started in 2017.
“The duo’s work at New Frame kept the story of the uprising in eSwatini alive for South African audiences,” said one of the judges, veteran journalist, Chrystal Orderson. She serves on the panel with two other legendary journalists, former The Star Editor-in-Chief, Peter Sullivan, and former Press Ombudsman, Joe Thloloe.
The awards were addressed by retired Judge, Dr Navi Pillay, who serves on the International Commission on Information and Democracy, which affirms the principles of media freedom, safety of journalists and media sustainability.
Pillay said all governments, including South Africa, must take action to promote a free and independent press which is instrumental to combat disinformation, build public trust and advance the promotion and protection of human rights. “I would say that such action must also protect media sources and whistle-blowers,” she said.
She said the world honours courageous journalists and that SANEF’s Nat Nakasa Awards fall into the spirit of celebration of brave and courageous journalists and expresses public gratitude for their work.
“This is what counts. The appreciation of the constituency to whom you are accountable. The silencing of journalists is a loss to society, honouring them is a gain,” Pillay said.
The Nat Nakasa Award for Community Media went to Shiraaz Mohammed for his body of work, which included spending time with health care workers during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Judges noted that Mohammed was working on his own and producing his work without the backup of a big media corporation and putting his own life at risk.
As part of the awards, SANEF’s members get to nominate a fellow member for the Stephen Wrottesley Award, dedicated to honour members whose commitment in the journalism field goes beyond the call of duty. This year it was awarded to media freedom activist, former editor, and former SANEF’s management committee member, Angela Quintal. She is now in charge of the Africa programme at the Committee to Protect Journalists, based in New York.
Pearl Majola spoke on behalf of Sydney Mbhele, Group Executive: Brand saying Sanlam considered these awards to be more than a celebration but an endorsement of media freedom. They were about integrity and the exceptional bravery of journalists who will stand for the truth even at the risk of threats to their very being.
“We believe in and support robust journalism as one of the strongest pillars of our democracy and so we continue to commit our support for these awards,” said Majola.
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Image: Nat Nakasa Judge Crystal Orderson (Left) poses with winners Cebelihle Mbuyisa and Magnificent Mndebele, and fellow judges Joe Thloloe and Peter Sullivan
The Nat Nakasa Award for Community Media went to Shiraaz Mohammed for his body of work, which included spending time with health care workers during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Judges noted that Mohammed was working on his own and producing his work without the backup of a big media corporation and putting his own life at risk.