Prestigious Vodacom Journalist of the Year winners for 2024 announced

The national winners of the 2024 Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards’ (VJOY) were honoured tonight at a ceremony in Johannesburg which paid homage to the persevering efforts of the South African media.

The title of 2024 Vodacom Journalist of the Year - and R100 000 in prize money - was awarded to News24’s Kyle Cowan for The Murray Murders, which also won the Investigative category. The judges said Cowan’s body of work about the double murder of liquidators Cloete and Thomas Murray had “skilfully pieced together information that helped to identify perpetrators and the reasons behind the murder”.

Joel Ontong of News24 won the esteemed title of the 2024 Young Journalist of the Year Award and will be able to enrol in a course of his choice, to the value of R50 000 to improve his craft and career prospects in Journalism.

This year’s competition saw more than 1 200 entries across 12 categories for the judging panel convened by Ryland Fisher to consider. The panel consisted of respected industry experts Arthur Goldstuck, Collin Nxumalo, Dr Elna Rossouw, Professor Gilbert Motsaathebe, Jovial Rantao, Manelisi Dubase, Neo Ntsoma, Obed Zilwa, Patricia McCraken, Portia Kobue, and Advocate Robin Selwal.

Takalani Netshitenzhe, Director of External Affairs for Vodacom South Africa, said this year’s Awards marked a significant milestone for the network operator as it celebrated 30 years of operation in South Africa. “As we switched on our network, our nation had just held its first democratic elections and was taking its first baby steps into a future filled with hope and promise. The role played by the media during this transformative period was essential, and today journalists remain the watchdogs of our democracy, holding power to account and ensuring that the voices of all South Africans are heard.”

The VJOY Lifetime Achiever Award for 2024 was bestowed posthumously upon Jermaine Craig, the former editor of the Cape Argus and media manager for the 2010 World Cup who died last year. As an award-winning journalist he pushed the boundaries and tackled issues that people were not brave enough to discuss publicly, and as an editor he mentored his staff, helping them produce ground-breaking work, said Fisher.

The national category winners, winning R10 000, were:
Opinion: News24’s Carlos Amato for Ballot dancers: Cartoons on the 2024 elections.

The judges said: “Amato showed innovation in creatively expressing his views about South Africa’s march towards the 2024 general elections.”

The judges also commended the following media for their exceptional entries:

• Anathi Madubela from Mail & Guardian for The vulnerable experience of childbirth during war.
• Luke Feltham from Mail & Guardian for Friends of Jacob Zuma.
• Marvin Charles from News24 for Flames of fear or unity’s beacon? DA ups its 'swart gevaar' tactics.
• Tamsin Meterlerkamp from Daily Maverick for Cold reality – many of us are closer to living on the street than we think.

Features: Netwerk24’s Willemien Brümmer for a series on neurodiversity.
The judges said:  Combining sensitive case histories with topical and educational reporting in a superbly crafted series on neurodiversity, Brümmer put a face to often-misunderstood medical issues that may lead to mental-health challenges.

Judges’ commendations:

• Sakhiseni Nxumalo from Sunday Times for Those guys don’t play around’: The brothers accused of killing AKA.
• Charné Kemp from Vrye Weekblad for ‘n Skans teen die angs.
• Claire Bisseker from Financial mail for Lost Boys: inside SA's new education crisis.
• Michelle Banda from Daily Maverick for Father’s rights — the complex web many are forced to navigate to access their children.
• Sebe Buthelezi with contributors Tshidiso Lechuba and Tshepo Dhlamini from eNCA’s Checkpoint for Teen mothers speak.

Lifestyle: Daily Dispatch’s Zamandulo Malonde for Francine Zana: from cleaner to entrepreneur. Judges said: Malonde’s story about a hotel cleaner who made a bold career move to become a leader in the hospitality industry, showcases optimism, resilience and determination.

Judges’ commendations:

• Ronald Masinda with contributor Sibabalwe Mdena from eNCA for Evil spirits haunt school children
• Thinus Ferreira from News24 for Chaotic, sweaty, stressful and exhausting: An honest review of my time aboard the MSC Splendida

Sport: Weg! Platteland’s Willem Van der Berg for Geloof, hoop en Vanwyksvlei United - Faith, hope and Vanwyksvlei United.
The Judges said: “Van der Berg demonstrated the mark of a good journalist by going beyond the call of duty, being meticulous in the gathering, processing and presenting of this piece. It is a story that, under normal circumstances, would probably not see the light of day, but makes riveting reading. This incredible piece gives hope to an almost forgotten part of our land.”

Judges’ commendations:

• Pimani Baloyi with contributor Hulisani Livhebe from SABC News for What appears to be a violent sport, in turn fosters cohesion and tolerance.
• Sellwane Khakhau with contributor Tumelo Setlhabetsi from SABC News for PARALYMPIANS NW - the inspirational story of two para-athletes who are the epitome of success against all odds

Financial and Economics: AmaBhungane’s Susan Comrie for The gas oligarchs.
The judges said: Comrie’s detailed probe into an energy deal with the potential to be an international embarrassment and scandal makes her a worthy national winner.

Politics: City Press’s Norman Masungwini for R38 million for shack call centre.
Judges said: “Masungwini’s jaw-dropping piece about massive corruption in the Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality was skilfully and creatively written. It laid bare the rot of corruption, looting and mismanagement in this poor, rural area.”

Judges’ commendations:

• Nick Dall from Financial Mail for Pofadder's queen of copper
• Lee Rondganger from IOL for body of work How two high-flying Durban bankers ran a R180 million Ponzi scheme targeting pensioners
• Lisa Steyn from Financial Mail for SA’s dodgy diesel

Sustainability:  Daily Maverick’s Victoria O'Regan with contributor Kristin Engel from Daily Maverick for Taking stock – staggering scale of Western Cape wildfires as fire season continues to rage. The judges said: O’Regan delivered excellent environmental journalism, combining comprehensive reporting and compelling style to tell the story of the staggering scale of Western Cape wildfires.”

Judges’ commendations:

• Lucas Ledwaba from Mukurukuru Media for Changing times and irregular weather patterns worry marula beer brewers
• Ntsikelelo Qoyo from The Herald for Bay rivers pose health threat
• Liezl Human with contributor Ashraf Hendricks from GroundUp for Copper boom sparks conflict between mine and residents of Northern Cape Town
• Claire Keeton from The Sunday Times for The good, the bad and the ugly: A tale of rural rubbish dumps
• Julia Evans from Daily Maverick for Rapid water lettuce spread

Live reporting/ breaking news: IOL’s Robin-Lee Francke for Joshlin Smith.
The judges said: “We were looking for the proverbial ‘show-stopping’ article that rallied the nation behind a cause. Francke’s piece stood out among the many that had been written about the disappearance of children in this area. She braved the dangers of a gang-infested area in an effort to solve the mystery of a missing child and wrote an incisive and deeply touching piece on Joshlin Smith.”

Photography: Cape Times’ Ayanda Ndamane for Pro-Palestine and Pro-Israel supporters clashed with Police.
The judges said: “Ndamane’s three expertly captured images successfully fulfilled the core responsibility of photojournalism: to tell the story with integrity and objectivity. He captured the intensity of the news event and demonstrate his courage and proximity to the action. The work showcases the fundamental role of press photographer in presenting a balanced and accurate representation of events, unencumbered by bias or prejudice.”

Judges’ commendations:

• Armand Hough from Independent Media for Taxi Strike
• Betram Malgas from News24 for Springboks demolish Romania in Bordeaux try-fest

Innovation in journalism: News24’s Sharlene Rood with contributor Kyle Cowan for The Murray Murders: Unravelling the assassination of Cloete and Thomas Murray.
The judges said: This winning entry broke barriers by combining innovative interactive reporting methods with enterprising and meticulous evidence-collecting and riveting storytelling.

Judges’ commendations:

• Storm Simpson with contributors Joel Ontong, Na'ilah Ebrahim and Hanlie Gouws from News24 for Elections 2024: News24 debunks disinformation and fact-checks misinformation.
• Zandile Khumalo with contributors Lesley Piet, Kgotso Modise, Laila Majiet, Thabiso Nkosi and Morapedi Mashashe from The Daily Sun for Trapped: The struggle to break free from Gomora's cycle of poverty.

“Through journalists’ tireless efforts to keep political power accountable through investigative reporting into corruption, we have seen our democracy mature and grow. Vodacom realises that supporting journalism is an imperative for safeguarding the foundations of our democracy, and is committed to helping to create an environment where quality journalism is celebrated,” Netshitenzhe said.