This year, the Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards celebrate 20 years of democracy and mark the 20th anniversary of Vodacom. It’s a double celebration, both of journalistic excellence and communication facilitated by Vodacom. During this period, journalists covered stories with global reach and significance, requiring in depth research to bring their stories to life.
Convenor of the judging panel, Mary Papayya said: “Once again, the judging process was filled with vigorous debate, and I thank the judges for the critical and concise decision making they committed themselves to. The work we saw was excellent and we hope to see continued growth and momentum for the Vodacom Awards.”
This year, 967 entries were received in the 12 categories: CSI/Sustainability, Editor’s Choice, Financial/Economic, Online, Photography, Print Feature, Print News, Radio Feature, Radio News, Sport, Television Feature and Television News. This was an increase on last year where 830 entries were received. This year, the Print Feature category received the most entries, with 211 journalists vying for the title.
Maya Makanjee, Chief Officer for Corporate Affairs at Vodacom Group said: “I would like to thank the panel of judges for their sterling work during the judging process.
“This year’s judging panel comprised experts in their fields, and I would like to thank Elna Rossouw, Mary Papayya, Colin Nxumalo, Arthur Goldstuck, Johann de Wet, Joe Thloloe, Ryland Fisher, Megan Rusi, and Patricia McCracken, who made their time and expertise available to us,” said Makanjee.
Regional winners for the Eastern Region were announced yesterday at a function at the Protea Hotel Marine, Port Elizabeth.
Regional winners will each take home R5 000 and travel to Johannesburg for the national finals on 31 October 2014.
The winners of the 2014 Vodacom Journalist of the Year regional Awards in the Eastern Region are:
- 2014 CSI/Sustainability winner – Ivo Vegter, The Daily Maverick, In defence of a lion killer.
- 2014 Financial/Economic winners – Michael Kimberley, Cindy Preller, Riaan Marais, Shaun Gillham, and Thulani Gqirana. The Herald and Weekend Post, Construction industry chaos.
- 2014 Online winners – Estelle Ellis, Dorette de Swardt, and Eugene Coetzee. The Herald Online, After the crash.
- 2014 Photography winner – Deon Ferreira. Die Burger, Fopdossers.
- 2014 Print Feature winners – Vuvu Vena and Sino Majangaza. Daily Dispatch, Problems in the health care sector in the rural Eastern Cape.
- 2014 Print News winners – Bongani Fuzile and Mphumzi Zuzile. Daily Dispatch, Reporting on scandal surrounding money spent on former President Nelson Mandela’s funeral.
- 2014 Radio Feature winners – Veronica Fourie, SABC Radio News, Naming (renaming of streets etc. after Nelson Mandela.)
- 2014 Radio News winner – Nkululeko Nyembezi, SABC News, Mandela family feud and inter-marriages in the Eastern Cape (body of work).
- 2014 Sport winners – Neale Emslie and Mthetho Ndoni, Weekend Post, Talent hunting for sporting talent in disadvantaged schools by advantaged schools
- 2014 Television Feature winners – Hlengiwe Ngwenya and Ndabezinhle Khumalo, Cutting Edge SABC, Feature on frail grandmother who lives in poverty and is looking after her disabled granddaughter.
- 2014 Television News winner – Fathima Simjee, Health e-News Service, Shots in the dark.
- 2014 Editor’s choice winner – Mcebisi Ngqina
“We’d like to congratulate all the winners in the Eastern region for thought-provoking and excellent journalism. We look forward to meeting you at the national finals, where we will be celebrating excellence in journalism in South Africa,” said Makanjee.
Editor: For the record MyPE did not enter in any categories.
Alan Straton
Latest posts by Alan Straton (see all)
- LaserTube Brings Fibre Laser Tube Cutting Machines to South African Fabricators, From Compact Shop Units to Bundle Loading Production Cells - 3 November 2026
- SubAlu Sublimates Photographs Onto Aluminium Panels in Randburg, From A4 Gifts and Square Prints to A1 Statement Pieces and Panoramas - 3 November 2026
- SA Heros Comics in Observatory Adds Grading Guidance and Archival Storage to Its Range of Local Superhero Comics and Collectables - 3 November 2026
- OpenCredit in Rosebank Explains in Plain Language What a Credit Score Shows, What a Full Credit Report Shows and Where Debt Review Fits In - 3 November 2026
- StickerPaper in Durbanville Sorts Its Printable Sticker Sheets by Printer Type First, Then Finish, for Crafters and Small Studios - 3 November 2026
