Daily Dispatch reporters scooped two top awards for investigative journalism at the prestigious Standard Bank Sikuvile awards in Johannesburg last night.
Senior journalist Bongani Fuzile and former deputy political editor Mphumzi Zuzile won the investigative award and story of the year for their investigation into the Mandela funeral fund scandal.
Daily Dispatch editor-in-chief Bongani Siqoko said the award was not just for Fuzile and Zuzile, “but for every staff member who worked with them to turn this project into an award-winning investigative project”.
He said it was for everyone who had stood with the Daily Dispatch through the period of reporting the story. “It is also an award for all those whistleblowers out there.”
Fuzile said he was happy their hard work paid off. “There were threats at the time of writing the reports and we were also accused of being used by opposition parties to defame the ruling ANC, but we kept on digging,” he said.
He thanked their sources who helped them with documents. “We would also like to thank the staff of the Daily Dispatch at large for their support,” he said.
The Mandela fraud scandal is still before the court, where the former Buffalo City Metro mayor Zukiswa Ncitha, former deputy mayor Themba Tinta, council speaker Luleka Simon-Ndzele and councillor Sindiswa Gomba stand accused of fraud.
Almost 700 submissions were received across 14 categories in the annual awards recognising excellence in South African journalism.
The chief executive of the print and digital media South Africa section, Ingrid Louw, said there had been an increase in the number of entries this year.
The convenor and judge, Paula Fray, agreed with Louw saying the quality of submissions this year had impressed the judges. “I think it is safe to say that South African journalism is world class.”
Another Tiso Blackstar Group daily, The Times, also walked away with two awards.
Reporter Shaun Smillie won the enterprise news category for a series titled “The Lion of Alberton”, while photographer Alon Skuy picked up the award for feature photography for a series of photos titled “The Good Old Days” on the plight of the elderly.
Veteran photographer Peter Magubane was honoured with the Allan Kirkland SOGA Lifetime Achiever Award.
Daily Dispatch reporters win top national awards
Senior journalist Bongani Fuzile and former deputy political editor Mphumzi Zuzile won the investigative award and story of the year for their investigation into the Mandela funeral fund scandal.
Daily Dispatch editor-in-chief Bongani Siqoko said the award was not just for Fuzile and Zuzile, “but for every staff member who worked with them to turn this project into an award-winning investigative project”.
He said it was for everyone who had stood with the Daily Dispatch through the period of reporting the story. “It is also an award for all those whistleblowers out there.”
Fuzile said he was happy their hard work paid off. “There were threats at the time of writing the reports and we were also accused of being used by opposition parties to defame the ruling ANC, but we kept on digging,” he said.
He thanked their sources who helped them with documents. “We would also like to thank the staff of the Daily Dispatch at large for their support,” he said.
The Mandela fraud scandal is still before the court, where the former Buffalo City Metro mayor Zukiswa Ncitha, former deputy mayor Themba Tinta, council speaker Luleka Simon-Ndzele and councillor Sindiswa Gomba stand accused of fraud.
Almost 700 submissions were received across 14 categories in the annual awards recognising excellence in South African journalism.
The chief executive of the print and digital media South Africa section, Ingrid Louw, said there had been an increase in the number of entries this year.
The convenor and judge, Paula Fray, agreed with Louw saying the quality of submissions this year had impressed the judges. “I think it is safe to say that South African journalism is world class.”
Another Tiso Blackstar Group daily, The Times, also walked away with two awards.
Reporter Shaun Smillie won the enterprise news category for a series titled “The Lion of Alberton”, while photographer Alon Skuy picked up the award for feature photography for a series of photos titled “The Good Old Days” on the plight of the elderly.
Veteran photographer Peter Magubane was honoured with the Allan Kirkland SOGA Lifetime Achiever Award.
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