Award-winning Daily Dispatch editor Bongani Siqoko is on the move to Johannesburg to run South Africa’s biggest Sunday newspaper.
Siqoko’s appointment as editor of the Sunday Times was announced yesterday by group owners Tiso Blackstar.
Managing director Andy Gill said they were confident 40-year-old Siqoko would succeed.
“He has proved an exceptional editor and leader at the Dispatch and will bring a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to his new role, especially as the Sunday Times embarks on a new journey with a fresh design and a new multiplatform future,” said Gill.
Siqoko replaces former Daily Dispatch editor Phylicia Oppelt at the Sunday Times after she accepted a senior position in the group as general manager for editorial projects.
A statement said Oppelt would be involved in Tiso Blackstar’s exciting Innovation Project to redesign their newspapers as well as prepare for a digital first environment.
Times media CEO Andrew Bonamour yesterday said: “We are delighted that Phylicia will remain in the group and help drive the exciting changes we are implementing across the titles.”
Zwelitsha-born Siqoko has been with the Dispatch since November 2004 and has worked as news editor, deputy editor and managing editor before being appointed editor in June 2013.
He described his appointment yesterday as a “huge honour”.
“During my editorship of the Dispatch all I did was to go about with my duties and little did I know I was being watched for an even bigger role than the one I was entrusted with.”
Siqoko admitted the biggest thing he would miss about the Dispatch was the passionate team he has worked with over the past 11 years.
Siqoko studied journalism at the then Peninsula Technikon in Cape Town and later completed an MA in international journalism at City University in London.
Although the newspaper has cleaned up in national journalism awards under his watch, Siqoko said managing the team that told the story of the death and burial of former President Nelson Mandela was a highlight for him.
“We needed to up our game because the Dispatch was his hometown newspaper and I am glad with what the team achieved.
“Last year was the best year for me as we won every available award for our investigation into the defrauding of Mandela’s funeral funds.”
Siqoko will take up his new post as Sunday Times editor on January 11 2016.
Deputy Dispatch editor Brett Horner will be acting editor until the post is filled. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
Dispatch editor moves on
Siqoko’s appointment as editor of the Sunday Times was announced yesterday by group owners Tiso Blackstar.
Managing director Andy Gill said they were confident 40-year-old Siqoko would succeed.
“He has proved an exceptional editor and leader at the Dispatch and will bring a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to his new role, especially as the Sunday Times embarks on a new journey with a fresh design and a new multiplatform future,” said Gill.
Siqoko replaces former Daily Dispatch editor Phylicia Oppelt at the Sunday Times after she accepted a senior position in the group as general manager for editorial projects.
A statement said Oppelt would be involved in Tiso Blackstar’s exciting Innovation Project to redesign their newspapers as well as prepare for a digital first environment.
Times media CEO Andrew Bonamour yesterday said: “We are delighted that Phylicia will remain in the group and help drive the exciting changes we are implementing across the titles.”
Zwelitsha-born Siqoko has been with the Dispatch since November 2004 and has worked as news editor, deputy editor and managing editor before being appointed editor in June 2013.
He described his appointment yesterday as a “huge honour”.
“During my editorship of the Dispatch all I did was to go about with my duties and little did I know I was being watched for an even bigger role than the one I was entrusted with.”
Siqoko admitted the biggest thing he would miss about the Dispatch was the passionate team he has worked with over the past 11 years.
Siqoko studied journalism at the then Peninsula Technikon in Cape Town and later completed an MA in international journalism at City University in London.
Although the newspaper has cleaned up in national journalism awards under his watch, Siqoko said managing the team that told the story of the death and burial of former President Nelson Mandela was a highlight for him.
“We needed to up our game because the Dispatch was his hometown newspaper and I am glad with what the team achieved.
“Last year was the best year for me as we won every available award for our investigation into the defrauding of Mandela’s funeral funds.”
Siqoko will take up his new post as Sunday Times editor on January 11 2016.
Deputy Dispatch editor Brett Horner will be acting editor until the post is filled. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
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