Mail & Guardian journalists take home Mondi Shanduka South African Story of the Year and Newspaper Journalist of the Year accolades

Mail & Guardian’s amaBhungane investigative team, headed by Sam Sole and Stefaans Brümmer, clinched the prize for South African Story of the Year, while Matuma Letsoalo earned himself the title of South African Journalist of the Year at the 10th annual Mondi Shanduka Newspaper Awards at Turbine Hall in Johannesburg tonight (10 May 2011).

Sole and Brümmer, with contributions from Ilham Rawoot, Adriaan Basson, Jackie Mapiloko and Mahlatsi Gallens, were acknowledged for their extensive investigative series on ‘Zuma Inc’, the Zuma family’s business empire featured in the Mail & Guardian. Sole and Brümmer are not new to the Mondi Shanduka Newspaper Awards winners’ roll, having won the Investigative Journalism category in 2003.

The amaBhungane are the Mail & Guardian Centre for Investigative Journalism which is a non-profit initiative that aims to develop investigative journalism in the public interest. This initiative seeks to produce better investigative stories and to plough back into the profession through internships and advocacy.

"The team sank their teeth into the issue and did not let go. Instead, they systematically worked their way through the many complex stories they unearthed and which they summed up as the rise of the 'Zuma Inc'. This journalism set the agenda which other media could not but follow," said Rhodes University's Professor Guy Berger, convenor of the judging panel.

Matuma Letsoalo won the South African Journalist of the Year and Investigative Journalism category for his series of articles related to Noluthando Vavi, wife of COSATU general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.

Letsoalo impressed judges when he single-handedly blew the lid off an important story relating to the corrupt business activities of Mrs Vavi. He was also the winner in the Investigative Journalism category for the same series of articles.

"Letsoalo broke an important story at a time when its indirect subject, Zwelinzima Vavi, could be described as having become endeared to the media through his anti-corruption stance," said the judges. "It was a story with consequences, and it entailed excellent follow-up as it unfolded," they added.

Letsoalo demonstrated that even outside of an investigative team, an individual journalist can win honours by diligent persistence and high ethics.

The winners walked away with R15,000, a premier Mondi Shanduka nib trophy and framed certificate.

Berger rallied the experience and expertise of Pippa Green, Jodi Bieber, Joe Latakgomo, Tyrone August, David Wightman, Juby Mayet, Liesl Louw, Mathatha Tsedu, Tumi Makgabo, Paula Fray, Peter Sullivan, Mike Siluma, Adrienne Sichel and Arrie Rossouw.

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