Unisa and the National Press Club (NPC) held a joint media briefing to announce their partnership on the Newsmaker of the Year Award and the opening of entries for the Journalist of the Year Award and related categories. Held at the Court Classique Suite Hotel in Arcadia, Pretoria, on 24 April 2026, the briefing introduced the adjudicating panel members, and also announced a new Community Media Award category in honour of the late journalist Aserie Ndlovu.

Established more than fifteen years ago, the partnership between the two entities began with the hosting of the annual Percy Qoboza Memorial Lecture. This partnership has since been grounded on strong principles, such as defending the media, critical thoughts and democracy.

Mosidi Mokgele, NPC’s Executive Member, announced the launch of the 2025 Journalist of the Year Competition. To further mark a significant milestone in the partnership, she also mentioned that on 29 April 2026, the NPC and Unisa’s Graduate School of Business Leadership will hold a roundtable in celebration of the 30 years of the Constitution.

Mokgele stated that KwaZulu Natal’s Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, will be named the 2025 NPC/Unisa Newsmaker of the Year, and winners of the other categories will also be revealed at the NPC’s annual black-tie Newsmaker of the Year Gala Dinner on 29 May 2026.  

Recognising Ndlovu’s impactful journalism, Antoinette Slabbert, NPC’s Chairperson, noted that journalism starts in communities. Slabbert maintained that as a community journalist, he championed and safeguarded democracy. "Aserie Ndlovu’s journalism was fearless and ethical," she said. Hence, to honour his legacy, the NPC and Unisa have launched new award categories: the Aserie Ndlovu Award for Community Journalism and the Campus Radio Award.  

Additionally, Slabbert urged journalists and other media practitioners to enter the competition, which has officially opened. She further affirmed that solidarity, courage and agility mattered to Ndlovu’s fellow journalists when he went missing.

Reflecting on Unisa’s partnership with the NPC, Prof Boitumelo Senokoane, Executive Director of Unisa’s Department of Institutional Advancement, provided insights into the roles of his department’s directorates in strengthening this partnership. He emphasised that the university’s distinct advantage lies in its dedication to academic freedom. Further, Senokoane remarked that the awards acknowledge journalists’ work for the country.

Belinda Pheto, Sunday Times’ News Editor and NPC’s Awards Coordinator, was acknowledged as having played a pivotal role in the search for Ndlovu, the identification of his remains and the related court proceedings. She provided further details on the awards’ criteria, entry process and their technical aspects. Pheto also highlighted that the prize money is R30 000 per category, and R100 000 for the overall winner of the Journalist of the Year award.  

For more details and submission guidelines, please visit the official website at www.nationalpressclub.co.za.

 *Article and photography by Nontsikelelo Ndebele, Communications Intern, Department of Institutional Advancement