The Lifetime Achievement Award - nominated by the judges - was awarded to veteran journalist Khaba Mhhize. Mkhize, who is recovering from a stroke that happened last year, was recognised for his relentless contribution to great journalism during the pre- and post-democratic phases of South African history. He is a prolific writer, whose contributions have graced some of the most influential news publications both in this country and abroad.
Editors throughout South Africa were encouraged to identify their most promising journalists with the prize a three-month all-expenses-paid journalism course with an overseas journalism school. The winner, selected by the judging panel for 2009, was Sikonathi Mantshantsha from Finweek.
Xenophobia was the subject of a number of winning entries. Apart from Maseko's coverage, for which judges praised her for her ability to make a difficult subject accessible to the listening public, Beauregard Tromp's The Burning Man - published in The Star - took the Print News category and Thanduxolo Jika for Dying to Live, published in the Daily Dispatch, won in the Print Feature category. A team from the Daily Dispatch also won in the Online Journalism category for Dying to Live.
The full list of winners, who earned national winning status in the following categories, is:
Prizes
Apart from receiving R125 000, Maseko will be given the opportunity to donate an additional R125 000 to the official charity of her choice. The grand prize is in addition to the R15 000 each national category winner received and the R7500 every regional category winner was given earlier this year. Each national winner also received a Nokia E71.
The judging panel consisted of Melanie Chait, Johann de Wet; Victor Matom, Rich Mkhondo, ZB Molefe, Maud Motanyane, Collin Nxumalo, Len Maseko, Mary Papaya, Lizette Rabe and convener of judges, Robin Sewlal.
Said Bob Collymore, chief officer of corporate affairs for the Vodacom Group, “Our heartiest congratulations go to all this year's winners as their outstanding reporting has successfully captured change in our society. We also extend our thanks to all the participating journalists who submitted their best reporting.”
The Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards is sponsored by Vodacom in association with 1Time Airline, Southern Sun, Sandton Sun, Nokia, Media Express and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).
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