Congratulating Du Plessis and Robertson, Prakash Desai, president of PMSA, said: "This award is regarded as the industry's most prestigious. It serves as recognition of key decision makers who are identified through nominations from their peers and industry stakeholders."
Du Plessis, CEO of RCP Media, the publisher of Rapport, City Press and Sondag, has worked in advertising and marketing for almost four decades. He is also CEO of Ads24 - the advertising and trade marketing business unit of Media24 - and senior GM and publisher of Media24's Sunday newspapers: Rapport, City Press, Sunday Sun and Sondag.
In addition, Du Plessis chairs Mooivaal Media, which publishes 10 newspapers in the Vaal Triangle and North West. Apart from serving on the board of Natal Witness Printing and Publishing, he has also served on the Print Media SA board and NASA board for five years from 2003, the South African Advertising Research Foundation (SAARF) and the South African Press Association (SAPA).
Du Plessis has always encouraged and promoted the co-operation of the major media players to the advantage of the print and publishing industry.
Robertson is publisher of the Sunday Times and MD of Avusa Media. He serves on the board of PMSA, the Newspaper Association of South Africa (NASA) and SAARF.
A former deputy editor and editor of the Sunday Times, he was instrumental in leading South Africa's largest and most influential publication through the democratic transition and into the 21st century.
As Sunday Times publisher and MD of Avusa, Robertson sustained his passion for this newspaper and extended it to other titles, including Sowetan, Sunday World and regional newspapers, as well as other media such as the Internet.
He was the driving force behind the launch of The Times, a South African first, and has ensured that Avusa products remain not only relevant and critical in a democratic South Africa, but sustainable and profitable in an increasingly competitive media environment.
He was tasked by the PMSA and NASA boards to champion the restructuring of the Press Council/Press Ombudsman's office and played a critical role in this.
The Mondi Shanduka Newspaper Awards were held at the Wanderers Club in Illovo, Johannesburg on Wednesday night, 6 May 2009.
