A big win for community stories
Lilita Gcwabe, a journalist with Independent Media based in Cape Town, has won the prestigious Aserie Ndlovu Award for Community Journalism. The accolade was presented on Friday at the National Press Club-Unisa Awards ceremony held in Tshwane. Gcwabe earned the recognition for her reporting at Elitsha News, a platform that prides itself on being an alternative voice for the community. She joins a dozen other winners celebrated for their contribution to the craft of storytelling.
This award carries significant weight within the local media fraternity. It was established to honour the memory of Aserie Ndlovu, a radio journalist who tragically lost his life last year alongside his partner, Zodwa Precious Mdhluli. Their abduction and murder left a void in the industry, and the National Press Club continues to hand out this prize to ensure the spirit of dedicated community reporting endures.
The man behind the headline
While Gcwabe took the stage for her writing, the crowd’s attention also shifted toward Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner was officially named the 2025 NPC’s Newsmaker of the Year. This award isn't just about fame; it's a testament to his explosive media briefing from July last year. During that session, he pulled back the curtains on widespread rot within the South African Police Service, revealing internal corruption.
The revelations from his media briefing had a significant impact on the national discourse. The far-reaching implications on our socio-economic-political landscape included President Cyril Ramaphosa establishing a full-scale judicial commission of inquiry. Retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga now heads this probe. The revelations are already yielding results, with multiple high-profile arrests of police officers taking place. The legal machinery is continuing to grind forward.
More than just
an award show
Beyond the headline winners, the event served as a reminder of why the fourth estate matters. Ndabezinhle Sibiya, representing the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and Human Settlements, secured the Spokesperson of the Year title. Antoinette Slabbert, the NPC Chairperson, noted that the competition was fierce, with a high volume of entries showing that journalists aren't slowing down despite the challenges in the sector.
Professor Puleng LenkaBula, the Vice-Chancellor at Unisa, reaffirmed the university's support for a free press. She highlighted their ongoing commitment to the Percy Qoboza lecture, an event that hits its 16th year in 2026. The partnership between the university and the press club is described as a deliberate act of democratic stewardship. This partnership is aimed at nurturing the next generation of truth-seekers in a complex media environment.