The wait is over!
The Forum of Community Journalists is excited to announce the finalists of the AVBOB FCJ
Excellence Awards for 2024, and this year many new names appear for the first time, with
some stalwarts back on the podium again.
It took the 21 judges just over a month to work through the 541 entries.
“What a year!,” said Dr André Gouws, senior lecturer in languages and cultural sciences at
Akademia and convening judge.
“Community newspapers excelled in 2024 with their coverage of local news that matter, but
in many towns around the country some major events made national and international
headlines. The George building collapse, unrest in Mozambique and the scourge of drugs all
reached far wider than just surrounding communities.
“Our community journalists put in a lot of effort to bring the news to their communities and
the wider world. We had well over 500 entries this year, the most ever. Our judges spent
several weeks working through all the entries; it is hard work, but we all love what we do.
Many judges told me they were excited to see how alive community journalism is. Well done
to all the entrants; even if you did not make it to the list of finalists your work is being seen,
and it is appreciated. Keep it up, you remain the voices of reason and the watchdogs in your
communities where trustworthy news is often hard to find.”
“I must thank André and his panel of adjudicators for this huge task they faced,” said Ben
Burger, Executive Director of the FCJ. “We are grateful to them. I also thank everyone who
entered, because without your entries we do not have a competition.
“I must also thank our headline sponsor, AVBOB, without which this competition would not
have been possible. And a big thank you also to our legacy sponsors, Novus Media
Community News and Caxton Local Media, which have accompanied the FCJ on this
journey for many years.”
All finalists will be invited to the prestigious prize-giving gala dinner on Friday 22 August
2025 at the Protea Hotel Stellenbosch and Conference Centre in Techno Park. Expect your
invitation from AVBOB soon. If you have not received your invitation by 24 July, please send
an email to myfcjinfo@gmail.com.
The FCJ and AVBOB will also present the national seminar on 22 August. Expect an
invitation from your local FCJ director.
The finalists – in alphabetical order by first name – in each category are:
WRITING CATEGORIES
Digital reporting
Allison Cooper, Network News
Candyce Pillay, Northglen News
Caxton Digital Network News Team(Irma Green, Mirelle Jacobs, Andrea van Wyk, Jana
Boshoff, Ruan de Ridder, Ally Cooper and Cathy Grosvenor)
Christiaan Cloete, Vaalweekblad
George Herald Team (Lizette da Silva, Kristy Kolberg, Alida de Beer and Michelle Pienaar)
Group Editors Digital Team (Ilse Schoonraad, Beatrice Esterhuysen, Dot Ings, Esté Smit,
Cameron Squire, Wyndham Ewerts and Jannie du Plessis)
Irma Green, Network News
Jeff Ayliffe, George Herald
Kristy Kolberg, George Herald
Tiisetso Malunga, Middelburg Observer
Zita Goldswain, Witbank News
Writing: Editorial comment
Alida Buckle, Weslander
Cecilia Hume, TygerBurger
Dave Savides, Zululand Observer
Lauren O’Connor-May, Africa Community Media
Lebohang Pita, Benoni City TimesLes Aupiais, The Village News
Louise Karsten, Mossel Bay Advertiser
Ronelle Ramsamy, Zululand Observer
Tamlyn Cramer, Zululand Observer
Zita Goldswain, Witbank News
Writing: Hard news
Alida Buckle, Weslander
Alida de Beer, George Herald
Andries van Zyl, Zoutpansberger
Anton van Zyl, Limpopo Mirror
Dave Savides, Zululand Observer
George Herald Team (Lizette da Silva, Michelle Pienaar, Kristy Kolberg and Alida de Beer)
Kaylynne Bantom, People’s Post
Kristy Kolberg, George Herald
Samantha Lee-Jacobs, People’s Post
Tracey Turner, Zululand Observer
Writing: Headlines
Christiaan De Swardt, Suid-Kaap Forum
Daleen Naudé, Middelburg Observer
Elsje Vermeulen, Vaalweekblad
Etienne Van Rensburg, Vaalweekblad
Liezl Scheepers, Parys Gazette
Matthew Handley, Middelburg Observer
Roelien D’Amico, Southlands SUN
Ronelle Ramsamy, Zululand Observer
Wayne Van der Walt, Highvelder
Zita Goldswain, Witbank News
Writing: Human interest
George Heral Team (Alida de Beer, Kristy Kolberg, Michelle Pienaar, Jannie du Plessis)
Liezl Scheepers, Parys Gazette
Maande Bele, Limpopo Mirror
Samantha Lee-Jacobs, People’s Post
Zita Goldswain, Witbank News
Noluvu Ludidi, Weslander
Etienne van Rensburg, Vaalweekblad
Daleen Naudé, Middelburg Observer
Dave Savides, Zululand Observer
Blake Linder, Lowvelder & Corridor Gazette
Writing: Investigative reporting
Andries van Zyl, Zoutpansberger
Esmé Erasmus, TygerBurger
Estella Naicker, Northern Natal News
Gerhard Rheeder, Middelburg Observer
Irma Green, Lowvelder
Samantha Lee-Jacobs, People’s Post
Writing: Sport
Alida Buckle, Weslander
Andries Van Zyl, Zoutpansberger
Dave Savides, Zululand Observer
David Rush, South Coast Herald
Etienne van Rensburg, Vaalweekblad
Gerhard Rheeder, Middelburg Observer
Hugo Redelinghuys, Suid-Kaap Forum
Lebohang Pita, Benoni City Times
Mark Kinnear, Lowvelder
Matthew Handley, Middelburg Observer
Wyndham Everts, Knysna-Plett Herald
Writing: Vernacular
Ntsakisi Gracia Chauke, Nthavela
Unathi Obose, City Vision
Xolani Dlamini, Eyethu Intshonalanga
PHOTOGRAPHY CATEGORIES
General
Blake Linder, Lowvelder
Carina Roux, TygerBurger
Christiaan Cloete, Vaalweekblad/Ster North
Elsje Vermeulen, Vaalweekblad
Etienne van Rensburg, Vaalweekblad
Fuad Essack, Africa Community Media
Gypseenia Lion, Bloemfontein Courant
René Joubert. Highvelder Newspaper
Samantha Lee-Jacobs, People’s Post
Wayne van der Walt, Highvelder
Mobile
Alida Buckle, Weslander
Jo Fourie, TygerBurger
Kristy Kolberg, George Herald
Samantha Lee-Jacobs, People’s Post
News
Alida Buckle, Weslander
Barend Williams, DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette
Christiaan Cloete, Vaalweekblad/Ster North/Sedibeng Ster
Daleen Naudé, Middelburg Observer
Etienne van Rensburg, Vaalweekblad
Heinrich Greyling, Krugersdorp News
Sifiso Jimta, Ster South
Wayne van der Walt, Highvelder
Yaseen Gaffar, DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette
Zita Goldswain, Witbank News
Sport
Blake Linder, Lowvelder
Carina Roux, TygerBurger
Christiaan Cloete, Vaalweekblad/Ster North
Elsje Vermeulen, Vaalweekblad
Etienne van Rensburg, Vaalweekblad
Hugo Redelinghuys, Suid-Kaap Forum
Rashied Isaacs, People’s Post
René Joubert, Highvelder
Wayne van der Walt, Highvelder
Zita Goldswain, Witbank News
NEWSPAPER CATEGORIES
Best Front page
Corridor Gazette
Highvelder
Lowvelder
Midrand Reporter
Mpumalanga News
Northcliff Melville Times
Rosebank Killarney Gazette
Sandton Chronicle
South Coast Herald
Ster South Vanderbijlpark & Sasolburg
Best Back page
Eikestadnuus
George Herald
Germiston City News
Highvelder
Rosebank Killarney Gazette
Sandton Chronicle
Suid-Kaap Forum
TygerBurger
Vaalweekblad
Zululand Observer
Free Newspaper of the Year
Benoni City Times
Capricorn Voice
Eikestadnuus
Midrand Reporter
Northcliff Melville Times
Polokwane Review
Rosebank Killarney Gazette
Sandton Chronicle
TygerBurger Brackenfell
TygerBurger Eersterivier, Elsiesrivier, Ravensmead
Paid for Newspaper of the Year
George Herald
Knysna-Plett Herald
Lowvelder
Middelburg Observer
Mossel Bay Advertiser
Oudtshoorn Courant
Paarl Post
Suid-Kaap Forum
Vaalweekblad
Zululand Observer