Kyle Cowan leads winners of Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Awards

South African National Editors’ Forum

Sanef, in partnership with Standard Bank, the proud sponsor of the Sikuvile Journalism Awards, extends congratulations to all the winners of the 2025 Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Awards, which took place last night at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg.

The evening celebrated journalistic excellence and integrity, recognising the brave, ethical and impactful work done by South African journalists across print, digital, broadcast and multimedia platforms.

A special and hearty congratulation goes to Kyle Cowan of News24, named Journalist of the Year. The judges praised Cowan’s exceptional investigative reporting on the 18 March 2023 assassinations of Cloete and Thomas Murray, a father-and-son liquidation team, calling it ‘remarkable in both ability and tenacity’.

The story uncovered key details from police sources and exposed the broader implications of corruption and organised crime. ‘This underscores the critical role good sources play in investigative journalism,’ said the panel.

The Juby Mayet Rising Star of the Year Award went to Buyeleni Sibanyoni of the AmaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism, whose piece, ‘Joburg awards R263-million water tanker tender to two 20-somethings‘, exposed red flags including price manipulation, collusion and irregular tender allocations.

The judges hailed the story for its sophistication and the journalist’s promise for future excellence.

The Allan Soga/Standard Bank Chairman’s Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed upon veteran journalist Phil Mtimkulu for his decades-long commitment to media freedom and the democratic cause since the days of his significance work in apartheid-era resistance journalism.

The panel said Mtimkulu’s contribution reflects the finest standards of integrity and craftsmanship.

SANEF chairperson Makhudu Sefara noted in his address that the global media landscape has become increasingly perilous for journalists. According to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), 129 journalists and media workers were killed in 2023, and another 122 in 2024.

‘These brave individuals were not only reporting from a war zone but were often targeted, labelled partisans, and tragically, many were killed along with their families.’

Sefara highlighted the central theme of the awards, ‘Guardians of Democracy: Upholding Integrity in a Changing World’, saying journalists must continue serving the public interest through fearless storytelling, safeguard their integrity, and hold fast to the ideals of their craft.

‘Let us raise our voices against impunity, demand accountability for those who target journalists, and advocate for stronger protections against all forms of threats, old and new’

Margaret Nienaber, Chief Operating Officer of Standard Bank, praised the profession, saying: ‘Even in a sea of noise, it is your voice that brings clarity. Even in an age of speed, it is your integrity that brings trust.’

‘Journalism isn’t just about reach, it’s about responsibility – about asking the hard questions, telling the hard truths and standing firm when it matters most.’

The awards ceremony also received a heartfelt message from Standard Bank’s chief executive officer Sim Tshabalala, who could not attend, telling journalists that ‘the work you do is so important, and we recognise and value you for it’.

‘The independent, serious press – staffed by brave and critical thinkers like yourselves – is essential to shaping opinion and strengthening democracy in South Africa and beyond.’

The 2025 Sikuvile Awards not only celebrated individual excellence but reaffirmed the profession’s collective responsibility in telling the truth, challenging power and shaping a better society.

The list of categories and winners:

• This article was first published here
• Dunisani Ntsanwisi, the Manager/Publisher of the Year, is a member of the Press Council of South Africa. Ntsanwisi is the Publisher of ‘Nthavela Titimuleni’ and a member of the Association of Independent Publishers. He is the community media sub-committee chairperson at SANEF. See his profile here