South African journalists Msindisi Fengu and Yandisa Monakali won the top prize at the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Saturday 12 October.
The pair shares the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year award for their investigation into appalling conditions in local school hostels.
The series, School Hostels of Shame, appeared in South African newspaper Daily Dispatch and investigated issues surrounding hygiene, safety and corruption within the education department, affecting thousands of learners in South Africa’s Eastern Cape.
“It’s a huge honour to win,’ the pair said in a statement. “It means all the work we put in has been rewarded. It always feels good to be recognised by your fellow journalists. We’ll keep pushing this agenda.’
The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Competition is the most prestigious and respected award for journalists across the African continent and the South Africans’ winning entry was chosen from 1,387 submissions from 42 nations. Established in 1995, the awards are the premier accolade to encourage, promote and recognise excellence in the industry.
Contestants were given praise by key players in the industry, including Parisa Khosravi, senior vice president of global relations for CNN Worldwide, who said the awards highlighted the depth and strength of journalism in Africa.
Khosravi, who presented the top award with Collins Khumalo, CEO of MultiChoice South Africa said: “These men and women have proven that top-notch journalism is alive and prospering, and Africa will have its stories told to the world.’
Nico Meyer, CEO of MultiChoice Africa, said journalists played a vital role in the development of African media. Meyer added: “Without your hard work and perseverance, the development of the media across Africa would not be possible.’
For more information on the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards visit http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/africa/africanawards/.
