Namhla Tshisela

Namhla Tshisela

City Press editor-in-chief Mathatha Tsedu was honoured for his contribution to journalism at the seventh Mondi Shanduka Newspaper Awards in Johannesburg last week.

His son Mpho accepted the Lifetime Achiever award on his behalf.

Convenor of judges and head of the School of Journalism and Media Studies at Rhodes University Guy Berger said Tsedu "exemplifies the model of journalist as public intellectual".

Berger said Tsedu had risen to the "stature of a leader in the media" in South Africa and Africa.

Jeremy Gordin of the Sunday Independent clinched the newspaper journalist of the year award. A Mail & Guardian team, made up of reporters Stefaans Brummer, Sam Sole, Adriaan Basson, Zukile Majova, Nic Dawes, Pearlie Joubert and Matuma Letsoalo, bagged the South African Story of the Year award.

They were given recognition for a series about former national director of public prosecution Vusi Pikoli and the suspension of national police commissioner Jackie Selebi.

Chandre Prince, Brett Horner and Ntando Makhubu of the Daily Dispatch won in the investigative journalism category for their expose of infant deaths at Frere Hospital in East London.

Former Sowetan chief subeditor Malvory Adams received a commendation for the three-part series "Blacks know rugby" in the analysis and commentary category, with the prize going to Jorisna Bonthuys of Die Burger.