SADC Media Awards a resounding success

17 August 2015

The 2015 SADC Media Awards were a resounding success with South Africa emerging victorious in the Television Category.

Two South African journalists from the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Dennis Tshetlhane and Sam Msibi walked away with US$2000 for winning the Television Category at the SADC Media Awards competition at the 35th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government in Gaborone, Botswana on Monday for their entry on the story of mine workers from SADC region who are owned money by provident fund in South Africa.

The awards were conferred by the outgoing Chairperson of the of SADC and the President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe at the 35^th SADC Summit in Botswana in the presence of the SADC Heads of States and Government including the South African President Jacob Zuma and the South African delegation.

The SADC Media Awards are aimed at promoting excellence in the fields of Print Journalism, Radio Journalism, Television Journalism and Photojournalism. The SADC Media Awards serve as a link for coordination and synchronization between formal structures of SADC member states and media. They further seek to bring and enhance partnership between media and government institution.

South Africa also shone in the SADC Schools Competition with Imbelani Matibe, a Grade 11 leader from Thengwe High School who was awarded $750.

The Chairperson of the South African Chapter of the National Adjudication Committee, Ms Livhuwani Mutshatshi congratulated the two South African winners after the awarding ceremony in Gaborone.

"On behalf of the National Adjudicating Committee (NAC) and the Government Communications and Information System (GCIS) we would like to congratulate Mr Tshetlhane and Mr Msibi for flying the South Africa flag. These awards are important in promoting regional integration.

It has been an exciting and interesting time for the NAC adjudicating the awards on behalf of GCIS and we are looking forward to celebrate the milestone," Mutshatshi said.

GCIS Chief Director: Media Engagement encouraged all members of the media in South Africa to continue to cover stories relating to SADC countries to promote regional integration and to enter the awards

"While celebrating this achievements, we call of the media owners, editors and journalist to participate in the awards as soon as we launch the 2016 SADC Media Awards. The awards are meant to encourage journalism excellence in the region" Sepotokele said.

For more information on the SADC Media Awards: https://www.gcis.gov.za/content/newsroom/media-releases/media-advisories/SADC_media_awards_entries2015  

Please follow the link http://youtu.be/d_SUshO4GyE  to watch the SADC Media Awards video.  

Enquiries: 
Themba Sepotokele
Cell: 082 490 9869/ 082 828 7940

For interviews request please contact Themba Thobela 076 0956 555

Issued by the Government Communications (GCIS)