After a month of hard work and working through 531 entries, the panel of judges, lead by convenor André Gouws, selected the finalists in each category for AVBOB FCJ Excellence Awards.
“Adjudicators were impressed with the quality and sheer number of entries received – many more entries were received than the previous year. With so many entries, the judges faced a difficult task to select the winners. Many participants who did not make the list of finalists also entered very good work. The overall quality was impressive and to be a finalist is a big achievement as winners in this competition are truly the best of the best,” says Gouws.
“All finalists will be invited to the prestigious prize-giving gala dinner on Friday 4 August 2023 at the Southern Sun Cape Sun Hotel in Cape Town. So, if you see your name here, start making travel reservations. Invitations will be sent next week,” says Marietta Lombard, Executive Director of the FCJ.
The finalists – in alphabetical order by first name – in each category are:
Photography
General
Carina Roux, TygerBurger
Christiaan Cloete, Vaalweekblad/Ster North
Daleen Naudé, Middelburg Observer
Elsje Vermeulen, Vaalweekblad
Linzetta Calitz, Lowvelder
Lise Beyers, Paarl Post
Mitzi Buys, Hermanus Times
Taylum Meyer, The Village NEWS
Wayne van der Walt, Highvelder
Yaël Malgas, Weslander
News
Charné Kemp, NoordkaapBulletin
Christiaan Cloete, Vaalweekblad
Daleen Naudé, Middelburg Observer
Elsje Vermeulen, Vaalweekblad
Helena Barnard, NoordkaapBulletin
Kristy Kolberg, George Herald
Teboho Setena, Express Bloemfontein
Wayne van der Walt, Highvelder
Wouter Pienaar, Potchefstroom Herald
Zita Goldswain, Witbank News
Sport
Blake Linder, Knysna-Plett Herald
Carina Roux, TygerBurger
Christiaan Cloete, Vaalweekblad/Ster North
Daleen Naudé, Middelburg Observer
Elsje Vermeulen, Vaalweekblad
Ettienne van Rensburg, Vaalweekblad
Hugo Redelinghuys, Suid-Kaap Forum
Rashied Isaacs, People’s Post
Teboho Setena, Express Bloemfontein
Wayne van der Walt, Highvelder
Upcoming photographer of the year
Not enough entries received.
Writing Categories
Columns
Alet Engelbrecht, Mossel Bay Advertiser
David Rush, South Coast Herald
Erica Pretorius, Bloemnuus
Eugene Gunning, George Herald
Lise Beyers, Paarl Post
Rick Marais, DistrictMail
Samantha Lee-Jacobs, People’s Post
Veronica Fourie, Kouga Express
Victor Mukwevho, Limpopo Mirror
Zita Goldswain, Witbank News
Digital reporting
Alet Engelbrecht, Mossel Bay Advertiser
Candice Bezuidenhout, PE Express
Christiaan Cloete,
Daleen Naudé, Middelburg Observer
Emily Bain, Northcliff Melville Times
Gerhard Rheeder, Middelburg Observer
Helena Barnard, NoordkaapBulletin
Jannie du Plessis, Mossel Bay Advertiser
Nettalie Viljoen, People’s Post
Nielen De Klerk, TygerBurger
Editorial comment
Dave Savides, Zululand Observer
Helena Barnard, NoordkaapBulletin
Jamey Gordon, DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette
Lise Beyers, Paarl Post
Mariëtte Strydom, Hermanus Times
Maryke Swart, Weslander
Ronelle Ramsamy, Zululand Observer
Tobie van den Bergh, Middelburg Observer
Hard news
Andries van Zyl, Zoutpansberger
Candice Bezuidenhout, PE Express
Chelsea Pieterse, Lowvelder
Christiaan Cloete, Vaalweekblad
Daleen Naudé, Middelburg Observer
Dave Savides, Zululand Observer
Elmon Tshikhudo, Limpopo Mirror
Emily Bain, Northcliff Melville Times
Linzetta Calitz, Lowvelder
Maanda Bele, Limpopo Mirror
Headlines
Britney Edwards, South Coast SUN
Carina Roux, TygerBurger
Dave Savides, Zululand Observer
Ettienne van Rensburg, Vaalweekblad/Ster
Inge Strydom, Central24 / Sentraal24: Bloemnuus, Express, NoordkaapBulletin, Vista
Kristy Kolberg George Herald
Mark Kinnear, Lowvelder
Shirwan Newton, BloemNews, Express, Vista
Wouter Pienaar, Potchefstroom Herald
Zita Goldswain, Witbank News
Human Interest
Charné Kemp, NoordkaapBulletin
Esmé Erasmus, TygerBurger
Helena Barnard, NoordkaapBulletin
Jarryd Westerdale, Roodepoort Record / Roodepoort Northsider
Liezl Davids, Paarl Post
Liezl Scheepers, Parys Gazette
Mariëtte Strydom, Hermanus Times
Nielen de Klerk, TygerBurger
Noluvu Ludidi, Weslander
Victor Mukwevho, Limpopo Mirror
Investigative reporting
Andries van Zyl, Zoutpansberger
Anton van Zyl, Limpopo Mirror
Charné Kemp, NoordkaapBulletin
Emily Bain, Northcliff Melville Times
Esmé Erasmus, TygerBurger
Estella Naicker, Northern Natal News and Newcastle Advertiser
Jarryd Westerdale, Roodepoort Record / Roodepoort Northsider
Nettalie Viljoen, People’s Post
Nielen de Klerk, TygerBurger
Sport
Blake Linder, Knysna-Plett Herald
Daleen Naudé, Middelburg Observer
Dave Savides, Zululand Observer
David Rush, South Coast Herald
Ettienne van Rensburg, Vaalweekblad/Ster
Hugo Redelinghuys, Suid-Kaap Forum
Lebohang Pita, Benoni CityTimes
Marti Will, Vista
Naidine Sibanda, Rosebank Killarney Gazette
Wouter Pienaar, Potchefstroom Herald
Best front page
Any community/local newspapers (not owned by any of the major media groups)
Limpopo Mirror
Mangaung Issue
Pondoland Times
The Village NEWS
Witzenberg Herald
Zoutpansberger
Corporate-owned: free
Bedfordview Edenvale News
DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette
Germiston City News
Highvelder
Lowvelder Express
Parys Gazette
Potchefstroom Herald
Rosebank Killarney Gazette
South Coast SUN
Southlands SUN
Corporate-owned: paid
George Herald
Knysna-Plett Herald
Lowvelder
Mpumalanga News
Paarl Post
South Coast Herald
Suid-Kaap Forum
Vaalweekblad
Witbank News
Zululand Observer
Alet Roux Award (best new journalist)
The winner will be announced at the prize-giving event.
Photographer of the year
Blake Linder, Knysna-Plett Herald
Carina Roux, TygerBurger
Chantélle Hartebeest, Paarl Post
Charné Kemp, NoordkaapBulletin
Christiaan Cloete, Vaalweekblad
Daleen Naude, Middelburg Observer
Elsje Vermeulen, Vaalweekblad
Ettienne van Rensburg, Vaalweekblad
Wayne van der Walt, Highvelder
Zita Goldswain, Witbank News
Journalist of the Year
Andries van Zyl, Zoutpansberger
Candice Bezuidenhout, PE Express
Carina Roux, TygerBurger
Charné Kemp, NoordkaapBulletin
Christiaan Cloete, Vaalweekblad
Dave Savides, Zululand Observer
Estella Naicker, Northern Natal News and Newcastle Advertiser
Gerhard Rheeder, Middelburg Observer
Helena Barnard, NoordkaapBulletin
Nettalie Viljoen, People’s Post
