IOL veteran journalist Mervyn Naidoo secured the Hard News category award at the 2026 Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Awards, held in Johannesburg on Friday. Naidoo, who was a runner-up in the Lifestyle category last year, expressed satisfaction with his win, noting its significance given his previous Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards in Sport and Lifestyle categories.
Naidoo stated, "It's an awesome feeling and a privilege to be recognised in this way," adding, "Landing the award in the Hard News category is especially pleasing because I have won Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards previously in the Sport and Lifestyle categories. I feel well-rounded now." His winning entry detailed "a pharmacist who made a desperate call to her husband when her vehicle got washed away as she crossed over a bridge in the Pinetown area." He emphasized the importance of accuracy in journalism, particularly amidst "fake news and false narratives." Naidoo concluded, "I love telling stories about people, stories that matter...good or bad, success or failure, triumph or tragedy, it gets me going."
Naidoo's Hard News Triumph
The Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Awards acknowledge excellence in South African journalism across various categories including print, digital, and photography. Mervyn Naidoo's winning submission for the Hard News category was titled 'Durban pharmacist's desperate SOS to husband as her vehicle sank in a river'. Naidoo described his feelings about the win, saying, "It's an awesome feeling and a privilege to be recognised in this way." He noted that after being a runner-up in the Lifestyle category last year, he was pleased to advance in 2026. "Landing the award in the Hard News category is especially pleasing because I have won Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards previously in the Sport and Lifestyle categories. I feel well-rounded now," Naidoo stated.
Naidoo detailed the subject of his winning piece, explaining, "My story about a pharmacist who made a desperate call to her husband when her vehicle got washed away as she crossed over a bridge in the Pinetown area." He added that she could only tell him, "'I'm in the river'," as she drove home, leaving her husband with "those haunting words." Naidoo observed that her "tragic death was a huge talking point at the time," and his story provided "insight on her last moments, her panic and how things went wrong for her." He emphasized the importance of his source, stating, "Thankfully, through my impeccable source, I was able to get the key information I needed to present the story in the way I did." Given the "huge public interest and huge media attention," Naidoo recognized the need to "work quickly" and "find information that would take the story forward from what was already published." He expressed gratitude that "everything came together as quickly as it did, in quick time," acknowledging that "it doesn't always work out that way, but we never stop trying." Naidoo also stressed the critical role of accuracy, remarking, "There can be no compromise when it comes to fact-checking." He concluded, "I love telling stories about people, stories that matter...good or bad, success or failure, triumph or tragedy, it gets me going."
Ndamane Captures Raid's Reality
Photojournalist Ayanda Ndamane secured a win in the news photographs category at the 2026 Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Awards. Ndamane's winning image was captured during a raid conducted in Hanover Park, Cape Town. "The image that won this award is one I took in Hanover Park during a raid," Ndamane explained. City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, was involved in raids in the area last year. Ndamane stated, "While he was busy with the raid, or had just finished it, three people were shot. That's the image that won."
Ndamane described the chaotic scene during which the photograph was taken. "We were in the midst of what you could call a war between gangsters because it was a gang-related shooting," he said, adding, "It's one of those situations you find yourself in as a photojournalist." Three individuals were shot during the incident; one person died and two sustained injuries. "Three guys were shot. One died and two were injured. This one was injured," Ndamane confirmed. Despite the presence of police, city officials, and other authorities on the ground, "the gangsters still opened fire," according to Ndamane.
Ndamane focused on balancing artistic composition with the grim reality of the event. "When you see the image, it must be artistic rather than gruesome," he observed. He noted the challenge of minimizing the visual impact of blood while capturing the scene effectively. "There was a lot of blood, and I needed to minimise that side of the image while showing the beauty of the lighting using natural light and street lights," Ndamane stated. He elaborated on his technique, saying, "If you look at the image, this guy is lying down with a lot of blood around him, and paramedics are trying to help him. But because I used the light correctly, you can't even see the paramedics clearly. You only see a hand with gloves and a torch near his head. My aim was to make the picture more artistic than gruesome." Ndamane emphasized the professional choice involved: "Sometimes it depends on what you want to achieve. Do you want to show the gruesome side of the picture because you're sending a message, or do you want to be creative and show your skills?"
The photojournalist also noted the dangers faced by those covering such events. "You're scared as a photographer because you're carrying a camera, and people are hostile towards you because you're photographing an injured gang member. Their friends and family can be very hostile," Ndamane said. He stressed the role of a photojournalist as a visual storyteller. "As a storyteller, you must help people understand why you're there. I'm there to tell the story visually because I'm a photographer." Ndamane further discussed the challenges posed by new media, stating, "Social media has created challenges. You have X, TikTok, unverified information and AI. It's a challenge for media professionals." He differentiated professional photography from cellphone images, noting, "People with cellphones just take a picture. They don't always consider the light. But light is much more than that. It's about how you illuminate your subject to emphasise what you want people to see." Ndamane concluded, "The way you compose the image, what you want out of the image and what story you want to tell is what sets you apart from people on social media."
Industry Recognition and Future Challenges
The 2026 Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Awards saw significant participation from journalists across South Africa, with more than 400 entries submitted nationwide. The awards, which honor excellence in various categories including print, digital, and photography, serve as a key benchmark for journalistic standards.
