A former Taco Kuiper award winner, Sipho Masondo, was honoured with the Nat Nakasa Award for his courageous reporting on corruption and other shenanigans at the Department of Water Affairs
Masondo, an investigative reporter at City Press, was bestowed the award at the gala dinner, hosted by the South African National Editor’s Forum (SANEF) and Sanlam in Durban.
Masondo, has been offered bribes in millions of rands, but remained resilient and pursued the story that uncovered a number of activities including shocking maladministration at the department as well as the minister’s relationship with a “Ben10”, who was said to have an influence on decisions at the department.
The Nat Nakasa award is awarded for courageous and brave journalism. The award is an expression of the recognition of journalists who have distinguished themselves by demonstrating courage, tenacity, integrity and fearlessness in their practice of journalism.
Despite the threats to his life, Masondo still continued to uncover the rot while working under tremendous pressure. There was even talk of making him “disappear.”
Masondo, and fellow City Press journalists Paddy Harper won the 2014 Taco Kuiper Investigative Journalism award for their work on misconduct within the South African Teachers Union (SADTU).
The runner-up of the Nat Nakasa awards was Suzanne Venter of Rapport for her relentless pursuits of the story that led to national outrage at the deaths of over 100 mentally ill patients at Esidimeni in Gauteng.
Adjunct Professor in the School of Journalism at Wits University and veteran journalist Mathatha Tsedu was also honoured at the awards as SANEF paid special tribute to him.
Tsedu was thanked by SANEF for his contribution as executive director and as a founding member of the organization – as well as for his undying fight for journalism.
FOR MORE:
- Wits Journalism: City Press scoops top prize, 2015.
- Wits Journalism: Power Reporting Conference, 2014.
