Unisa and the National Press Club (NPC) recently joined forces to host the 2025 Newsmaker and Journalist of the Year Awards, at which Lt General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner, was recognised for the enormous impact on national discourse of his media briefing on 6 July 2025. Notably, various journalists were also honoured for excellence in free, ethical and courageous media reporting.

Held on 29 May 2026 at the CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, the ceremony reflected the dedication of Unisa and the NPC to honour truth, courage and storytelling.

Mkhwanazi was officially declared the NPC-Unisa 2025 Newsmaker of the Year, highlighting the undeniable impact of his media briefing on matters of national interest, prompting President Cyril Ramaphosa to establish the Madlanga Commission to amplify the national discourse.

Among other notable awards on the night were the NPC-Unisa Overall Journalist of the Year and the newly introduced Aserie Ndlovu Award for Community Journalism, in celebration of the memory of the community media journalist who was killed last year.

The 2025 NPC-Unisa Overall Journalist of the Year Award was scooped by News 24 Investigations’ Jeff Wicks. He won a R100 000 cash prize in this category. This is in addition to the R30 000 he also won in the Investigative Journalism category.

The 2025 NPC-Unisa Aserie Ndlovu Award for Community Journalism went to Lilita Gcwabe of Elitsha News.

The 2025 award winners

The occasion brought together citizens from different sectors of society, including Dr Nasiphi Moya, the Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Prof Puleng LenkaBula, Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor (VC), Antoinette Slabbert, the Chairperson of the NPC, esteemed members of the Unisa Council and executive management, the collective leadership of the NPC, members of the media and distinguished guests.

Commenting on the growing stature of the awards, Slabbert said: "As the NPC, we are encouraged by the exceptional quality of nominations received this year and deeply impressed by the calibre of work submitted across all categories. The volume and standard of entries reflect a vibrant, talented, and highly competitive communications and journalism sector."

Delivering the keynote address, the VC outlined the nature of the event, saying: "We gather not only to celebrate excellence, but to reaffirm a principle that lies at the heart of any thriving democracy, that is, the indispensable role of a free, ethical and developmental media."

Prof Puleng LenkaBula

LenkaBula stated that Unisa fully acknowledges the media’s significant role in expanding the reach and resonance of knowledge by shaping, contesting and disseminating it. For her, the strategic partnership with the NPC is necessary to advance democratic stewardship.

Continuing, the VC asserted Unisa’s steadfast commitment to fostering press freedom, reflected through the hosting of the Annual Percy Qoboza Lecture. She noted that 2026 will mark 16 years of the commemorative dialogue.

Turning the spotlight to Mkhwanazi, LenkaBula said that the recognition "speaks to leadership excellence, high levels of ethical conduct and competent capability," qualities which, she argued, are key ingredients needed for an ethical, capable developmental state, as detailed in the National Development Plan.

In his acceptance speech, Mkhwanazi expressed his gratitude for the award and affirmed that his work as a police officer is not performed for applause but for society to honour the oath he took to protect the people of South Africa and to defend the rule of law.

Lt General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi

Looking back on his headline-grabbing media briefing, which earned him the award for being the most dominant individual in last year’s news cycle, Mkhwanazi expressed his appreciation to the media for providing the platform to communicate with the citizens of this country, bearing testament to the media’s outstanding role in shaping public discourse.

Continuing, Mkhwanazi called for a national reset, saying, "The spring-cleaning that we are currently experiencing within the criminal justice systems must cut across all sectors of society". He urged government departments at national and provincial levels, municipalities, the private sector, law enforcement and the media to ask themselves what he deemed a difficult question: "Are we serving South Africa or are we serving ourselves?"

Concluding, Mkhwanazi challenged the audience to develop the kind of patriotism grounded in accountability, ethical leadership, courage and willingness to place the country before comfort.

* By Victor Malatji, Journalist Intern, Department of Institutional Advancement

** Photography by Mduduzi Khathamzi, Multimedia Centre