Sanlam Financial Journalism Awards 2025: African Journalists Urged to Submit Impactful Stories Before Deadline

With the 28 February deadline fast approaching, Africa’s business and financial journalism community is being encouraged to submit their strongest work to the prestigious Sanlam Group Financial Journalism Awards, a platform that continues to celebrate excellence, impact and public-interest reporting across the continent.

The awards organisers have once again highlighted a selection of outstanding winning entries from the 2024 awards, offering both inspiration and guidance to journalists currently selecting stories published between 1 January and 31 December 2025. The showcase demonstrates how powerful, well-researched financial journalism can shape public debate, influence policy, and protect consumers.

Among the notable winners was South Africa’s Maya Fisher-French in the Consumer Financial Education category, whose investigative piece exposed unethical debt counsellors targeting vulnerable consumers. Judges commended the work for its deep subject knowledge and tangible real-world impact, including helping victims recover lost funds and prompting further scrutiny by authorities. Such reporting underscores the critical role financial journalists play in safeguarding ordinary citizens in complex economic systems.

In the ESG: Business and the Environment category, the collaborative investigation by Sikonathi Mantshantsha, Alfonso Nqunjana and Sharlene Rood stood out for its balanced and rigorous reporting on environmental and economic harm caused by municipal sewage pollution. Judges noted that the story’s relevance extended far beyond its immediate focus, highlighting how environmental issues directly affect businesses, agriculture and livelihoods.

Meanwhile, Rob Rose’s work in the ESG: Business and Society category demonstrated how insightful reporting can deepen public understanding of governance and pension oversight. Judges emphasised that excellence in this space requires more than presenting opposing views; it demands analytical depth and the ability to stimulate meaningful public interest.

Broadcast journalism also received strong recognition. Ryk van Niekerk’s audio reporting on South Africa’s National Health Insurance era was praised for consistently translating complex financial and policy issues into accessible, insightful content for listeners. In television, Devi Sankaree Govender’s investigative reporting on economic crime was commended for its thorough analysis and strong accountability journalism that challenged institutions and informed national discourse.

Notably, Van Niekerk was also named Financial Journalist of the Year for reporting that exposed systemic weaknesses in finance and governance, sparking regulatory attention and widespread debate. Judges highlighted how the work reflected journalism’s vital watchdog role when formal oversight mechanisms fall short.

For emerging and established journalists across Africa, the awards serve as more than recognition, they are a call to excellence. As financial systems grow more complex and economies evolve, the need for clear, ethical and impactful reporting has never been greater.

The Sanlam Awards team has encouraged journalists, editors, broadcasters and digital storytellers to carefully select their best investigative, analytical or educational financial stories from 2025 and submit them before the deadline. By participating, journalists not only gain continental recognition but also contribute to strengthening financial literacy, transparency and accountability in Africa’s economic landscape.

Entries can be submitted through the official entry platform, with detailed eligibility rules, category descriptions and evaluation criteria provided by the organisers. The awards continue to position African financial journalism as a powerful force for informed societies and responsible governance.

As the deadline approaches, the message is clear: Africa’s financial journalists are invited to step forward, showcase their work, and be part of a growing legacy of impactful storytelling that shapes economies and empowers citizens.