The programme is a people-centred story focusing on the impact that mining in the area of Xolobeni has on the Amapondo people as well as the environment. The judges praised the piece for being accessible to a wide audience.
SAB Environmental Journalist in the print & Internet category was Leoni Joubert who has always been committed to drawing the nation's attention to a whole range of environmental concerns. She has produced two excellent books this year - Boiling Point: People in a Changing Climate and Invaded: The Biological Invasion of South Africa while maintaining several columns in The Mail & Guardian and other outlets.
The inaugural Magqubu Ntombela and Ian Player Cub Award, which rewards environmental journalists starting out in the field, went to Tanya dos Santos from the Newcastle Advertiser for her series of stories on the need to protect water as one of our dwindling natural resources while exposing local municipality incompetence. The award is named after renowned conservationist Dr Ian Player and the late famous umZulu game ranger Magqubu Ntombela.
Broadcast category: Liz Fish for the hard-hitting and well-researched Fishy Business broadcast on M-Net's Carte Blanche; Makhosi Maphumulo from Radio Khwezi for her weekly environmental magazine programme that broadcasts to a rural community in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands; and Ian Hooper for A Vision Of Paradise - Global Warming and Religion, broadcast on SABC Religion.
Print & Internet: Tasmin Cupido from The People's Post for her series of articles about Princess Vlei; Antoine de Ras from The Star for the pictorial spread The Life of Brian, the first time a photographer has been honoured at these awards; and Yolandie Groenewald from The Mail & Guardian; she has focused on the issue of proliferating coal mines and their impact.
Along with the title, the three category winners each took home R15 000. The Cub Award carries a prize of R5000. Merit winners received R2000.
This year saw a record number of entries for the awards, which are reputed to have become South Africa's most prestigious accolade for journalists producing crucial environmental coverage.
Bishop Geoff Davies, South Africa's “Green Bishop,” was named Environmentalist of the Year and received the Nick Steele Memorial Award for his work. The award is given in honour of the late legendary game ranger Nick Steele and honours an environmentalist who has promoted the cause of conservation and whose work will leave a legacy for years to come.
