Mondi Shanduka – 2008 Judges

1. Prof. Guy Berger (Convenor)

   Prof Guy Berger is head of the School of Journalism & Media Studies at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa. There, he has led the setting up of the Africa Media Matrix facility, as well as projects like the Sol Plaatje Media Leadership Institute and the Grocott's Mail newspaper. He has worked in newspapers, magazines and television, and has a PhD from Rhodes. Active in the South African National Editors Forum, he is also a board member of the Media Development and Diversity Agency. He writes Converse, a column on media issues, at www.mg.co.za/converse.

    

2. Ivan Fynn

   Ivan Fynn has 26 years' experience in the media industry as a reporter, editor and manager. Fynn is a former editor of the Pretoria News, Cape Argus/Weekend Argus as well as head of news at SABC TV. Along the way he has worked at The Star, Sowetan, Rand Daily Mail, Daily News and Mafube Publishing. He is currently a freelance media consultant.

    

3. Phi Mtimkulu

   South African by birth, living in Soweto. I have a phd in political studies from the University of Johannesburg.   I am a senior lecturer in the Department of Political Sciences at the University of  South Africa.   Started working career as a freelance reporter for the Golden City Post owned by Jim Bailey.  Went over to the World in 1968.   Left World when it was banned in 1977 and joined The Voice newspaper followed by a stint at Post.    banned and house arrested from 1980 - 1983.   After banning order was lifted worked for  Sowetan  and later The Star where I was the assistant news editor.  Joined Unisa in 1987.

4. Joyce Sikhakhane-Rankin

   Joyce Sikhakhane-Rankin holds a BsC Honours degree from the Open University in the U.K. and has over 40 years of experience as a journalist/ playwright and author. She had started her career at The World Newspaper, Drum Magazine, The Sunday Post, and the Rand Daily Mail, covering the political realities of the country. After being in solitary confinement as a political detainee in Pretoria Central and Nylstroom prisons, she was forced to flee her motherland and spent nearly 20 years in exile, working for the ANC. She spent her time in exile writing various plays and books. Sikhakhane-Rankin was able to return to South Africa in 1995. She is currently working on her family biography.

5. Ebbe Dommisse

   Ebbe Dommisse is a media consultant and author. He retired at the end of 2000 as editor-in-chief of Die Burger, the leading Afrikaans daily in South Africa. Dommisse was born on the 14 July 1940 at Riversdale, Cape. He obtained the degree of Master of Science at the Graduate School of Journalism, Columbia University, New York.

   Her was appointed as a reporter at Die Burger in 1961 and was promoted to parliamentary reporter, chief sub editor and news editor before moving to Johannesburg in 1974 as assistant editor and political commentator of the new Afrikaans daily, Beeld.

   He returned to Die Burger in Cape Town in 1980 and became editor in chief in 1990. Under his leadership, Die Burger became the biggest daily in Cape Town and the biggest Afrikaans daily in the country. He retired after a journalistic career of almost forty years, the last eleven as editor-in-chief and member of the executive council of Nasnews. The highest Naspers award, the Phil Weber Medal, was awarded to him. He recently wrote Anton Rupert: A Biography.

    

6. John Dludlu

   John Dludlu is a graduate of Rhodes University's School of Journalism and Media Studies where he now supports the John Dludlu Scholarship for Ethical Journalism. Prior to his current position at Transnet Ltd - as head of public affairs - he had spent his professional life in the print media. He served Business Day, one of this nation's leading business newspapers, for nine-and-half years in various capacities including as a trainee, senior reporter, trade and industry correspondent, associate editor, Africa editor, Managing Editor: News and, briefly, as acting Deputy Editor. He served as Editor of Sowetan, one of this nation's daily newspapers, during the 2002-2004period.

   He's written extensively on a range of subjects including international trade, SA's foreign policy, African continent's politics and economics and financial markets for other publications.

7. Juby Mayet

   Golden City Post & DRUM Magazine Journalist 1959-1977. Detained and then banned while working for the ecumenical weekly, The Voice.Mayet is a founder member and research officer of Sizoya Sibuye Women's Heritage & Cultural Forum, a group of women ex-prisoners of No. 4 Women's Jail. Mayet was the first recipient of the Lifetime Achiever Award for Women in Writing in August 2000. She has a teacher's certificate which she obtained in 1957 from the Johannesburg Indian Teachers' Training Institute. In April 2006 she was one of the first 12 recipients of the "Memory is Our Heritage" fellowship grants from the Mutloatse Art Heritage Trust in conjunction with the Dept of Arts & Culture.

8. Obed Musi

   Obed Musi was born 70 years ago, the first of 8 children. He got his primary education at Stirtonville Community School, Boksburg and went to the now defunct St. Peter's college, Rosettenville, Johannesburg matriculating in 1957; he began his journalistic career as a tea-boy for Drum publications and rose to Chief reporter within a year.

   He worked alongside men like Arthur Maimane, Todd Matshikiza, Bloke Modisane, Nat Nakasa, Juby Mayet, and Ronnie Manyosi among others.

   When Drum changed ownership he moved to the Rand Daily Mail where he joined Gavin Stewart in editing the township mail the successful "Ghetto Edition" of the main Mail.

   When the Mail closed Musi crossed to the world where he mentored the likes of Aggrey Klaaste, Sophie Tema, Joe Tlholoe, Chapman Nomtuli and many others.

   Durban was his next stop when the world ceased publicly and then he worked as sub editor on Ilanga lase Natal, Daily News and the Natal Mercury.   Mr Musi is currently a freelance journalist.