Litnet

The 20th edition of the South African Literary Awards were held in Johannesburg on 11 November 2025. (Photo: supplied)

The 20th edition of the South African Literary Awards (SALA) lived up to its stellar reputation of celebrating excellence when it honoured 49 South African writers, translators and other literary practitioners across 16 categories at a prestigious ceremony held at the newly revamped Roodepoort Theatre and Museum, in Johannesburg on 11 November 2025.

Over two hundred dignitaries attended the event that is increasingly being regarded as the “Oscars” of the literary calendar in South Africa. SALA was founded by wRite associates in 2005 in collaboration with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC). This year’s ceremony was the culmination of many months of sifting through nominees to find the winner in each category.

The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, delivered a resounding keynote address with humorous and inspiring anecdotes about how he began his journey as a writer, bringing the ceremony to thunderous applause with the undertaking to host “…the biggest ever writers’ festival on Robben Island in April 2026…”

“The South African Literary Awards have become a sanctuary for these voices, a space where all eleven official languages find equal dignity and where the full breadth of our literary heritage is affirmed. Our Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, together with the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, as well as the City of Johannesburg, stand proudly alongside this noble initiative”, said Minister McKenzie

This year’s awards coincided with the 13th Africa Century International African Writers Conference, which celebrates the 34th International African Writers’ Day and 31 years of South Africa’s democracy. In 1991, the Conference of African Ministers of Education and Culture in Cotonou, Benin, voted to designate 7 November as International African Writers’ Day, which is currently observed across the continent.

Delivering the lecture was Wangui wa Goro, the Kenyan academic, social critic, researcher, translator and writer based in the UK, titled The future of African writing: The transforming landscapes, enhancing the Mbokodo narratives.

Vusi Mahlasela (left) (photo: supplied)

SALA is a vital platform for recognising the contributions of authors, translators, poets, and other literary practitioners. DSAC, together with her Gauteng Provincial and City of Johannesburg counterparts, play a crucial role in supporting this initiative, demonstrating their commitment to promoting cultural and literary excellence.

“In these 13th and 20th annual iterations of the International African Writers’ Day Lecture and South African Literary Awards, respectively, we welcome very warmly the City of Johannesburg and Gauteng Provincial Department of Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Heritage into the tried and tested partnership SALA is having with the national Department of Sport, Arts and Culture”. To this end, the City of Johannesburg’s MMC for Community Development, Councilor Sthembiso Zungu, together with Gauteng Provincial Department of Education, Sport, Arts, Recreation and Culture’s Director, Vonani Baloyi, emphasised the importance and necessity of the partnership with SALA.

The SALA honours literary work across 16 categories, as follows:

1. First-time Published Author Literary Award
2. Sello Duiker Memorial Literary Award
3. Nadine Gordimer Short Story Literary Award
4. National Poet Laureate Prize
5. Regional Poet Laureate Prize
6. Local Poet Laureate Prize
7. Poetry Award
8. Literary Translators Award
9. Lifetime Achievement Literary Award
10. Posthumous Literary Award
11. Literary Journalism Award
12. Creative Non-Fiction Award
13. Chairperson’s Award
14. Children’s Literature Award
15. Youth Literature Award
16. Novel Award

The awards have previously recognised luminaries such as poets laureate Mazisi Kunene, Mongane Wally Serote, Keorapetse Kgositsile, Nobel Laureate Nadine Gordimer, and other outstanding writers like Eskia Mphahlele,, Don Mattera, Bessie Head, Antjie Krog, among many others across the various categories and 11 official languages. 

Below is the 2025 South African Literary Awards shortlist of winners and runners-up:

Children’s Literature Award

Kabelo Duncan Kgatea – Petleke ya malemelagotlhe
Phuti Seboni – Rakgolo Masoba
Upile uThixo Bongco – Big shoes to fill

Runner-up

Nkateko Emily Mabasa – Celebrating our differences: Embracing my superpowers

First-Time Published Author Award

Lebogang Seale – One hundred years of dispossession: My family’s quest to reclaim our land
Happy Gladness Simelane – Thandeka

Runner-up

Lungile ka Dlamini – And give us this day our daily hope

Youth Literature Award

Kobate John Sekele – Sejamosela se fetetša noka
Seakgwe Phalatse – Menomasweu
Vusi Makhoba – Mhlawumbe ngale kwethuna
Tiah Marie Beautement – A tale of many tangents

K Sello Duiker Memorial Literary Award

Runner-up

Lesedi Molefi – Patient 12A

Poetry Award

Sizakele Nkosi – u Grand, Malume?
Molebatsi Bosilong – Mosikaro
Bafana Charles Peter – Umkhumezelo Umqulu 3
Muntomuhle Silindokuhle Mcambi – Amagagasi enjabulo
Mosima Phakane – Go ribega tša masa
Vutshila Mission Magaisa – Vutshila bya vutlhokovetseri

Runners-up

Frank Meintjies – A place to night in
M H Hlaka – Tau Ahlama
Hlayiseka S Rikhotso – Nyika nkarhi, nkarhi
Nombeko Nontshokweni – uNobuntu
Muntomuhle Silindokuhle Mcambi – Ukufa Kwenono

Nadine Gordimer Short Story Award

Raphashe Abram Lesufi – Temošo Setšhabeng
Zaheera Jina Asvat – Tears of the weaver
Kwandile Hadebe – Ishumi

Runner-up

David Mann – Once removed: short stories

Creative Non-Fiction Literary Award

Maria Suriano – A rare gift to the Struggle: Ma Vesta Smith and the everyday politics of liberation

Runner-up

Adekeye Adebajo – The Black Atlantic’s triple burden: Slavery, colonialism, and reparations

Literary Translators Award

Moses Seletisha – Ke Rata Punky
Sifiso Mzobe – Izinkabi: Yasho Inganono, Laphalala Igazi

Novel Award

Bulelani Matshoba – Akwaba ndandingambonanga
Kobate John Sekele – Ditlhoka tša bagaditšong
Barbara Boswell – The comrade’s wife
Musa Aubrey Baloyi – Xilondza xa le Nhompfini

Runner-up

Nick Clelland – Good Hope
Mandlakayise Mfanta – Ing'iyayikhotha kanti iyayixathula

Posthumous Literary Award

Magema Magwaza Fuze
Molema Mokae
Mbongeni Ngema
Donald Parenzee
Juby Mayet
Matsemela  Manaka
Maishe Maponya
Breyten Breytenbach
Mohlomi Moleleki
Colin Smuts

Chairperson’s Literary Award

Mzwakhe Mbuli

Lifetime Achievement Award

John Kani
Mavis Smallberg