Mervyn Naidoo receives nomination for Standard Bank Sikuvile Award
The Daily News' Mervyn Naidoo has been nominated for a prestigious 2025 Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Award
Image: Supplied
Mervyn Naidoo of the Daily News is among the nominees for a prestigious 2025 Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Award.
This recognition underscores Naidoo's commitment to storytelling, a craft in which he has excelled, delivering powerful narratives that resonate with audiences across South Africa.
"I count it a great privilege and honour to be counted among some of country's leading journalists, who have also been nominated," said Naidoo
Other accolades in his journalism journey includes Vodacom Journalist of the Year awards on two occasions; in 2022 for his engaging story on car culture, and in October 2024 for capturing the inspiring journey of a KwaMashu sailor and his all-women crew who triumphed in an international yacht race.
His ability to weave tales—whether about local heroes, politicians, or the everyday triumphs and struggles of South Africans—demonstrates his passion for the profession.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Throughout his career, Naidoo has embraced the nuances of narrative delivery, which he credits to his journalism studies and life's experiences.
His dedication to honing his craft is evident in the articles he pens, engaging readers with compelling content that has garnered extensive attention on various social media platforms.
Naidoo's contributions to journalism extend beyond writing; his leadership roles also includes various stints acting as News Editor, during his time with the Sunday Tribune.
The Standard Bank Sikuvile Awards is organised by the South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef), has seen significant interest this year, with 437 entries submitted from across the nation, although slightly lower than last year's figures.
However, judges noted an increase in the quality of submissions, particularly from the community media sector, which bodes well for the future of journalism in South Africa.
This shift illustrates a sector that is nurturing talent and pushing the boundaries of storytelling.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
3 hours ago
- The Citizen
Unleash your inner oyster in Knysna
July festival is not for weightwatchers. There are a million good reasons, most of them packed in shells and tasting delightfully of the sea, for visiting the Knysna Oyster Festival (KOF) next month, but wanting to lose weight is not one of them. Oysters themselves are not fattening and are packed with nutrients but, serve them fried and smothered in a bacon and blue cheese sauce, you can almost hear the calorie-counter going berserk. And that's just for starters. A two-day media visit last week to preview the 42nd annual festival, from 4-13 July, began fairly virtuously; oysters in the half shell accompanied only by lemon, black pepper, peri-peri sauce and a glass of Leopard's Leap bubbly at Sirocco. It was, so to say, a shucking good time. Things went south that evening when we decamped to Wildside Beach, a shack-style diner on the rocks at Buffels Bay – included, along with Sedgefield and Reenendal, in the Knysna municipal district – for sundowners and dinner. Sunset was accompanied by a full moon almost as spectacular as dinner of creamy mussels, garlic-butter prawns, deepfried hake and panko-crumbed calamari. Nothing slimming about that… what followed was a Weight Watchers' nightmare. Tammy Coby, one of the Knysna Oyster Festival organisers, placed three mini-puddings in front of us and told us to score each out of 10. Picture: Jim Freeman ALSO READ: Bin huggers are just plane rude Chocolate dreams and dessert wars This, she said, was the premise of Dessert War Fair. Promising this would be the sweetest happening of the festival – it takes place on 9 July, tickets from Quicket – 'where talented chefs and bakers showcase their most scrumptious creations' in a contest to find the most epic dessert, Tammy offered another tempting morsel. She introduced us to one of last year's winners. Kirsten Walters is the owner and founder of Ile de Chocolat ('Island of Chocolate') and is a Swisstrained chocolatier with her manufacturing studio at the five-star Pezula Hotel and a retail outlet at Thesen Harbour Town. She is not affiliated to nearby Ile de Pain ('Island of Bread'), the renowned artisanal bakery where we had breakfast the next morning. 'I am a trained pastry chef who indulged her passion by studying at the International School of Chocolate Art in Zurich, where I finished as valedictorian in 2006. 'South Africans at the time did not have much of a chocolate culture – they basically knew Beacon, Nestlé and Cadbury – and I wanted to introduce them to the 'proper' stuff only the wealthy had encountered through international travel. 'I had the mad idea of producing chocolate on site in a retail environment where people could watch the process and it was Brian Coppin who was building his flagship Food Lover's Market in Tyger Valley (Cape Town) who gave me the break. He said 'we're opening in a week, can you be ready?' We were literally an island of chocolate in the middle of this huge, magnificent store,' said Walters. Apart from giving the business ( its name, it was the proverbial springboard to success. Picture: Jim Freeman 'We were in seven stores around the country within a year but business came to a screeching halt two-and-a-half years later when I gave birth to twins,' she said. The Walters family moved to the Garden Route three years ago for a life that was less hectic, but just as sweet. 'Our speciality, my pride and joy, is truffles. I love developing new fillings and have about 50 flavours. 'There are your traditional hazelnut, almond and creamy chocolate fillings before going fruity with raspberry and mango. We do a whole alcohol range; Kirschwasser with a maraschino cherry is the most popular but I also do whisky, Van der Hum and Amarula. 'More extreme flavours include rosemary and pear, chili and I've even dabbled with curry on occasion.' The KOF caters to gourmands as well as gourmets. Picture: Jim Freeman From forest runs to fine wines There's a carbo-loading pasta evening on 4 July, the night before the Knysna Forest Marathon, that's not restricted to runners; a burger and beer extravaganza on 5 July; and a 'pizza-eating showdown not for the faint-hearted' on 9 July. For those on a liquid diet, Stella Artois is one of the sponsors and there will be several beery hotspots around the KOF, notably at Wildside Beach in Buffels which does not have a liquor licence. If you don't like beer with your fish and chips, the restaurant doesn't charge corkage. The Knysna Fine Wine Festival takes place at Simola Hotel on 4 and 5 July, and several estates will be serving their best vintages at the oyster cooking and shucking championships on 8 July. As the organisers say, 'Come hungry, come happy – and come out of your shell!' The forest marathon might be the festival's signature sporting event, but there's also the Knysna Cycle Tour on 12-13 July. Physicality is as physicality does… there's live music and (of course) dancing throughout the 10-day event. There are also adventure offerings, including guided and self-guided canoeing and hiking. For the latter, visit the Pledge Nature Reserve in the centre of town for a gentle uphill stroll that will reward hikers with wonderful views of the Knysna Heads and lagoon. Petrol-heads can wander around the Eden Classic Car and Motorcycle Show at Sedgefield's Scarab Arts and Crafts Village on 9 July. Picture: Jim Freeman NOW READ: Ford powers leopard conservation efforts
IOL News
4 hours ago
- IOL News
Mercedes-Benz SA welcomes Abey Kgotle as its new CEO amidst significant market challenges
Abey Kgotle will assume the role of new CEO from December 2025. Image: Supplied Mercedes-Benz has appointed Abey Kgotle as its new CEO, among key personnel changes announced this week. Kgotle will assume his new role from December 1, 2025, following the November 30 departure of the local division's current CEO Andreas Brand. The outgoing CEO is assuming a new role in Stuttgart, Germany, where he will be responsible for seven manufacturing operations around the world. The leadership change comes at a time when Mercedes-Benz, along with its fellow German manufacturers, is losing market share in South Africa. To put that into perspective, Mercedes sales dropped by 82% between 2014 and 2024, BusinessTech reported earlier this year, while its counterparts Audi and BMW/Mini have seen their volumes drop by 70% and 50% respectively. New CEO Abey Kgotle currently serves as Executive Director of Human Resources and Corporate Affairs at Mercedes-Benz SA. He assumes the new role with more than 20 years of experience in strategic human resources management as well as labour relations, advanced negotiations and stakeholder engagement. Kgotle has held executive roles at numerous blue-chip companies across the manufacturing and mining industries, including Lonmin and Samancor Manganese. He has also held senior HR management roles at the City of Johannesburg and Naschem, a division of state-owned enterprise Denel. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Further to that, he has served on the boards of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services and Daimler Trucks and Buses SA. Kgotle currently also serves as Chairman of the Automobile Employers Organisation (AMEO), which represents South Africa's OEMs. 'We warmly welcome Mr Kgotle on his appointment as CEO of MBSA Limited. We look forward to his leadership that brings new energy and vision as he continues to build on our solid foundation and pursue new opportunities for growth and innovation,' said Wilfried Porth, Chairperson of the Board of Directors. As the outgoing CEO, Brand also currently serves as Executive Director of MBSA Manufacturing, a separate replacement for that role will be announced in due course, the company said. IOL
IOL News
6 hours ago
- IOL News
The Hangout: One love
Mandela Day is around the corner, and with it comes the Mandela Day Campaign. It is a call to action for people everywhere to spread love and kindness for 67 minutes on the day. These 67 minutes represent the 67 years that Madiba devoted his life to fighting for human rights, justice, and the abolition of apartheid. We still feel the ripple effects of apartheid today because every action has a reaction. As hard as it has been to heal our beautiful country and its beautiful people, to mend broken fences and broken hearts, it has also been incredible to witness how far we've come as a colourful, vibrant, shining rainbow nation. I'll be the first to admit that I'm no expert when it comes to complicated topics like politics or religion, which often stir up strong feelings. But what I do know is this. For the most part, we South Africans are a kind, caring, loving bunch. We are a people of heart. We come together to help. We come together to uplift. And we always seem to find a way to keep going, even when times are tough. So please mark your calendars for 18 July, the day we celebrate Nelson Mandela's birthday. There is something incredibly special about that date, and not just because of Madiba. Some remarkable people share a birthday with our beloved former president. The late Piet Botha, a gentle giant in the music world, was one of them. He quietly supported and uplifted so many within the industry, bringing people together in a way that only he could. The world has felt a little dimmer since his light went out. Another soul born on this day is Cito, the lead singer of Wonderboom, an amazing band that has been rocking us since the mid-nineties. Cito does more for animal welfare than anyone I know. He is also deeply committed to helping his fellow musicians and the music industry at large. Most of what he does, he does quietly and without fuss. In my opinion, that kind of quiet service makes him another very special kind of angel walking among us. Since 2010, when the United Nations officially declared 18 July as Nelson Mandela International Day, people all over the world have been encouraged to take action and make a difference in their communities. If you are looking for ways to get involved this year, you can visit to sign up and find out more about the Mandela Day Walk and Run. This year, it is all happening on 19 July at DP World Wanderers Stadium. It is a great way to do something meaningful and stay healthy at the same time. Another amazing initiative that perfectly captures the spirit of Mandela Day is 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day. Head over to to see how you can join the wonderful 'KnitWits' in helping those whose lives have been affected by poverty and crime. Since its beginning, this project has distributed over 180,000 handmade blankets and hundreds of thousands of scarves to people in need. It has also set four Guinness World Records along the way. Wow.
