The 2025 Sunday Times Literary Awards longlist
The award will be bestowed on a book that presents 'the illumination of truthfulness, especially those forms of it that are new, delicate, unfashionable and fly in the face of power', and that demonstrates 'compassion, elegance of writing, and intellectual and moral integrity'.
Judges
Kevin Ritchie - Chair
Ritchie is a former journalist. During his 27 year career on newspapers he edited the Diamond Fields Advertiser in Kimberley and The Star in Johannesburg. He also wrote the two volume Reporting the Courts – A Handbook for South African Journalists and co-authored T he A–Z of South African Politics: People, Parties and Players (Jacana 2019). After leaving journalism in 2018, Ritchie founded a media consultancy. He continues to contribute to the craft as a session lecturer for career entry students at the Wits Centre for Journalism and writing a weekly opinion column in the Citizen.
Hlonipha Mokoena
Mokoena received her PhD from the University of Cape Town in 2005. She is currently an associate professor and researcher at WiSER (Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research) at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Her articles have been published in: Journal of Natal and Zulu History; Journal of Religion in Africa; Journal of Southern African Studies; Ufahamu: A Journal of African Studies; Interventions: International Journal of Postcolonial Studies, Text and Critical Arts.
Sewela Langeni
Langeni is an author and the owner of Book Circle Capital, an independent bookshop focusing on African Literature based in Melville, Johannesburg. She is passionate about literacy, especially in children. She is a Marketing Manager at one of South Africa's leading insurance companies. Her academic background spans from Journalism, Communication Sciences and Marketing. She holds a Master's degree in Strategic Marketing and Consulting (Cum Laude) from the University of Birmingham, UK. Sewela is a reviewer of local books for adults and kids. She facilitates book conversations with authors at the bookshop, book fairs and has a weekly book feature on various media platforms.
Here is the non-fiction longlist in order of the author's surname
Lucky Bastard by Anthony Akerman, Praxis Publishing
Great Johannesburg: What Happened? How to Save an African Economic Giant by Nickolaus Bauer, Tafelberg
Orthogonal Thinking: My Own Search for Meaning in Mathematics, Literature and Life by David Buckham, Mercury
Dayspring: A Memoir by CJ Driver, Karavan Press
Exit Wounds: A Story of Love, Loss, and Occasional Wars by Peter Godwin, Picador Africa
Through a Dragonfly Eye: A Memoir by Jenny Hobbs, Hands-On Books
Breaking Bread: A Memoir by Jonathan Jansen, Jonathan Ball Publishers
The Times Do Not Permit: The Musical Life of Michael Mosoeu Moerane by Christine Lucia, Wits University Press
Soul of a Nation: A Quest for the Rebirth of South Africa's True Values by Oyama Mabandla, Tafelberg
I Will Not Be Silenced by Karyn Maughan, Tafelberg
P ositively Me: Daring To Live And Love Beyond HIV by Nozibele Mayaba with Sue Nyathi, Jonathan Ball Publishers
Prescription: Ice Cream - A Doctor's Journey to Discover What Matters by Alastair McAlpine, Pan Macmillan
The Truth About Cape Slavery: The Foundations of Colonial South Africa by Patric Tariq Mellet, Tafelberg
Morafe: Person, Family and Nation in Colonial Bechuanaland 1880s-1950s by Khumisho Moguerane, Jacana Media
Patient 12A: A Memoir by Lesedi Molefi, Picador Africa
Love and Fury: A Memoir by Margie Orford, Jonathan Ball Publishers
Keorapetse Kgositsile and the Black Arts Movement: Poetics of Possibility by Uhuru Portia Phalafala, Wits University Press
Witness to Power: A Political Memoir by Mathews Phosa, Penguin Non-fiction
Hunting the Seven: How The Gugulethu Seven Assassins Were Exposed by Beverly Roos-Muller, Jonathan Ball Publishers
The Syndicate of Twenty-Two Natives: The Stan Sangweni Story by Lindiwe Sangweni-Siddo, Pan Macmillan
One Hundred Years of Dispossession: My Family's Quest to Reclaim Our Land by Lebogang Seale, Jacana Media
Lucas Mangope: A Life by Oupa Segalwe, Tafelberg
Chris van Wyk - Irascible Genius: A Son's Memoir by Kevin van Wyk, Pan Macmillan
The Near North by Ivan Vladislavić, Picador Africa
In Silence My Heart Speaks by Thobeka Yose, Karavan Press
FICTION PRIZE
This is the 24th year of the Sunday Times fiction prize. The criteria stipulate that the winning novel should be one of 'rare imagination and style ... a tale so compelling as to become an enduring landmark of contemporary fiction'.
JUDGES
Siphiwo Mahala - Chair
Mahala is a writer and academic, plying his trade in English and isiXhosa. He is a graduate of the University of Fort Hare, holds a Masters degree in African Literature from Wits University and a PhD in English Literature from the University of South Africa. He is the author of the novel, When a Man Cries (2007), which he later translated into isiXhosa as Yakhal' Indoda (2010). His short story collections include African Delights (2011), Red Apple Dreams and Other Stories (2019), and The Missing Pages (2025). He wrote two critically acclaimed plays, The House of Truth (2016) and Bloke and His American Bantu (2021). In 2022, he received the PanSALB Multilingualism Award for Literature in English. His monograph Can Themba: The Making and Breaking of the Intellectual Tsotsi (2022), won the Creative Non-Fiction Award at the SA Literary Awards in 2023 and the 2024 Book of the Year at the Vice-Chancellor's Distinguished Awards. He serves as the Chairperson of the National Arts Festival board. He is an Associate Professor in the English Department at the University of Johannesburg.
Michele Magwood
In her long career Magwood has worked in radio, magazines and television and for 20 years was the Books Editor of the Sunday Times. She is the winner of two Mondi awards and the SALA award for literary journalism. A sought-after interviewer at book festivals, she currently works as a writer and editor and assesses manuscripts for publishers. She writes a books column for Business Day Wanted magazine. Michele has a BA Honours degree from UKZN.
Dr Alma-Nalisha Cele
Cele is a pharmaceutical physician based in Johannesburg. She holds a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBCH) from the University of the Witwatersrand and a postgraduate diploma (cum laude) in medicine development from the University of Stellenbosch. She is also the co-founder of The Cheeky Natives, a literary podcast primarily focused on the review, curatorship and archiving of black literature. Cele credits a strong relationship with reading and literature to her feminist, intersectional approach not only to her work but also to her lived politics. In 2019, she was selected as one of the Mandela Washington Fellows, attending a prestigious fellowship in the US. In the same year, she was also named as one of the Mail and Guardian's top 200 Young South Africans in the health category. In 2024, she was selected as a finalist in the TransUnion Rising Star Awards.
Here is the fiction longlist in order of the author's surname
God's Pocket by Sven Axelrad, Umuzi
Home Scar by SE Bhamjee, Modjaji Books
The Comrade's Wife: A Novel by Barbara Boswell
Good Hope by Nick Clelland, Karavan Press
In the Shadows by Olivia M Coetzee, Modjaji Books
Now You Suffer: A Ruben Ellis Thriller by Gareth Crocker, Penguin
Deadly Benefits by Kurt Ellis, Penguin
A Short Life: A Novel by Nicky Greenwall, Penguin
Crooked Seeds by Karen Jennings, Karavan Press
The Lost Love of Akbar Manzil by Shubnum Khan, Pan Macmillan
The Queer Book of Revelation by Siya Khumalo, Kwela
The Child by Alistair Mackay, Kwela
The City is Mine: A Novel by Niq Mhlongo, Kwela
Revolutionaries House by Nthikeng Mohlele, Jacana Media
The Equality of Shadows by Charl-Pierre Naudé, Picador Africa
The Creation of Half-Broken People by Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu, Picador Africa
The Tea Merchant by Jackie Phamotse, Penguin
Who Looks Inside by Anna Stroud, Karavan Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
4 hours ago
- IOL News
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma scoffs at Trump's handling of Africa
Former African Union (AU) Commission chairperson Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has expressed her disappointment and frustration with United States President Donald Trump. Image: Timothy Bernard Former African Union (AU) Commission chairperson Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has expressed her disappointment and frustration with United States President Donald Trump's approach towards Africa and South Africa. Jarring for her was Trump's assertion that there was a "white genocide" in the country, his trade demands and bid to recolonise the continent. Pretoria's relationship with Washington deteriorated significantly after Trump assumed office in January. Absent a trade deal, certain South African exports face the imposition of 30% tariffs, the highest for any sub-Saharan African nation, starting tomorrow. The development follows months of heightened tensions concerning various domestic and international policies. In addition to disputes over various issues, such as South Africa's accusation of genocide against Israel in Gaza at the International Court of Justice, Washington expelled Pretoria's ambassador Ebrahim Rasool in March after he criticised Trump's Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. According to Dlamini-Zuma, Trump is a "difficult person" who seems to prioritise American interests over global cooperation. Dlamini-Zuma referenced Trump's past comments on Africa, stating, "You must remember what he said in his first campaign before his first term…He said Africa needs to be recolonised. So what do we expect?" She emphasised the importance of African unity, saying if Africa was united, it would not be possible that Africa becomes recolonised. Dlamini-Zuma also criticised Trump's narrative on white genocide in South Africa, calling it "deliberate misinformation". She pointed out that crime was a significant issue in South Africa, but there was no evidence to support the claim of genocide against white people. "If you look at the statistics, it is the black people who die more, every time the statistics are given," she said. Dlamini-Zuma stressed Africa's need to collaborate and promote its interests. She advocated for the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to boost intra-African trade and economic growth. "We need to work together and that's why we want an Africa continental free trade so that we must trade amongst ourselves and promote each other's interests," she said. She further emphasised the importance of empowering youth and women in Africa's development. She called on governments and stakeholders to provide accessible education and skills training, stating, "Young people have the right to education, and they must actively pursue it". She also urged young Africans to engage in sectors such as mineral processing and the ocean economy to drive sustainable growth. Dlamini-Zuma highlighted the need for Africa to decolonise its mindsets and prioritise inclusive development. "If we do not, we remain colonised," she said, emphasising the importance of self-determination and African-led development. As a pan-Africanist, Dlamini-Zuma said she was committed to promoting African development and restoring the continent's history. She also took the opportunity to announce the NDZ foundation-the Africa we want, saying the new organisation was in the pipeline and was meant to engage on issues on the African agenda. It is expected to be launched by the end of the year. International Relations expect Dr Noluthando Phungula mirrored Dlamini Zuma's views about Trump's attitude towards Africa and South Africa. 'Trump has been clear from the onset about his policy position. He is clear on putting America first, so it is quite disingenuous for South Africa or Africa to pull the humanity card when dealing with Trump." She described bilateral relations between Washington and Pretoria as a political drama. 'The Trump administration is at odds with Pretoria's prominent position in the International Court of Justice's case against Israel, which stands accused of genocide in Gaza,' Phungula said.
IOL News
7 hours ago
- IOL News
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma condemns Trump's approach to Africa
Former African Union (AU) Commission chairperson Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has expressed her disappointment and frustration with United States President Donald Trump. Image: Timothy Bernard Former African Union (AU) Commission chairperson Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has expressed her disappointment and frustration with United States President Donald Trump's approach towards Africa and South Africa. Pretoria's relationship with Washington deteriorated significantly after Trump assumed office in January. Absent a trade deal, certain South African exports face the imposition of 30% tariffs, the highest for any sub-Saharan African nation, starting Friday. This development follows months of heightened tensions concerning various domestic and international policies. In addition to disputes over various issues, such as South Africa's accusation of genocide against Israel in Gaza at the International Court of Justice, Washington expelled Pretoria's ambassador Ebrahim Rasool in March after he criticised Trump's Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. According to Dlamini-Zuma, Trump is a "difficult person" who seems to prioritise American interests over global cooperation. 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 Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Dlamini-Zuma referenced Trump's past comments on Africa, stating, "You must remember what he said in his first campaign before his first term…He said Africa needs to be recolonised. So what do we expect?" She emphasised the importance of African unity, saying if Africa was united, it would not be possible that Africa becomes recolonised. Dlamini-Zuma also criticised Trump's narrative on white genocide in South Africa, calling it "deliberate misinformation". She pointed out that crime is a significant issue in South Africa, but there is no evidence to support the claim of genocide against white people. "If you look at the statistics, it is the black people who die more, every time the statistics are given," she said. Dlamini-Zuma stressed Africa's need to collaborate and promote its interests. She advocated for the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to boost intra-African trade and economic growth. "We need to work together and that's why we want an Africa continental free trade so that we must trade amongst ourselves and promote each other's interests," she said. She further emphasised the importance of empowering youth and women in Africa's development. She called on governments and stakeholders to provide accessible education and skills training, stating, "Young people have the right to education, and they must actively pursue it". She also urged young Africans to engage in sectors such as mineral processing and the ocean economy to drive sustainable growth. Dlamini-Zuma highlighted the need for Africa to decolonise its mindsets and prioritise inclusive development. "We need to decolonise minds. If we do not, we remain colonised," she said, emphasising the importance of self-determination and African-led development. As a pan-Africanist, Dlamini-Zuma said she was committed to promoting African development and restoring the continent's history. She also took the opportunity to announce the NDZ foundation-the Africa we want saying the new organisation was in the pipeline and was meant to engage on issues on the African agenda. It is expected to be launched by the end of the year. International Relations expect Dr Noluthando Phungula mirrored Dlamini Zuma's views about Trump's attitude towards Africa and South Africa. 'Trump has been clear from the onset about his policy position. He is clear on putting America first, so it is quite disingenuous for South Africa or Africa to pull the humanity card when dealing with Trump." She described bilateral relations between Washington and Pretoria as a political drama. 'The Trump administration is at odds with Pretoria's prominent position in the International Court of Justice's case against Israel, which stands accused of genocide in Gaza,' Phungula said.
Daily Maverick
7 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
African media must follow the money and treat AI as a story about power, not tech
Scott Timcke is a senior research associate with Research ICT Africa. He is affiliated with the University of Johannesburg's Centre for Social Change and the Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A gap has emerged in global discussions about AI governance during South Africa's G20 presidency. This is the role of independent media as democracy's watchdog in an age of concentrated digital power. The Media20 (M20) initiative – an independent civil society initiative that mirrors official G20 engagement groups for business, think tanks and civil society, among others – has identified this gap through a recent set of policy briefs, in particular, one on AI, Africa and the G20. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads The findings point to a conundrum. Just as AI systems increasingly shape economic, social and political outcomes across Africa, the media's capacity to scrutinise these developments is being undermined by the very forces they should be monitoring. The triple challenge facing African media Three interconnected challenges demand urgent G20 attention. First, AI development remains concentrated among a handful of global technology companies, creating concentrations of transnational power that national regulatory mechanisms struggle to govern effectively. When decisions made in Silicon Valley boardrooms can determine whether African farmers receive crop recommendations or students access educational content, the stakes for democratic oversight come into relief. Second, Africa occupies a structurally disadvantaged position in the global AI economy. While African workers earn just $1-$3 per hour, labelling images that enable billion-dollar AI applications like autonomous vehicles, they remain locked out of the more profitable layers of the AI technology stack. This digital extraction mirrors historical patterns of resource exploitation where raw materials flow outward while value-added benefits remain elsewhere. Third, and perhaps most critically, journalism covering AI governance suffers from significant knowledge gaps. Too many reporters treat AI developments as 'technology stories', focusing on capabilities and breakthrough narratives, rather than examining the deeper 'power and policy stories' that reveal governance implications and labour impacts. This framing obscures the real questions: Who controls these systems? How are decisions made? What is the impact on ordinary Africans? Democracy under pressure This oversight becomes particularly concerning given Africa's deteriorating information ecosystem. Since 2022, foreign-sponsored disinformation campaigns have targeted at least 39 African countries, exploiting structural vulnerabilities including limited media literacy and declining press freedom. Meanwhile, governments increasingly distort 'fake news' or 'misinformation' laws to suppress dissent, while internet shutdowns undermine freedom of expression and access to information. The surge in information manipulation coincides with AI systems increasingly shaping critical sectors such as agriculture, health, education and governance itself. When algorithmic decision-making affects everything from loan approvals to university admissions, independent oversight becomes more crucial than ever. Yet the technical complexity of AI systems often shields corporate practices from public scrutiny, while the global nature of AI companies complicates jurisdictional oversight. The M20's democratic vision The M20 initiative seeks to interact with official G20 engagement groups and advocate for media recognition as a core pillar of sustainable financial development, human rights and global cooperation. This approach recognises that effective AI governance cannot emerge from purely technocratic solutions; it requires robust democratic accountability mechanisms. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads The initiative's recommendations for G20 consideration include establishing AI governance transparency standards that mandate algorithmic impact assessments for government AI deployments, supporting independent AI oversight mechanisms through funding streams for media organisations to develop AI governance expertise, and promoting African AI tools that serve local languages and contexts rather than marginalising them. Most importantly, the M20 calls for strengthening media freedom through concrete benchmarks for press freedom and information integrity, including sanctions for governments that weaponise disinformation legislation against journalists. Reframing the story For African media organisations, the challenge lies in developing the technical literacy needed to cover AI governance effectively, while maintaining editorial independence from potentially unsustainable and biased AI services. If done correctly, they can reframe AI coverage to focus on power dynamics rather than 'technological wizardry'. This means following the money and data in AI systems, particularly examining how African data contributes to AI development and whether economic benefits flow back to African communities. It means developing systematic approaches to covering government use of AI in service delivery and security agencies, with attention to transparency and citizen impact. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads Most crucially, it means challenging corporate narratives about AI benefits with independent verification, particularly examining outsized claims about the ability of AI solutions to achieve development goals. A continental imperative The stakes extend beyond journalism itself. AI systems are reshaping Africa's relationship with the global economy, determining whether the continent remains locked into extractive relationships or develops genuine technological sovereignty. The African Union's Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy, endorsed last year, recognises this imperative. But implementation requires the kind of sustained, critical oversight that only independent media can provide. As recent reports indicate a decline in press freedom across major democracies, with significant economic pressures on news organisations, the M20's mission becomes even more acute. Effective AI governance requires collaborative networks that share resources and expertise across borders, recognising that the forces shaping Africa's digital future operate on a global scale. For African media, this means that embracing their role as democracy's watchdog becomes more vital in an era of concentrated digital power. The question is whether Africa's journalists are ready to tell the real story of AI; not as a tale of technological progress, but as a fundamental question of power, democracy and self-determination. DM
