The Media Online’s weekly column delivering news of award wins, entries, competitions, dates to note and winners in the media.
Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards mark 25 years with Legacy Edition
The Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards (VJOYs) will mark their 25th anniversary in 2026 with a special Legacy Edition, replacing the annual competition with three honours recognising outstanding journalism from the awards’ history.
Previous overall winners will be eligible, with judges assessing journalistic excellence, public impact, historical significance, contribution to the profession and continued relevance. Further details will follow.
“When the awards were introduced in 2001, the aim was to recognise and promote excellence in journalism, elevate the profession and celebrate stories that have made a real impact on South African society,” says Taki Netshitenzhe, external affairs director at Vodacom South Africa. “Twenty-five years later, the awards have done what they set out to do. That is thanks to the journalists who entered them, whose work has set the standard for journalism in this country.”
The Legacy Edition concludes the awards in their current form. Vodacom will consider how its support for journalism can evolve while upholding excellence, independence and credibility.
Galliova Awards announce 2026 winners
The 2026 Galliova Awards were presented on 16 October at De Grendel Wine Estate Restaurant. Sponsored by the Egg and Broiler Producers of the South African Poultry Association (SAPA), the event was opened by SAPA chairman and Broiler Board vice chairman Aziz Sulliman. Cookbook author Sinoyolo Sifo, known as Sifo the Cooking Husband, hosted, while SAPA vice chairman and Egg Board member Agmat Brinkhuis presented the awards.
Dr Anna Trapido won both the Health & Wellness Content Creator and Food Writer categories. MyKitchen editor-in-chief Liezl Vermeulen placed second in Food Writer and won Food Content Creator, with Sarie KOS editor Herman Lensing taking second place in the latter category.
MyKitchen food editor Lichelle May won Up-and-Coming Content Creator, while Asanda Mbayimbayi, lifestyle and entertainment news editor at Africa Jamz FM News, took the People’s Hero award for content promoting affordable chicken and egg meals. Woolworths TASTE senior content producer Clement Pedro placed second in that category.
Georgia East won Social Media Influencer, and MyKitchen deputy food editor Sjaan van der Ploeg was named Egg Champion.
Samkelo Gumbi wins Stella Artois Perfect Serve title
Samkelo Gumbi, a bartender at Waxy O’Connors Sunningdale in KwaZulu-Natal, is South Africa’s 2026 Stella Artois Perfect Serve National Champion.
Gumbi won the national final at Sass The Venue in Bedfordview, Johannesburg, on 14 October. The prize is an all-expenses-paid trip to London to represent South Africa at the global finals during the 2027 Wimbledon Championships.
The competition celebrates bartenders who master the five-step Perfect Serve ritual, from preparing the signature chalice and pouring to skimming the foam and presenting the beer.
5FM voice Brionne Olsen wins national voiceover award
Brionne Olsen, 5FM’s station voice and radio imaging specialist, has won Best Commercial Voiceover Performance at the 2026 South African Voiceover Awards.
The awards recognise voice artistry across radio, television, digital media, animation and audiobooks. Olsen shapes 5FM’s sonic identity, overseeing concept development, scripting, sound design, recording, mixing and mastering.
Before joining 5FM in 2011, he worked as a station producer and lead sound engineer at regional and community stations. He also produces custom imaging for international markets through Benztown Branding, creating audio for stations across the United States.
MIC 2026 explores culture, creativity and brand building
Hosted by dentsu X South Africa during the Loeries, the latest Marketing, Influence and Culture (MIC) Masterclass examined how technology, culture and human creativity are reshaping brand building.
Under the theme The Future of Creative: Human Ingenuity in the Age of AI, industry leaders, marketers, creatives and cultural commentators explored consumer engagement, cultural relevance and the influence of creators, algorithms and artificial intelligence.
Marcel Swain, managing director of dentsu X South Africa and Brand Panel moderator, said: “The most powerful media channel isn’t a screen, it’s an experience, and no – not just the activation/event – your consistent brand experience from online to offline. This builds brand love and earns trust.”
The Culture Panel examined how brands can move beyond visibility to contribute meaningfully to cultural conversations and communities. Speakers also discussed AI’s growing accessibility while emphasising the continued importance of human insight, interpretation and creativity.
Publicis Groupe Africa wins Loeries Regional Agency Group of the Year for third consecutive year
Publicis Groupe Africa has been named Regional Agency Group of the Year at the 2026 Loeries for the third consecutive year.
LePub Johannesburg led the wins, taking the Live Events Grand Prix for Heineken Beverages’ Bar de Change. Heineken Beverages was named Brand of the Year, while LePub’s Sebastian Dupper won Young Creative of the Year.
“Three years in a row is exceptional. It is the result of talented people across our agencies working as one Groupe and of clients like Heineken Beverages who trust us with their boldest ideas. To see that partnership recognised with Brand of the Year, alongside a Grand Prix, makes this year especially meaningful,” says Koo Govender, CEO of Publicis Groupe Africa.
Pete Little, the group’s chief creative officer, adds: “To see the range of great ideas being recognised across the Publicis Groupe was something really special and a testament to the bravery of our client partners and talented people, with a special shoutout to Sebastian for winning the Young Creative of the Year.”
LePub Johannesburg also won a Gold, three Silvers and five Bronzes. Machine secured two Golds, two Silvers and Craft Certificates for Spotify; The Partnership Agency won two Golds and two Silvers; Leo Singapore took a Gold and a Bronze; and Publicis West Africa won a Silver and a Bronze.
Heineken Beverages named Loeries Brand of the Year
Heineken Beverages won Brand of the Year at the 2026 Loeries for creative work across its portfolio, including Heineken, Windhoek, JC Le Roux and Bernini.
The awarded campaigns spanned live events, experiences, creative strategy, integrated campaigns, branded content and communications.
“Being named Brand of the Year is a tremendous recognition of the people and partnerships behind the work. What is especially meaningful is that these campaigns were acknowledged not only for execution, but across experience, strategy, humour, integration and communication. That breadth reflects the standard we are working towards: ideas grounded in real consumer understanding, brought to life in ways that people genuinely want to engage with,” says Andrea Quaye, marketing director at Heineken Beverages.
Clout/SA wins three African interior design awards
Clout/SA received three accolades at the inaugural African Interior Design Awards (AIDA) 2026 in Cotonou, Benin.
The Isaac Shongwe Room, a Johannesburg conferencing space designed with Proportion Design Studio, was recognised alongside the Union House office redesign, which received an award in the Office Interior Design category. The collaborative textile collection Stitched: A Story of Our Home, developed with the Keiskamma Art Project, won Product of the Year in Homeware and Decoration.
Commissioned by Taro Park, the Isaac Shongwe Room brings together more than 20 local makers. Its centrepiece is The Resilience Piece, an embroidered hanging by the Keiskamma Art Project documenting a rural community’s experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic. Other contributors include Siyanda Mbele, Wiid Design, Kalki Design Studio and Mash.T Design Studio.
“We wanted anyone who entered to be blown away by the powerful, vibrant expressions of South African design and craft,” says Tracy Lynch, Clout/SA’s executive creative director.
Since 2021, Clout/SA has facilitated more than R225 million in South African design exports, placing more than 70,000 works across over 25 countries.
Woolworths wins two South Africa Fashion Awards
Woolworths won Best Fashion Retailer and Best Fashion E-Commerce Brand at the 2026 South Africa Fashion Awards.
The awards recognise the fashion industry’s creativity and influence, with winners selected through public engagement, consumer votes and professional assessment.
The double win recognises both the in-store customer experience and the retailer’s digital shopping offering.
“To win both Best Fashion Retailer and Best Fashion E-Commerce Brand is really profound for us,” says Manie Maritz, CEO of Fashion, Beauty and Home at Woolworths. “These awards reflect the work of teams across our business who are constantly thinking about how we can make the Woolworths Fashion experience better, from the product we create and curate, to how our customers discover and shop it.”
Club Med launches search for emerging creative talent
Club Med is inviting emerging social media creators with strong storytelling skills, cinematic sensibility and distinctive creative vision to apply for its Cinematic Residence.
Two selected creators will join professional filmmakers at Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari in December 2026. They will have a week to produce a 30- to 45-second cinematic film exploring what people choose to do when their time truly belongs to them. Films must be in 16:9 format.
Participants will also have the chance to win a stay at a Club Med resort.
Applications are open from 19 October to 1 November 2026. Details, competition rules and application forms are available through Club Med South Africa’s Instagram page and TikTok channels.
Standard Bank recognised across four global rankings
Standard Bank Group has been recognised in four international rankings by Forbes, Newsweek and TIME, making it the only African-headquartered company featured across all four.
The rankings are Forbes’ World’s Best Employers and World’s Top Companies for Women, TIME’s World’s Best Companies, and Newsweek’s World’s Most Trustworthy Companies.
The recognition highlights the group’s workplace practices, reputation, performance and trust. Standard Bank operates in 21 African markets.
“Being recognised alongside leading global companies is a source of pride and demonstrates the strength of African businesses and the talent we have across our continent,” says Sim Tshabalala, chief executive of Standard Bank Group.
EBM Group wins eight international SOLAL Awards
South African retail marketing agency EBM Group won eight awards and received 12 finalist recognitions at the 2026 SOLAL Marketing Awards in Budapest, Hungary.
The agency secured two Golds, four Silvers and two Bronzes for campaigns developed for shopping centres across South Africa.
Gold awards went to Mall of Africa’s HAIR-itage Pop Up and Fourways Mall’s Destination Fourways. Sandton City’s Words That Heal won two Silvers for Corporate Social Responsibility and Public Relations, while Sandton City’s A Beacon of Hope and Eastgate Shopping Centre’s The Scoop Shop also received Silver awards.
Bronze awards went to Gateway Theatre of Shopping’s LEGO Biggest Build Ever and Eastgate Shopping Centre’s Eat Out at Eastgate.
The wins follow EBM’s recognition at the SACSC Footprint Marketing Awards in South Africa and the ICSC Global Awards in Las Vegas.
Saab Grintek Defence named Top Employer for 2026
Saab Grintek Defence has been certified as a Top Employer in South Africa for 2026 by the Top Employers Institute following an independent assessment of its people practices.
The certification recognises its data-driven people strategies, employee engagement and focus on business performance and growth.
“Achieving a Country Top Employer Certification for 2026 reflects Saab Grintek Defence’s dedication to building an outstanding workplace that enables sustained business performance. Their strong alignment between people strategy and organisational goals, combined with a commitment to continuous improvement, demonstrates the impact of their transformative practices. We are proud to recognise Saab Grintek Defence for their meaningful contribution to a better world of work in South Africa,” says Adrian Seligman, CEO of the Top Employers Institute.
D&AD launches D&AD Alive for 2027
Global creative non-profit D&AD will bring its D&AD Festival and New Blood Festival together for the first time under D&AD Alive, running from 28 to 30 June 2027 at Tobacco Dock, London.
The event will unite emerging talent, agencies, studios, brands, in-house teams and creative leaders to explore the forces shaping creativity.
D&AD also appointed Nils Leonard, co-founder of Uncommon Creative Studio, as its new president, succeeding Lisa Smith after her one-year term. Leonard will curate a series of President Lectures at the festival.
