The Media Online’s weekly column delivering news of award wins, entries, competitions, dates to note and winners in the media.
2026 Content Creator Awards nominees announced as Samsung Galaxy joins as headline sponsor
South Africa’s creator economy has reached another major milestone, with the 2026 Content Creator Awards unveiling this year’s nominees and announcing Samsung Galaxy as its new title sponsor, marking the biggest evolution in the awards’ history.
“As the creator economy has evolved, so have the awards,” said Manuela Dias de Deus, founder of the Awards and One-eyed Jack. “When we launched these awards, we were celebrating brave pioneers who were proving that content creation could be a real career. Today we’re recognising world-class creators who are building businesses, influencing culture, driving commerce and setting global standards. Our responsibility has shifted from legitimising the industry to raising the benchmark for excellence. This is no longer about recognising creators for what’s possible. It’s about celebrating those who are setting the standard for the future of marketing, entertainment and entrepreneurship in South Africa.”
This year’s awards feature 20 categories, all refined to better reflect today’s creator landscape.
A new category, the #CapturedWithGalaxy Award, was also announced at the launch and remains open for entries, giving creators one final opportunity to be recognised before entries officially close.
Content Creator Awards announces major new partners for 2026 edition
The 2026 Content Creator Awards has announced an impressive line-up of partners, showcasing the growing role creators play in modern marketing, entertainment and culture.
This year’s partners include YouTube, which will present a brand-new award; Telkom, sponsor of the Best Online Series Award; 947, sponsor of the Sound of Tomorrow Award; and Cars.co.za, sponsor of the Automotive Award.
Three-time Content Creator Awards winner Nadia Jaftha has also partnered with the awards through her business, Creator Club, to sponsor the Emerging Creator Award. The winner will receive a R50,000 creator campaign from Creator Club, offering both financial support and a valuable commercial opportunity to accelerate their career.
Fifteen talented delegates join IAB SA’s Front Row industry youth programme
The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) South Africa’s Education Council has announced 15 delegates to its Front Row Youth Industry Programme for 2026.
The Front Row initiative identifies and provides a platform for 15 young, ambitious and talented members of the digital media and marketing industry, offering a springboard to launch their careers.
Nominated by industry peers and leaders, the following delegates were selected for their potential to lead and innovate:
| Name | Surname | Organisation | Job title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amile | Buthelezi | Levergy | Intern |
| Buhle | Motshwene | Publicis Groupe Africa | Junior Strategist |
| Emihle | Belewa | The Up&Up Group | Marketing Intern |
| Kezia | Gamedze | Penquin Advertising | Junior Copywriter |
| Lutho | Bawuti | Dentsu – Carat | Strategy Intern |
| Mahlogonolo | Ramoloto | Dentsu – iProspect | Intern |
| Ndivhu | Ralushai | M+C Saatchi Abel | Copywriter |
| Nix | Winterburn | Machine_ | Intern Copywriter |
| Nombulelo | Ngwendu | DentsuX | Intern |
| Nompilo | Hlabangani | WPP Media | Junior Digital Media Planner |
| Qhawekazi | Ngada | Dentsu | Social Media Intern |
| Shay | Chetty | Zenith | Junior Strategist |
| Thembelihle | Phetla | Ogilvy SA | Junior Strategist |
| Tinyiko | Nkuna | JNPR | Junior Conversation Architect |
| Yingcwaliso | Mabandla | Ogilvy CPT | Art Director |
Andrea Quaye is Bookmark Awards’ Marketer of the Year
Publicis Groupe Africa has congratulated Andrea Quaye, who has been named Marketer of the Year at this year’s Bookmark Awards. The win recognises Quaye’s leadership and contribution to advancing marketing excellence, innovation and industry growth across Africa.
She has spent her career championing digital-first marketing, from Carling Black Label’s ‘Be the Coach’ to more recent work including Heineken’s ‘Social Screens’ and Savanna’s ‘Try January’.
After serving as Global Vice President for the Coffee Category at Coca-Cola in Ireland, she returned home to join Heineken Beverages as CMO in late 2024. She was tasked with aligning the business following the Distell acquisition and driving digital transformation across the group’s marketing delivery.
Her insistence that every plan pair creativity with a digital-first focus has given agency partners a clear mandate: digitally integrated, creatively effective work.
Koo Govender, CEO of Publicis Groupe Africa, credits Quaye’s partnership with agency LePub as a driving force behind this integrated approach.
“It’s her ability to drive a digital-first marketing approach with clarity and courage that aligns stakeholders and creates the conditions for brand and agency partners to deliver breakthrough, integrated work. Andrea raises the standard of how modern marketing should be done in South Africa.”
5FM’s Boipelo Mooketsi wins at the Basadi In Music Awards
Boipelo Mooketsi, South African broadcaster, MC, voice-over artist, digital host and producer, has won the Entertainment Radio Presenter of the Year award at the Basadi In Music Awards.
She received the award for her work in radio and is still beaming with joy following the win. The versatile media personality was nominated alongside Lebo Maoela (Lesedi FM), Lerato Kganyago (Metro FM), Bolele Polisa (947) and Lebo Ndiya (Motsweding FM).
Says an excited Mooketsi: “Winning this award and getting recognition for the work I do means the world to me because I put my heart and soul into it. This is also a reflection of the giant community of people behind me who all came together and supported me on this journey. I am extremely grateful to God, my family, friends, SABC/5FM and my listeners.”
Hook, Line & Sinker wins SA’s Best Integrated PR Agency Award 2026
Cape Town-based PR and marketing agency Hook, Line & Sinker (HLS) has been named Best Integrated Agency in South Africa 2026 at the African Excellence Awards.
Now in its ninth year, the African Excellence Awards, presented by MEA Markets, recognise high-performing organisations and business leaders making an impact across the continent. Winners are determined through an independent, research-led selection process, with nominees assessed on business performance, innovation, leadership, market impact and their contribution to advancing their respective industries.
The latest accolade adds to a growing list of industry and business recognition for HLS. At the 2025 PRISA PRISM Awards, the agency scooped three Gold awards for PR Leadership, Best B2B Campaign and Best Healthcare Campaign. HLS was also named South Africa’s Entrepreneur Champion at the 2024 ABSA NSBC Awards, while Corporate Vision recognised HLS as Best Creative Agency in South Africa in both 2024 and 2023.
In 2023, HLS received Silver for South Africa’s Best Small PR Consultancy at the PRISM Awards and was named a finalist for South Africa’s Business Entrepreneur of the Year by Business Partners Ltd.
The agency has also continued to expand its footprint beyond South Africa, supporting local and global brands across Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
HLS managing director Adam Hunter says the award comes at a defining time for the PR industry, as the traditional boundaries of communications continue to disappear.
Department of Sport, Arts and Culture announces first NACA 2026 nominees across Heritage, Visual Arts and Craft
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) has announced the first nominees for the 2026 National Arts and Culture Awards (NACA), with Heritage, Visual Arts and Craft opening a phased series of category announcements ahead of the awards ceremony at Sun City Resort in the North West Province.
Outstanding Museum Award
- Karoo Origins
- KwaZulu-Natal Museum
- The Phansi Museum
Outstanding Art Gallery Award
- Gallery MOMO
- The Dealr
- UNISA Art Gallery
Outstanding Crafter Award
- Madoda Fani – Southern Guild
- Sefakwana Portia Thenjwayo – Woven Lamp Shades
- Xolile Mabuza – Scotch Never Die
Outstanding Curator Award
- Bridget Phakathi – Nkosi Sikelel’ iAzania
- Sefakwana Portia Thenjwayo – Woven Lamp Shades
- Tshegofatso Seoka – Concrete Dreams: Journeys in Transit
Outstanding Visual Artist Award
- Gwenneth Miller – Omgekeerd
- Mellaney Roberts – Waar Bloed Nie Loop Nie
- Michael Selekane – Untitled
The NACA 2026 awards will take place at Sun City on Friday, 21 August 2026, with the ceremony broadcast nationally on SABC 1 at 20:00 on Saturday, 22 August 2026.
The awards will be followed by the South African Sport Awards (SASA) on Sunday, 23 August 2026, creating a weekend that recognises excellence across South Africa’s arts, culture and sporting sectors.
15 Southern African creative businesses earn a place in prestigious France-backed incubation programme, Création Africa 2
Fifteen of Southern Africa’s most promising creative businesses have been selected from more than 340 applicants to receive intensive incubation and investment-readiness support through the Création Africa 2 programme, positioning them to scale their businesses and access new markets.
Création Africa is an initiative of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of France in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi, and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS).
The following entrepreneurs have been selected to advance to the incubation phase of Création Africa 2:
Design and Craft
- Pinda Furniture and Interior Design (Siyanda Mbele)
- Neimil (Pty) Ltd (Keneilwe Mothoa and co-founder Lubabalo Mxalisa)
- Emotives Africa (Xolela Madlanga)
- Akhada Baskets (Tisungane Thomson)
Fashion
- SWANK JOZI (Lindelani Nedoboni)
- Thethana (Nkotseng Moleko)
- GUGUBYGUGU PTY LTD (Gugu Peteni)
- LEO SZN (Kirsten Leo)
- House of Xandria (Xandria Kawanga)
Gaming and Interactive Media
- Vetkoek Studios (Mamello Raboroko and co-founder Eric Gardiner)
Film, Television and Animation
- Lincoln Green Media (Kudakwashe ‘Kudi’ Maradzika)
- Better Yet (Hallie Haller)
Music
- Music Business Lab (Ninel Musson)
Digital Media
- iQHAWE Media (Renaé Mangena and Anastatia Nkhuna)
Publishing
- Bridge Books (Griffin Shea)
Eco-Logic Award finalists reshaping South Africa’s future
Across the country, a new generation of entrepreneurs, conservationists, educators and innovators is developing practical solutions to some of our most pressing environmental challenges. This is reflected in the finalists announced for the 2026 Eco-Logic Awards.
Now in its 15th year, the awards have become South Africa’s premier platform for celebrating environmental leadership, shining a spotlight on pioneers driving positive change across conservation, climate action, water security, circular economy innovation, sustainable products and community empowerment.
The Nature Conservation Award
- FreeMe Wildlife
- Lapalala Wilderness School
- SHIELD Elephant Shepherd Programme
The Climate Change Award
- Greenpeace Africa Clean Air Campaign
- Lapalala Wilderness School
- Project 90 by 2030
The Eco-Innovation Award
- Circular Energy NPC – Specialised Collection Vehicle
- My Walk Made with Soul
- Nature Connect Sustainable Schools Online Hub
The Circular Economy and Waste Innovation Award
- FoodForward SA
- Uthando (Love) South Africa – Waste to Wonder
- UTTE Circular Construction Urban Systems Initiative
The Water Conservation Award
- AECI Kusini Water Programme
- People Planet Water for Life Project
- Scarab Water
The Eco-Fashion and Lifestyle Award
- Aard Footwear
- GUGUBYGUGU
- Nyambose Group – Ubuntu Curve
The Eco-Health and Wellness Award
- AECI and Palesa Pads
- Noodees
- Oya Foods
The Eco-Friendly Home Products Award
- African Grower
- Dekro Paints Enviro Range
- Nyambose Group Ubuntu Curve
The Eco-Community Award
- Thanda
- Thulamela Makhado Adopt A River
- WESSA
The Eco-Hospitality and Tourism Award
- Reforest Fest Greenpop
- Spur Corporation Integrated Sustainability Programme
- WESSA Green Key Programme
The Eco-Angel Award
- Delanie Bezuidenhout – My Walk Made with Soul
- Michelle Henley – Elephants Alive
- Siyabonga Stengana – Beauty by Nature
The Eco-Warrior Award
- African Centre for Biodiversity
- Cynthia Moyo from Greenpeace Africa
- Gabriel Klaasen from Project 90 by 2030
10 emerging designers selected from nearly 200 entries – and their designs could go global
Nando’s Hot Young Designer (HYD) has announced the 10 finalists in its 2026 talent search, selected from nearly 200 submissions from emerging South African designers challenged to rethink the linear light fixture for Nando’s restaurants around the world.
The finalists will now pitch their concepts to a panel of leading local and international design voices, including Maison&Objet’s Paula Baúlde Portas, Thabisa Mjo of Mash.T Design Studio, and the Nando’s and Clout/SA design teams.
Only five will progress to an intensive mentorship and business acceleration programme, where they will take their concepts from idea to physical prototype while developing the entrepreneurial skills needed to build sustainable design businesses.
The finalists are:
- Kgomotso Monnakgotla
- Kulani Keagile
- Chelsea Makin
- Rethabile Motaung
- Bianca van Vuuren
- Reneilwe Molala
- Bradley van Graan
- Anele Mkhize
- Ashleigh Witney
- Tshegofatso Mako
Jacaranda FM’s ‘Her Perfect Pitch’ returns for a fifth year
Jacaranda FM, now supported by First For Women, has announced the return of its flagship women’s entrepreneurship campaign, Her Perfect Pitch, for a fifth consecutive year.
The campaign returns to shine a spotlight on women who are building businesses, creating opportunities and making a difference in their communities.
Launched to coincide with Women’s Month, Her Perfect Pitch Season 5 invites female entrepreneurs to enter for a chance to win R500,000 worth of advertising on Jacaranda FM, along with valuable business assistance.
The comprehensive grand prize package includes the conceptualisation, professional production and creation of a dedicated radio advert, along with extensive digital amplification across Jacaranda FM’s platforms.
The winner will also receive R20,000 in cash from First For Women to invest in the business, as well as tailored business support and mentorship covering a custom business model, research consultation, branding consultation, digital strategy and PR consultation.
For more information, updates and stories from past winners, visit Jacaranda FM, tune in to the station or listen online.
Capitec brand value surges 158% as bank tops Kantar’s BrandZ growth ranking
Capitec, recognised as South Africa’s leading digital bank and a diversified financial services group, has been named the fastest-growing brand in the 2026 Kantar BrandZ Top 30 Most Valuable South African Brands report.
Its 158% growth since the previous report, when its brand value stood at US$1.28 billion (R21.42 billion), has brought its value to US$3.3 billion (R55.2 billion), reflecting the strength of its clients’ connection to its focus on affordability and accessibility.
The growth places Capitec significantly ahead of the 47% combined growth recorded by the Top 30 South African brands.
“Brand value is a measure of trust – and for many of our clients, Capitec was their first experience of formal banking. That responsibility shapes how we think about every product, every branch and every interaction,” says Francois Viviers, group executive for marketing and client experience at Capitec.
