Media24 Books Literary Awards

The Media24 Books Literary Awards (known before 2011 as the Via Afrika Awards, and before that as the Nasboek Literary Awards)^[1][2] are a group of five South African literary prizes awarded annually by Media24, the print-media arm of the South African media company Naspers. They are open to authors whose books are published within the Media24 Books stable (previously known as the Via Afrika stable), which includes NB Publishers, Jonathan Ball Publishers, LuxVerbi-BM, NVA, and Van Schaik Publishers.^[3] Each award is worth R35 000.^[4] The awards comprise:

• The W.A. Hofmeyr Prize, a long-established prize for Afrikaans literature;
• The Herman Charles Bosman Prize for English literature;
• The Recht Malan Prize for non-fiction;
• The MER Prizes for illustrated children’s books and youth literature;
• The Elisabeth Eybers Prize for poetry.

Media24 Books Literary Awards
Awarded for	Excellent books published under Media24
Country	South Africa
Presented by	Media24
Formerly called	Via Afrika Awards Nasboek Literary Awards
Reward(s)	R35 000

The Jan Rabie Rapport Prize, for debut works in Afrikaans, was awarded annually at the same awards ceremony as the Media24 prizes from 2004 to 2014, but was open to all South African publishers.^[5][6] The M-Net Literary Awards were also awarded at the same ceremony until 2010.^[7]

The 2020 awards were heavily criticised for their lack of diversity. The winners included six white males and one white female, while the 18 judges included of only two people of colour.^[8][9][10]

W.A. Hofmeyr Prize

The W.A. Hofmeyr Prize is awarded annually for literary excellence in drama, poetry and prose that could "shift the boundaries of Afrikaans literature."^[11] It was instituted in 1954 by Nasionale Pers in honour of Afrikaans businessman W.A. Hofmeyr, a former chairman of the company. Originally only books published by Nasionale Boekhandel (NB Publishers) were eligible, but it is now open to all presses within the Media24 stable.^[12] As of 2020, the award was worth R35 000.^[4]

Winners (1954-2021)

Year	Winner	Work	Shortlisted works	Ref.
2020	Zirk van den Berg	Ek wens, ek wens	Kerneels Breytenbach, Hond se gedagte Etienne van Heerden, Die biblioteek aan die einde van die wêreld	[13][14]
2019	Lodewyk G. du Plessis	Die dao van Daan van der Walt	Ingrid Winterbach, Die troebel tyd Charl-Pierre Naudé, Die ongelooflike onskuld van Dirkie Verwey	[15][12]
2018	Eben Venter	Groen soos die hemel daarbo	Etienne Van Heerden, Die wêreld van Charlie Oeng Nicole Jaekel Strauss, As in die mond	[16][17]
2017	Dan Sleigh	1795	Ryk Hattingh, Huilboek John Miles, Op ’n dag, ’n hond	[18][19]
2016	Ingrid Winterbach	Vlakwater	Lien Botha, Wonderboom Alexander Strachan, Brandwaterkom	[20][21]
2015	Willem Anker	Buys: 'n grensroman	Kerneels Breytenbach, Ester Harry Kalmer, 'n Duisend stories oor Johannesburg Francois Smith, Kamphoer	[22][23]
2014	Etienne van Heerden	Klimtol	Kerneels Breytenbach and Deon Opperman, Donkerland Eben Venter, Wolf, wolf	[24][25]
2013	Ingrid Winterbach	Die aanspraak van lewende wesens	Petra Muller, Om die gedagte van geel Johann de Lange, Vaarwel, my effens bevlekte held	[26][27]
2012	Dan Sleigh	Wals met Mathilda	T.T. Cloete, Onversadig Sonja Loots, Sirkusboere	[5][28]
2011	Alexander Strachan	Dwaalpoort	Ingrid Winterbach, Die benederyk Marlene van Niekerk, Die sneeuslaper	[29][30]
2010	Eben Venter	Santa Gamka	Abraham H. de Vries, Verbeel jou dis somer Louis Krüger, Wederkoms	[31][32]
2009	Etienne van Heerden	30 Nagte in Amsterdam	Izak de Vries, Byna liefde Loftus Marais, Staan in die algemeen nader aan vensters	[33][34]
2008	Breyten Breytenbach	Die windvanger	Etienne van Heerden, Asbesmiddag Deon Meyer, Onsigbaar	[35][36]
2007	Ingrid Winterbach	Die boek van toeval en toeverlaat	Eben Venter, Horrelpoot Marlene van Niekerk, Memorandum	[37][38]
2006	Etienne van Heerden	In stede van die liefde		[39]
2005	Marlene van Niekerk	Agaat
2004	Eben Venter	Begeerte
2003	Dan Sleigh	Eilande
2002	Karel Schoeman	Armosyn van die Kaap
2001	Dine van Zyl	Slagoffers
2000	Ingrid Winterbach	Buller se plan
1999	André P. Brink	Duiwelskloof
1998	George Weideman	Die onderskepper
1997	Eben Venter	Ek stamel, ek sterwe
1996	Elsa Joubert	Die reise van Isobelle
1995	Alexander Strachan	Die werfbobbejaan
1994	Eben Venter	Foxtrot van die vleiseters
1993
1992	Chris Barnard	Moerland
1991	Sheila Cussons	Die knetterende woord		[40]
1990	T.T. Cloete	Driepas		[41]
1989	Elsa Joubert	Missionaris		[42]
1988	Ernst van Heerden	Amulet teen die vuur		[42]
1987	Etienne van Heerden	Toorberg		[42]
1986	T.T. Cloete	Allotroop		[41]
1985	Karel Schoeman	'n Ander land		[43]
1984	Henriette Grové	Die kêrel van die Pêrel, of Anatomie van ’n leuenaar		[42]
1983	Elisabeth Eybers	Bestand		[42]
1982	Sheila Cussons	Die woedende brood		[40]
1981	T.T. Cloete	Angelliera		[41]
1980	D.J. Opperman	Komas uit ’n bamboesstok		[42]
1979	Elsa Joubert	Die swerfjare van Poppie Nongena
1978
1977
1976	Freda Linde	Die singende gras
1975	Ernst van Heerden	Teenstrydige liedere
1974	Chris Barnard	Mahala
1973	P.G. du Plessis	Siener in die suburbs		[44]
1972	Sheila Cussons	Plektrum		[40]
1971
1970	P.G. du Plessis	Die nag van Legio		[44]
1969
1968	M.M. Walters	Cabala
1967	Linda Joubert	Jaarringe
1966	D.J. Opperman	Dolosse
1965	Audrey Blignault	Met ligter tred
1964
1963
1962
1961
1960
1959
1958
1957
1956	D.J. Opperman	Blom en baaierd
1955	Mikro	Die porseleinkat		[45]
1954	G.H. Franz	Rabodutu
	D.J. Opperman	Periandros van Korinthe

Herman Charles Bosman Prize

The Herman Charles Bosman Prize, named for South African short-story writer Herman Charles Bosman, recognises excellence in English literary writing, including autobiography, in South Africa.^[3]

Winners of the Herman Charles Bosman Prize (1997–2020)

Year	Winner	Work	Shortlisted works	Ref.
2020	Trevor Sacks	Lucky Packet	Finuala Dowling, Okay, Okay, Okay Ekow Duker, Yellowbone	[46]
2019	Niq Mhlongo	Soweto, Under the Apricot Tree	Cynthia Jele, The Ones with Purpose Kirsten Miller, The Hum of the Sun	[15]
2018	Ken Barris	The Life of Worm and Other Misconceptions	Michiel Heyns, I am Pandarus Qarnita Loxton, Being Kari	[16]
2017	No award			[18]
2016	Finuala Dowling	The Fetch	Athol Fugard and Paula Fourie, The Shadow of the Hummingbird	[21][20]
2015	Michiel Heyns	A Sportful Malice	Chris Karsten, Face-Off Zakes Mda, Rachel’s Blue	[22][23]
2014	Novuyo Rosa Tshuma	Shadows	Rachel Zadok, Sister-sister Margie Orford, Water Music	[24][25]
2013	Rustum Kozain	Groundwork	Ken Barris, Life Underwater Chris Wadman, The Unlikely Genius of Dr Cuthbert Kambazuma	[26][27]
2012	Michiel Heyns	Lost Ground	Margie Orford, Gallows Hill Finuala Dowling, Homemaking for the Down-at-Heart	[5][28]
2011	Sifiso Mzobe	Young Blood	Cynthia Jele, Happiness is a Four-Letter Word Zukiswa Wanner, Men of the South	[47][30]
2010	Sally-Ann Murray	Small Moving Parts	Yvette Christiansë, Imprendehora Maya Fowler, The Elephant in the Room	[1][7]
2009	Michiel Heyns	Bodies Politic	Breyten Breytenbach, Veil of Footsteps: Memoir of a Fictional Nomadic Character Finuala Dowling, Notes from the Dementia Ward	[3][48]
2008	No award		Gail Dendy, The Lady Missionary (honourable mention) Niq Mhlongo, After Tears (honourable mention) Brent Meersman, Primary Coloured	[35][36]
2007	Maxine Case	All We Have Left Unsaid	Ken Barris, What Kind of Child	[37][38]
	Kgebetli Moele	Room 207
2006	Simão Kikamba	Going Home		[39]
2005	Keorapetse Kgositsile	This Way I Salute You: Selected Poems		[11]
2004	Rayda Jacobs	Confessions of a Gambler		[49]
2003	Ingrid Fiske	Terrestrial Things: Poems		[2]
2002	K. Sello Duiker	The Quiet Violence of Dreams
2001	Willemien Le Roux	Shadow Bird
2000	Peter Rudolf Gisela Horn	My Voice is Under Control Now
1999
1998	Achmat Dangor	Kafka's Curse: A Novella & Three Other Stories
1997	Rayda Jacobs	Eyes of the Sky

Recht Malan Prize

The Recht Malan Prize recognises excellent non-fiction or non-literary books in English or Afrikaans, aiming to promote quality of writing, depth of research, and originality of approach. It was first awarded in 1978.^[3]

Winners of the Recht Malan Prize (2003–2020)

Year	Winner	Work	Shortlisted works	Ref.
2020	Jonny Steinberg	One Day in Bethlehem	Adam Habib, Rebels and Rage Michelle le Roux and Dennis Davis, Lawfare	[50][13]
2019	Rob Rose	Steinheist	Simone Haysom,The Last Words of Rowan du Preez Nathan Trantraal, Wit issie ’n colour nie	[15]
2018	Jacques Pauw	The President’s Keepers	Crispian Olver, How to Steal a City Redi Tlhabi, Khwezi	[16]
2017	Sean Christie	Under Nelson Mandela Boulevard	Daniel Browde, The Relatively Public Life of Jules Browde Kevin Bloom and Richard Poplak, Continental Shift	[18][19]
2016	Milton Shain	A Perfect Storm	Gavin Evans, Black Brain, White Brain Charles van Onselen, Showdown at the Red Lion	[20][21]
2015	Mark Gevisser	Lost and Found in Johannesburg	Edwin Cameron, Justice Jonny Steinberg, A Man of Good Hope	[22][23]
2014	Irina Filatova and Apollon Davidson	The Hidden Thread	Graham Linscott, Into the River of Life Bill Nasson and Albert Grundlingh, The War at Home / Die oorlog kom huis toe	[24][25]
2013	Stephen Ellis	The External Mission	Xolela Mangcu, Biko: A Biography Beverley Naidoo, Death of an Idealist	[26][27]
2012	Anton Harber	Diepsloot	Dawid de Villiers and Mathilda Slabbert, David Kramer: A Biography Paul Holden and Hennie van Vuuren, The Devil in the Detail	[5][28]
2011	Bill Nasson	The War for South Africa	Antony Altbeker, Fruit of a Poisoned Tree Denis Beckett, Radical Middle	[47][30]
2010	Elsa Joubert	Reisiger	Liz McGregor and Sarah Nuttall (eds.), Load Shedding André P. Brink, ‘n Vurk in die pad Alf Kumalo and Tanya Farber, Through my Lens	[1][7]
2009	Tony Leon	On the Contrary	Julia Martin, A Millimetre of Dust	[3][48]
	Jonny Steinberg	Three-Letter Plague
2008	Mark Gevisser	Thabo Mbeki: The Dream Deferred	Andrew Feinstein, After the Party David Robbins, On the Bridge of Goodbye	[35][36]
2007	Leon Rousseau	Die groot avontuur	Mxolisi Mgxashe, Are You With Us? Sarah Nuttall (ed.), Beautiful Ugly	[37][38]
2006	Antony Altbeker	The Dirty Work of Democracy		[39]
2005	Uma Dhupella-Mesthrie	Gandhi’s Prisoner?		[11]
2004	Hermann Giliomee	The Afrikaners		[49]
2003	Karel Schoeman	Die laaste Afrikaanse boek		[2]
2002	Karel Schoeman	Die dogter van Sion		[51]

Elisabeth Eybers Prize

The Elisabeth Eybers Prize, named for Afrikaans poet Elisabeth Eybers, recognises poetry in English and Afrikaans. It aims to reward "excellence and innovation" in poetry, and was awarded for the first time in 2014.^[52]

Winners of the Elisabeth Eybers Prize (2014–2020)

Year	Winner	Work	Shortlisted works	Ref.
2020	Loftus Marais	Jan, Piet, Koos and Jakob	Ronelda Kamfer, Chinatown Hennie Nortjé, Kryt Mongane Wally Serote, Sikhahlel’ u-OR	[13]
2019	Gabeba Baderoon	The History of Intimacy	Pieter Odendaal, Asof geen berge ooit hier gewoon het nie	[15]
2018	Marlene van Niekerk	In die stille agterkamer	Corné Coetzee, Nou, hier Jolyn Phillips, Radbraak Nathan Trantraal, Alles het niet kom wôd	[16]
2017	Bibi Slippers	Fotostaatmajien	Johann de Lange, ’n Hunkering se grein Ronelda S. Kamfer, Hammie	[18][19]
2016	Gilbert Gibson	Vry-	Daniel Hugo, Takelwerk Marlise Joubert, Bladspieël	[20][21]
2015	Antjie Krog	Mede-wete	T.T. Cloete, Karnaval en Lent Charl-Pierre Naudé, Al die lieflike dade	[22][23]
2014	Marlene van Niekerk	Kaar	Nathan Trantraal, Chockers en survivors Wilma Stockenstrom, Hierdie mens	[24][25]

MER Prizes

The MER Prizes, named after Afrikaans children's author Mimie E. Rothmann, are longstanding awards which recognise illustrated children's books and youth literature, aimed at (but not exclusively for) ages 0–8 and 8–16 respectively.^[3] The prize in the children's category is split between the author and the illustrator.

Winners of the MER Prize for Youth Literature (2003–2020)

Year	Writer	Work	Ref.
2020	Edyth Bulbring	The Choice Between Us	[13]
2019	S.A. Partridge	Mine	[15]
2018	Carin Krahtz	Blou is nie ’n kleur nie	[16]
2017	Edyth Bulbring	Snitch	[18]
2016	Carin Krahtz	Elton amper famous April en juffrou Brom	[21]
2015	Andre Eva Bosch	Alive Again	[22]
2014	S.A. Partridge	Sharp Edges	[24]
2013	Annelie Ferreira	Totsiens, Koning Arthur	[26]
2012	S.A. Partridge	Dark Poppy’s Demise	[5]
2011	Derick van der Walt	Willem Poprok	[47]
2010	Peter Dunseith	The Bird of Heaven	[7]
2009	Derick van der Walt	Lien se lankstaanskoene	[48]
2008	S.A. Partridge	The Goblet Club
2007	Jenny Robson	Praise Song	[37]
2006	Fanie Viljoen	Breinbliksem	[39]
2005	Anoeschka von Meck	Vaselinetjie	[11]
2004	Willem van der Walt	Ragtime en rocks	[49]
2003	Jackie Nagtegaal	Daar is 'n vis in die punch	[2]

Winners of the MER Prize for Children's Books (2004–2020)

Year	Writer	Illustrator	Work	Ref.
2020	Fanie Viljoen	Theodore Key	Die dag toe die draak kom: ’n Boek vir meisies Die hasie van fluweel	[13]
2019	Dihanna Taute	Theodore Key	Die legendariese Lua Verwey	[15]
2018	Rosamund Haden	Tony Pinchuck	The All Africa Wildlife Express	[16]
2017	Ingrid Mennen	Irene Berg	Ink	[18]
2016	Elizabeth Wasserman	Astrid Castle	Jannus en Kriek en die tydmasjien	[21]
2015	Fiona Moodie	Fiona Moodie	Noko and the Kool Kats	[22]
2014	Linda Rode	Johann Strauss	In die land van pamperlang	[24]
2013	Ingrid Mennen	Irene Berg	Ben en die walvisse	[26]
2012	Alex D’Angelo	Marjorie van Heerden	Goblin Diaries	[5]
2011	Wendy Hartmann	Joan Rankin	Just Sisi / Net Sisi	[47]
2010	Linda Rode	Fiona Moodie	In the Never-Ever Wood	[7]
2009	Mari Grobler	Elizabeth Pulles	Siyolo’s Jersey / Siyolo se trui	[48]
2008	Wendy Hartmann	Marjorie van Heerden	Nina and Little Duck
2007	Fanie Viljoen	Karl Stephan	Geraamte in die klas	[37]
2006	Marita van der Vyver	Piet Grobler	Mia se Ma	[39]
2005	Wynand Louw	Marjorie van Heerden	Mr Humperdinck’s Wonderful Whatsit	[11]
2004	Martie Preller	Vian Oelofsen	Ek is Simon	[49]

Jan Rabie Rapport Prize

The Jan Rabie Rapport Prize, named for Afrikaans writer Jan Rabie, is awarded to debut or early works "characterised by fresh and innovative Afrikaans prose."^[3] It was given for the first time in 2004, and until 2014 was awarded with the Media24 Books awards, although it was open to books from all publishers.^[2] Since 2015, it has been awarded with the kykNET-Rapport Book Prizes, a group of Afrikaans literary awards.^[6]

Winners of the Jan Rabie Rapport Prize (2004–2021)

Year	Winner	Work	Ref.
2021	Anton Roodt	Weerlose meganika	[6]
2020
2019
2018
2017	Valda Jansen	Hy kom met die skoenlappers	[18]
2016
2015
2014	Dominique Botha	Valsrivier	[24][25]
2013	M.S. Burger	Bloedfamilie	[26][27]
2012	S.J. Naudé	Alfabet van die voëls	[5][28]
2011	Deborah Steinmair	Marike se laaste dans	[47][30]
2010	Bettina Wyngaard	Troos vir die gebrokenes	[1][7]
2009	Karin Cronje	Alles mooi weer	[3][48]
2008	Willem Anker	Siegfried	[35][36]
2007	Johan Engelbrecht	Kaffertjie	[37][38]
2006	Marlize Hobbs	Flarde	[39]
2005	Anoeschka von Meck	Vaselinetjie	[11]
2004	Kleinboer	Kontrei	[49]