SALA Announces the 2024 Shortlisted Nominees

South Africa’s premier literary prize, the 19th South African Literary Awards will, on 7 November 2024, celebrate a literary milestone in style when more than 30 authors are honoured for their sterling contributions to South African literature at a gala dinner at the Ditsong National Museum of Cultural History in Tshwane. The SALA is a highlight in South Africa’s literary calendar.

The event will honour distinguished writers from a wide range of South African languages and literary disciplines.

The final judging convention and process for this year’s SALA has been completed by a 30-strong panel of judges, and the names of shortlisted finalists are now available.

In addition to the SALA ceremony, the 12th Africa Century International African Writers Conference will take place on the same day, commemorating the 33rd International African Writers’ Day and 30 years of South Africa’s freedom and democracy.

The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Gayton McKenzie, will deliver the keynote address.

SALA, founded in 2005 by the wRite associates, serves as an important venue for acknowledging the efforts of authors, translators, poets, and other literary practitioners. The Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture is instrumental in advancing this effort, displaying its dedication to encouraging cultural and literary quality.

“A big thank you must go to the judging panel, from across all our country’s official languages and 16 literary categories, who have read, analysed and finally reached consensus on which authors’ work make the cut,” said Morakabe Raks Seakhoa, the Managing Director of the wRite associates and SALA’s founding Executive Director, highlighting the significance of this year’s event.

Seakhoa adds: “SALA’s success reflects the dynamic and evolving literary scene in South Africa. We look forward to celebrating the achievements of exceptional writers who have made a significant impact.

“SALA has always been a courageous pioneering venture, and the future will undoubtedly influence our growth potential. Having braved the fold, and with the foresight and enterprising Advisory Board we currently have, a number of interventions are being considered, including rebranding some of the existing categories, expanding and adding others, such as women’s writing and writing by/for people living with disabilities in a variety of ways,” Seakhoa concludes. 

The SALA honours work across 16 categories, including:

  1. First-time Published Author Literary Award
  2. k. Sello Duiker Memorial Literary Award
  3. Nadine Gordimer Short Story Literary Award
  4. National Poet Laureate Prize
  5. Regional Poet Laureate Prize
  6. Local Poet Laureate Prize
  7. Poetry Award
  8. Literary Translators Award
  9. Lifetime Achievement Literary Award
  10. Posthumous Literary Award
  11. Literary Journalism Award
  12. Creative Non-Fiction Award
  13. Chairperson’s Award
  14. Children’s Literature Award
  15. Youth Literature Award
  16. Novel Award

The events are by invitation and confirmation of attendance only.

For more information about SALA and the upcoming ceremony, please visit:

www.sala.org.za or contact info@writesassociates.co.za and/or: +27 11 791 9209


Issued by the South African Literary Awards © 2024

2024 SOUTH AFRICAN LITERARY AWARDS SHORTLIST:

Children’s Literature Award 

  1. Riana Scheepers – Saartjie die spinnekop met sewe bene
  2. Roslynne Toerien – The Rumbling Rhino
  3. Kwazi Ndlangisa – Vukani Kusile
  4. Deidré Jantjies – Stories in die wind

First-Time Published Author Award 

  1. Tebello Mzamo – I Did Not Die
  2. Mafika Jetro Mahlangu – Umrhayili
  3. Bonga Matu – Thula Mama Thula – Big Girls Don’t Cry
  4. Sinethemba Simlindile Bhila – Hawu Mfundisi
  5. Mbhazima Silence Baloyi – Ndzi Khomeleni
  6. Lwando Dlephu – AMAVA AHLABAHLOSILE
  7. Constance Marry Mkomi – Zakwetfu
  8. Nonceba Mabena – Isikhwebu
  9. Beauty Maretsane Madihlabe – Ke tlo mo paledisa

Youth Literature Award

  1. Luke Calder – Rodentia
  2. Phiwokuhle Phiwe Dekisile – Umsinga Wothando
  3. Kobate John Sekele – Ba Kwa Ka Letlalo
  4. Nellie Alberts – Reg in die middel van nêrens

  1. Sello Duiker Memorial Literary Award

  1. Jarred Thompson – The Institute for Creative Dying
  2. Sihle Qwabe – The Resurrection

Poetry Award

  1. Zihnziswa Nyokana – ILIZWI LAMAZWI WAKHO
  2. Fhulufhelo Ntsieni – Rudzani
  3. Rivalani Jonathan Ngomani – Sayense ya Vutlhokovetseri
  4. Sithembele Isaac Xhegwana – Dark lines of history: poems
  5. Sipho Banda – A Crowded Lonely Walk
  6. Rudzani Eric Mmbengwa – Ngwedzamilambo

Nadine Gordimer Short Story Award

  1. Carien Smith- Bot
  2. Diane Awerbuck – Inside your body there are flowers
  3. Dawn Garisch – What Remains

Creative Non-Fiction Literary Award

  1. Sihle Khumalo – Milk the Beloved Country
  2. Justin Fox- Place
  3. David Moroke – Moyagoleele

Novel Award

  1. Barry Gilder – At Fire Hour
  2. Jabulane Johan Ncongwane – Lifa Letilima
  3. Johan Vlok Louw – Sons of Mud
  4. Sithembile Mputa – Unyana Wolahleko
  5. SJ Naudé – Van vaders en vlugtelinge
  6. Thivhusiwi Tshindane Tshivhula – U Gidima Hu Fhirwa Nga U Tshimbila
  7. Kabelo Duncan Kgatea – Tsamaya sentle ‘tata’ Mandela

Literary Translators Award

  1. Karen Press- Pillage
  2. Misokuhle Nyathikazi – Ntofo-Ntofo
  3. Michiel Heyns – THE DAO OF DANIEL
  4. Moses Seletisha – Dithetosello le dithetotumišo
  5. Vonani Bila – Khanimamba N’wantlhadyana na Mbila
  6. Eben Venter – Decima