The University of Johannesburg Prize for South African Writing (UJ Prize) has announced the winners of its 2025 edition, honoring works published in 2024.
The adjudication panel was chaired by Prof Ronit Frenkel of the University of Johannesburg and included Prof Sikhumbuzo Mngadi, Prof Marzia Milazzo, Dr Rebecca Fasselt, Prof Grace Musila, and Prof Nedine Moonsamy.
Reflecting on the process, Frenkel remarked:
“It has been a very difficult year to assess the entries as we had so many excellent choices from both very well-known authors and new voices. As usual, we have read across genres to select our winners.”
The Debut Prize was awarded to Weeping Becomes a River by Siphokazi Jonas. The collection stood out as one of the few poetry books to win the prize. Commenting on Jonas’s success, Frenkel said:
“Our debut winner introduces audiences to a new voice in South African poetry, who we believe is a rising star in the literary world.”
The Main Prize was jointly awarded to two novels: The Comrade’s Wife by Barbara Boswell and The Lost Love of Akbar Manzil by Shubnum Khan. Acknowledging the strength of both works, Frenkel noted:
“The joint main prize-winning texts this year are both novels that reflect South Africa’s extraordinary range with the genre, spanning realism to the gothic, in contemporary form.”
The joint-winners of the Main Prize will each receive prize money of R75,000.00, and the Debut Prize will receive R45,000.00. with all shortlisted nominees to receive certificates of recognition.
Congratulations to the 2025 UJ Prize winners and the nominees!
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
