Citation for the Nat Nakasa Award to Joe Thloloe
Remarks by Mathatha Tsedu, Chairman of the Judging Panel for the Nat Nakasa Award for Courageous Journalism, July 28, 2012 in Durban.
Nat Nakasa was a prominent journalist and writer who died a lonely death in exile in New York. He lies buried at the Upstate New York Cemetery, a few metres from Malik el Shabazz aka Malcolm X. Their final resting place is significant, as the two had met in life in Tanzania, Nat waiting for a Tanzanian passport to go to Harvard as a Nieman Fellow after taking a one way exit permit from his homeland, and Malcolm X on his tour of rediscovery through Africa. Upsate New York Cemetery is where many prominent writers such as James Baldwin, and actors are buried. So Nat is in good company indeed.
The Nat Nakasa Award for Courageous Journalism is awarded annually by SANEF and PMSA in recognition of any media practitioner such as journalist, editor, manager or owner, who has:
* Shown integrity and reported fearlessly;
* Displayed a commitment to serve the people of South Africa;
* Tenaciously striven to maintain a publication or other medium despite insurmountable obstacles;
* Resisted any censorship;
* Shown courage in making information available to the SA public;
* Any combination of the above.
The panel of judges this year was Dr Simphiwe Sesanti, Senior Lecturer in Journalism at Stellenbosch University, Peter Sullivan, former Group Editor in Chief of Independent Newspapers, and myself as Chairperson. The panel does not have to award if it is not satisfied that the nominees are worthy of this esteemed honour. Such in fact was the case last year when the panel returned a no award verdict.
This year we received eight nominations, most of which were truly worthy entrants. The panel was able to reach a unanimous decision and we have an awardee.
The person we honour tonight has served South Africa and journalism for nearly fifty years. His writing defied apartheid and gave courage to workers to form trade unions and fight for their rights. Long spells of detention served only to firm his belief and commitment to the truism that right must eventually triumph over wrong.
Today, he ensures that journalism does not stray from its path of serving the public. He also defends the space for such work against loud intentions by the powers that be to encroach on his turf.
SA’s Press Ombudsman, Ntate Thloloe, Bra Joe, Dr Thloloe, or simply Malume to others, has served as an inspiration to many of those who have met him and read his writings. Soft-spoken as he is, his stance is never wavering on issues of principle. This is so even where this proves to be detrimental to himself. Bra Joe's use of his journalism to bring about a just South Africa has resulted in him experiencing several moments of hardship through detentions and torture.
His stance is an indication that he understood, as Bantu Biko once pointed out, that comfort and leadership in the revolution, are incompatible. For journalism is leadership, and in this regard, Bra Joe has not failed. When his story is recorded one day, it will be an inspiration to future journalists and journalism students who have a quest for a just society.
Bra Joe received an Honoray Doctorate in Law from Rhodes University and the National Order of Ikhamanga in Silver from President Jacob Zuma. Tonight we confer South African Journalism’s highest honour to a man deserving even more. A true son of the soil, a truly good human being and citizen, and a Pan Africanist par excellence. Bra Joe, please.
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