A SELECT cohort of Gauteng-based media practitioners gathered at the French Institute of South Africa’s Dibukafe library in Braamfontein on Thursday evening for a networking session with Jeff Wicks, the NPC-UNISA 2025 Overall Journalist of the Year.
An investigative journalist atNews24 as well as a best-selling author of the book, The Shadow State: Why Babita Deokaran had to die, Wick’s insightful engagement with fellow members of the Fourth Estate came on the very day a subject of his reportages, viz, Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala had earlier appeared in the Pretoria Commercial Crimes Court over charges of corruption, fraud and money-laundering related to his R360 million SAPS tender.
An underworld figure who had been exposed by Wicks’ News24 during its ‘9 Lives’ investigative series regarding his extensive network of influence within South Africa’s highest official echelons – Matlala entered into a plea and sentence deal with the NPA’s Investigating Directorate Against Corruption which would result in him serving eight years in prison – subject to ratification by the presiding magistrate (at the time of the publication of this report).
Wicks’ investigations team had also revealed how Matlala – who’s previously been flagged by murdered whistleblower Babita Deokaran for suspicious Tembisa Hospital contracts – funded an extravagant lifestyle of Rolls-Royces, designer clothes and mansions while his entity Medicare24 failed to deliver services and left employees unpaid.
Wicks discussed stories which have earned him the NPC-UNISA accolade and shared anecdotes on resources such as time, patience, courage, persistence and company backing – it takes for investigative reporters to accomplish their stories.
During a Q-&-A session, he candidly spoke about his determination to get on with his job amid the prevailing environment of intimidation and threats to whistleblowers – further mentioning that he has had various accusations levelled his way which include being a paid agent, by detractors.
Despite his exposure of Matlala’s plethora of alleged malfeasance, Wicks mentioned that the underworld actor and tender don – as he describes the doomed accused in his reportages – greeted him at the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court earlier in the day.
An exhibition titled Blue & Red themed around photojournalism’s scrutiny of power was also on display at the library, with some of the imagery limning Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi appearing at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and him conducting an SAPS parade following on his revelations about systemic corruption within the SAPS and allegations regarding the then Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu.
Somehow fortuitously, Wicks’ address delved onto the fellow honouree at the National Press Council’s annual Newsmaker of the Year Gala in Pretoria on May 29 – with him slamming Mkhwanazi for his October 2025 utterances before a parliamentary committee during which the celebrated whistleblower urged for a counterintelligence investigation against journalists and demanded heavy penalties for reporters who err in their reporting.
At the time, Mkhwanazi’s utterances were reported to have shocked lawmakers – with the police officer receiving condemnation from the South African National Editor’s Forum for what the organisation deemed to be a threat to media freedom.
The moment was an apt indicator of the robust engagements which periodically occur within Dibukafé – a space designed to foster dialogue, critical thought and artistic collaboration and aimed as a venue for public debate, exhibitions and cultural exchange betwixt South Africa and France.
The venue’s concept resonated with hostess and Chairperson of the National Press Club, Antoinette Slabbert, who during the May black-tie gala had mentioned that the NPC-UNISA partnership (which began sixteen ago when the two institutions had jointly hosted the annual Percy Qoboza Memorial Lecture) had been founded on defending media freedom, advancing critical thought and amplifying the plurality of voices in South Africa.
Slabbert’s organisation’s assertion had been supported by the University of South Africa, whose Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Puleng LenkaBula had said at the same event that “a free and fearless press is the condition upon which democracy depends.”
“We appeal to journalists, photographers, presenters, producers and media liaison officers to enter the competition.”
And since Wicks, as the incumbent winner of the NPC-UNISA award, had also been permitted to utilize the platform as an opportunity to share tips with attendees on how to put together a winning submission – Slabbert exhorted: “we appeal to journalists, photographers, presenters, producers and media liaison officers to enter the competition.”
Wicks has worked as a journalist for eighteen years and is a two-time recipient of the prestigious Taco Kuiper Award for Investigative Journalism, as well as the 2024 Nat Nakasa Award for courageous journalism.
Prior to receiving the NPC-UNISA 2025 Overall Journalist of the Year prize in May, Wicks had in March also been announced as the joint recipient of the inaugural Ninety One for Tomorrow Award along with Pieter-Louis Myburgh (he of the Gangster State tome which exposed state capture involving Ace Magashule) – sharing the R1 million prize in recognition of their exceptional contributions to investigative journalism in South Africa.
A global Anglo-South African investment and asset management company, Ninety One’s Ninety One for Tomorrow Award has been created to support investigative journalism that illuminates – inter alia – malfeasance, which would damage the integrity of South Africa’s democracy.
At the time, the entity’s CEO, Hendrik du Toit had been quoted as hinting that the monetary incentive the duo received was to ensure that they had the means necessary to devote the time and effort required for their ongoing pursuit of quality investigative journalism.
Image Jacob MAWELA (News24 investigative journalist, Jeff Wicks, limned addressing a rendezvous of the media corps during a National Press Club networking session at Dibukafe library in Braamfontein.)
