# University of Johannesburg Prize

The University of Johannesburg Prize for South African Writing, also known as the UJ Prize, is awarded annually by the University of Johannesburg (UJ) for the best creative works in each of five categories: English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Northern Sotho, and Literary Translation. There are usually two prizes, a main prize and a debut prize, in each category. The prizes are not linked to a specific genre, and each year's prize rewards work published in the previous year. The winner of the main prize in each category receives R70 000, the winner of each debut prize receives R35 000, and the winner of the Literary Translation prize receives R50 000.
The Afrikaans prize has been awarded since 2001, but was previously called the RAU-Prys vir Skeppende Skyfwerk (RAU Prize for Creative Writing) and located at Rand Afrikaans University (RAU). In 2005, when RAU was merged with other institutions to establish UJ, the name of the prize was changed and the English category was introduced.
The Zulu, Northern Sotho, and Literary Translation prizes were awarded for the first time in 2021, with any work published between 2018 and 2020 eligible for entry.
Marlene van Niekerk, Willem Anker and S.J. Naudé have each won the Afrikaans prize three times; English translations of novels by Anker and Naudé have also won the UJ Literary Translation Prize, once each; in Naudé's case, he translated his own work.

## Prizes for South African Writing in English

Winners of the English prize (2009-2023) :
| Year | Prize | Winner | Work | Genre |
| 2023 | Main | CA Davids | How to Be a Revolutionary | Fiction |
| 2023 | Debut | Pulane Mlilo Mpondo | Things My Mother Left Me | Fiction |
| 2022 | Main | Mandla Langa | The Lost Language of the Soul | Fiction |
| 2022 | Debut | A’Eysha Kassiem | Suitcase of Memory | Fiction |
| 2022 | Debut | Lisa-Anne Julien | If You Save Me | Fiction |
| 2021 | Main | Jacob Dlamini | Safari Nation | Non-fiction |
| 2021 | Debut | Rešoketšwe Manenzhe | Scatterlings | Fiction |
| 2021 | Debut | Jamil F. Khan | Khamr: The Making of a Waterslams | Memoir |
| 2020 | No prizes awarded | No prizes awarded | No prizes awarded | |
| 2019 | Main | Gabeba Baderoon | The History of Intimacy | Poetry |
| 2019 | Debut | Mphuthumi Ntabeni | The Broken River Tent | Historical fiction |
| 2018 | Main | Lesego Rampolokeng | Bird-Monk Seding | Fiction |
| 2018 | Debut | Barbara Boswell | Grace | Fiction |
| 2017 | Main | Nthikeng Mohlele | Pleasure | Fiction |
| 2017 | Debut | Mohale Mashigo | The Yearning | Fiction |
| 2016 | Main | Craig Higginson | The Dream House | Fiction |
| 2016 | Debut | Eliza Kentridge | Signs for an Exhibition | Poetry |
| 2016 | Debut | Nkosinathi Sithole | Hunger Eats a Man | Fiction |
| 2015 | Main | Zakes Mda | Rachel's Blue | Fiction |
| 2015 | Debut | Penny Busetto | The Story of Anna P, As Told By Herself | Fiction |
| 2014 | Main | Lauren Beukes | The Shining Girls | Fiction |
| 2014 | Debut | Dominique Botha | False River | Fiction |
| 2013 | Main | Ken Barris | Life Underwater | Fiction |
| 2013 | Debut | Steven Boykey Sidley | Entanglement | Fiction |
| 2012 | Main | Craig Higginson | The Landscape Painter | Fiction |
| 2012 | Debut | Terry Westby-Nunn | The Sea of Wise Insects | Fiction |
| 2011 | Main | Ivan Vladislavic | Double Negative | Fiction |
| 2011 | Debut | Shaida Ali | Not a Fairy Tale | Fiction |
| 2010 | Main | Imraan Coovadia | High Low In-between | Fiction |
| 2010 | Debut | Jacob Dlamini | Native Nostalgia | Non-fiction |
| 2009 | Main | Dalmon Galgut | The Impostor | Fiction |
| 2009 | Debut | Chris Marnewick | Shepherds and Butchers | Fiction |

## Prizes for South African Writing in Afrikaans

Winners of the Afrikaans prize (2001-2023) :
| Year | Prize | Winner | Work |
| 2023 | Main | Antjie Krog | Plunder |
| 2023 | Debut | Carien Smith | BOT |
| 2022 | Main | S.J. Naudé | Dol heuning |
| 2022 | Debut | Ashwin Arendse | Swatland |
| 2022 | Debut | Frederik de Jager | Man op ‘n fiets êrens heen |
| 2021 | Main | Willem Anker | Skepsel |
| 2021 | Debut | Ryan Pedro | Pienk ceramic-hondjies |
| 2020 | Main | Etienne van Heerden | Die biblioteek aan die einde van die wêreld |
| 2020 | Debut | Ruan Kemp | Gedeeltelik Bewolk |
| 2019 | Main | Charl-Pierre Naudé | Die ongelooflike onskuld van Dirkie Verwey |
| 2019 | Debut | Lodewyk G. Du Plessis | Die dao van Daan van der Walt |
| 2018 | Main | S.J. Naudé | Die derde spoel |
| 2018 | Debut | Jolyn Phillips | Radbraak |
| 2017 | Main | John Miles | Op 'n dag, 'n hond |
| 2017 | Debut | Bibi Slippers | Fotostaatmasjien |
| 2016 | Main | Ena Jansen | Soos familie |
| 2016 | Debut | Roela Hattingh | Kamee |
| 2015 | Main | Willem Anker | Buys |
| 2015 | Debut | Stephanus Muller | Nagmusiek |
| 2014 | Main | Marlene van Niekerk | Kaar |
| 2014 | Debut | Dominique Botha | Valsrivier |
| 2013 | Main | Ingrid Winterbach | Die aanspraak van lewede wesens |
| 2013 | Debut | André Kruger | Die twee lewens van Dieter Ondracek |
| 2012 | Main | Dan Sleigh | Wals met Matilda |
| 2012 | Debut | S.J. Naudé | Alfabet van die voëls |
| 2011 | Main | Marlene van Niekerk | Die sneeuslaper |
| 2011 | Debut | Nicole Jaekel Strauss | Maal |
| 2010 | Main | Elsa Joubert | Reisiger |
| 2010 | Debut | Karin Brynard | Plaasmoord |
| 2009 | Main | Etienne van Heerden | 30 Nagte in Amsterdam |
| 2009 | Debut | Loftus Marais | Staan in die algemeen nader aan vensters |
| 2008 | Main | Breyten Breytenbach | Die windvanger |
| 2008 | Debut | Willem Anker | Siegfried |
| 2007 | Main | Ingrid Winterbach | Die boek van toeval en toeverlaat |
| 2007 | Debut | Danie Marais | In die buitenste ruimte |
| 2006 | Main | André P. Brink | Bidsprinkaan |
| 2006 | Debut | Marlize Hobbs | Flarde |
| 2005 | Main | Marlene van Niekerk | Agaat |
| 2004 | Main | Abraham H. de Vries | Tot verhaal kom |
| 2004 | Debut | Marius Crous | Brief uit die kolonies |
| 2003 | Main | Dan Sleigh | Eilande |
| 2003 | Debut | Nini Bennett | Stoornis |
| 2002 | Main | Rachelle Greeff | Merke van die nag |
| 2002 | Debut | Nanette van Rooyen | Om te vlerk |
| 2001 | Main | Antjie Krog | Kleur kom nooit alleen nie |

## Prizes for Creative Writing in Zulu

Winners of the Zulu prize (2021-2023) :
| Year | Prize | Winner | Work | Genre |
| 2023 | Main | Ndabayakhe William Zulu | Emzileni KaShaka | Historical fiction |
| 2022 | Main | Ntombenhle Protasia Dlamini | Zinoju Zulu | Poetry |
| 2022 | Main | Khanyelihle Mnguni | Kusazoba Mnandi | Short stories |
| 2022 | Debut | Sandile Ngwenya | Imali Yezipoki | YA fiction |
| 2021 | Main | E.D.M. Sibiya | Isibusiso Nezinyembezi | Poetry anthology |
| 2021 | Debut | Mbusiseni Bhenya | UGovana kaGovana | Drama |

## Prizes for Creative Writing in Northern Sotho (Sesotho sa Leboa)

Winner of the Northern Sotho prize (2011-2023) :
| Year | Prize | Winner | Work | Genre |
| 2023 | Main | Moses Seletisha | Eto la Mofaladi | Biography |
| 2023 | Debut | Ntloro Charlotte Pebane | Lerato la Lepheko | Fiction |
| 2022 | Main | PM Mashilo & MT Masha | Ditsakauma Tša Marumo | Various |
| 2022 | Debut | Kholofelo Thaba | Sedibeng sa Komelelo | Poetry |
| 2022 | Debut | Mahlatsi Maqwenjo | Bohlale bjo foufetšego | Fiction |
| 2021 | Main | Kobate John Sekele | Madimabe a Lešoko | Fiction |

## Prizes for Literary Translation

The translation prize is awarded for the translation of a literary text from any language into any one of the official South African languages. There is no debut prize for literary translation; instead, there is a prize for the translation of a youth text.
Winners of the Literary Translation prize (2021-2023) :
| Year | Prize | Winner | Work | Language |
| 2023 | Main | Henrietta Rose-Innes | A Library to Flee (Die biblioteek aan die einde van die wêreld by Etienne van Heerden) | Afrikaans to English |
| 2022 | Main | S.J. Naudé | Mad Honey (Dol heuning by the same author) | Afrikaans to English |
| 2021 | Main | Michiel Heyns | Red Dog (Buys by Willem Anker) | Afrikaans to English |
| 2021 | Youth Text | Nathan Trantraal | Lang pad onnetoe (Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds) | English to Afrikaans |