Three Stellenbosch University (SU) alumni are among the winners of the South African Academy of Science and Arts’ prestigious Academy Awards for 2026.

The Hertzog Prize for Poetry was awarded to acclaimed author Tom Dreyer for his poetry collection Nou in infrarooi.

The Hertzog Prize is one of the most prestigious awards in Afrikaans literature and is presented annually in rotation for poetry, drama, and narrative prose, in that order. The prize is awarded on the recommendation of the SA Academy’s Literature Commission.

Other Maties shortlisted for this prize included Joan Hambidge, renowned poet, academic, and literary critic, for Asindeton; Bibi Slippers, poet and journalist, for Soekenjin; and Herman Wasserman, Professor and Chair of SU’s Department of Journalism and Director of the Centre for Information Integrity in Africa, for Waterman.

The Markus Viljoen Medal for Journalism was awarded to Michélle van Breda, editor of SARIE magazine. This prize is awarded every three years for long-term, high-quality work in Afrikaans journalism, whether in newspapers, magazines, television, or radio.

Michélle, who has served as editor of SARIE for a quarter of a century, has developed the iconic magazine into a dynamic, multidimensional brand and established it as a cultural anchor for Afrikaans women. As a seasoned journalist whose career began at Die Burger in 1981, she has consistently earned recognition for her ingenuity, vision, and leadership. 

The third Matie to receive a prize is veteran journalist Bun Booyens.

He receives the LW Hiemstra Prize for Non-Fiction for Troep: die dinge wat hulle saamdra.

This prize is awarded every three years for an original Afrikaans non-fiction work that is accessible beyond a specialist audience. Books published in the preceding three calendar years are eligible.

The prizes will be presented to the winners on 2 October 2026 during an awards ceremony in Pretoria.

Source: https://www.akademie.co.za/