The University of Johannesburg (UJ) recently announced the winners of the following three newly instated prizes: UJ Prize for Creative Writing in isiZulu, UJ Prize for Creative Writing in Sesotho sa Leboa, and the UJ Prize for Literary Translation. 

Imali Yezipoki by Sandile Ngwenya is the winner of the 2022 Debut Prize for Creative Writing in isiZulu. 

This debut novel for young adults is the story of Sgegede who digs up his late grandfather’s buried treasure of Kruger rands and converts it into cash, thus unlocking a series of events. The novel is described as “African magical realism and a rural-urban thriller” (Clarke’s Bookshop, Cape Town). Ngwenya was also awarded first prize in the 2021 Sanlam Prizes for Youth Literature Competition for Imali Yezipoki.