Unwavering determination and persistence to get the story no one else had earned our reporter Mervyn Naidoo a Vodacom Journalist of the Year award.
Naidoo sailed into the finals by winning the KZN regional award in the sports category for breaking the news about KwaMashu sailor Vuyisile Jaca’s journey from township hardship to making history as the first Black African woman to win an around-the-world yacht race.
“We are incredibly proud of Mervyn’s achievement, which is just reward for his persistence and consistent hard work,” said Independent on Saturday editor Zoubair Ayoob.
“His win reflects the high standards the Independent on Saturday strives to deliver. We wish Mervyn all the best in the national competition,” said Ayoob, a sentiment echoed by his colleagues.
“While my story on the inspirational Vuyisile Jaca’s sailing exploits won me the award, overall, I regard this as a measure of recognition for the hard work, sacrifices and dedication required in this profession,” said Naidoo.
“Some of the most outstanding local journalists were among the 2024 VJOY group of winners and it was my privilege to have been counted among them.
“My family was extremely excited and proud of the achievement and I’m grateful to them for their love and support. I also appreciated the congratulatory messages from colleagues. I was touched by the number of warm greetings friends and colleagues shared on social media sites.
“Once I got wind of what Vuyisile had achieved and the difficult life she had growing up, I made it my mission to tell her story.
“Vuyisile remained in the UK after the race as she and her crew were booked for various celebratory and media engagements, including meeting the British and Jordanian royal families.
“I remember calling her a few times on that particular day but my timing and connectivity failed repeatedly. I eventually got it right later that evening, while she was at a dinner party with her crew in a packed restaurant.
“In spite of the noisy feedback and the scratchy line, I managed to get Vuyisile’s thoughts on making sailing history and her life’s story in an interview that lasted 40 minutes,” he said.
The Independent on Saturday broke the story in its April 27 edition, and “other local media caught up with Jaca’s accomplishment nearly two weeks later when she returned to Durban.
“Local government arranged a special event to recognise her success. It was great that some pupils from her old school in KwaMashu were among the invited guests.” said Naidoo.
“It was an even greater gesture when the KZN Department of Sport awarded her with a full bursary to study nautical science at an institution of her choice. She’s now in Cape Town and starts her studies next year.”
This is not the first Vodacom win for Naidoo: “In 2022 I landed my first Vodacom success in the ‘Lifestyle’ category with my story on a box-shaped, mint condition 1986 Toyota Cressida in a Joburg dealership that was priced at R1.1million.”
The national finals take place on November 7.