2020 Sanlam Financial Journalist of the Year

Sanlam Group CEO, Paul Hanratty, said: "As a responsible corporate citizen, we recognise a vibrant society needs robust journalism today and in the future. Sanlam's contribution to financial journalism supports the press to fulfil society's informational needs in an ever-changing globalised world."

Mr Nixon Kariithi, Chair of the independent judging panel, led the adjudication which was done via Zoom for the second consecutive year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was joined by Ms Paula Fray, Ms Ylva Rodny-Gumede, Mr Ulrich Joubert and Mr Charles Naude, all based in South Africa. The internationally based judges were Ms Angela Agoawike in Nigeria, Mr Tom Indimuli in Kenya, and Mr Richard Stovin-Bradford in England.

Commenting on Bisseker's achievement as the overall winner, Kariithi said, "Every year the judges look out for an entry that stands out above the rest that could be seen to represent the best of South Africa's business, economic and financial journalism.

"Many of this year's entries were of high quality, making the task much harder for the judges. The Journalist of the Year candidate was a unanimous decision by the judges and one that was fully deserving of the noble recognition as the best of the best for the 2020 edition of the Sanlam Financial Journalist of the Year Award."

Kariithi further said Bisseker's work was written in simple, accessible yet powerful prose, and provided a unique and fresh window to understanding a critically important aspect of the South African economy today.