Renowned rhino calf response and rehabilitation expert Karen Trendler received the Nick Steele Memorial Award for Environmentalist of the Year, for the on-going instrumental role she plays in rhino calf rescue.

For the first time, the SAB Environmental Community Award, recognising community-based environmental projects was given to environmental scientist and author Fortunate Phaka for his frog handbook — the first to be written in isiZulu and English, with input from local community members in KwaZulu-Natal.

"This award is aimed at helping those on the ground make a difference in communities that are affected, more than most, by daily environmental challenges," says Zoleka Lisa, SAB VP corporate affairs and sustainability South Africa.

The winners of the 2019 SAB Environmental Media and Environmentalist Awards include:
  • Written Media Award (Print and Online) — Bongani Fuzile from Daily Dispatch for his investigation into a possible Cholera outbreak in the Eastern Cape.
  • Written Media Award (Magqubu Ntombela and Ian Player Cub Award) — Ahmed Kajee from EWN for his investigation into how South African could run out of water by 2030.  
  • Photography Award (Print and Online) — Alon Skuy from Sunday Times for his work capturing the treatment and recovery of Chaos the lion from skin cancer.
  • Video Media Award (Magqubu Ntombela and Ian Player Cub Award) — Shivan Parusnath from 50/50 for the work he did on the Sungazer lizards and the impact of the illegal reptile trade in South Africa.
  • Video Media Award (short form) — John Webb from Carte Blanche for his entries on the impact of Palm Oil on the environment, how Mpumalanga is regarded by Greenpeace Africa as the world's worst Nitrogen Dioxide hot spot and the risk that rising planet temperatures could thaw carbon-rich Permafrost in the Arctic, causing methane gas to be released and turn the earth into a global hothouse.
  • Video Media Award (long form) — Bonne de Bod and Susan Scott, who are freelancers for Stroop, for their work Journey into the Rhino Horn War
  • Audio Media Award (short form) — Kaylynn Palm from EWN, for her entries on the drought and its effects on the Western Cape.
  • Audio Media Award (long form) — Suzanne Paxton from RSG, for her investigation into the effects of humans and climate change on the country's flora and fauna.
  • Nick Steele Memorial Award for the Environmentalist of the Year — Karen Trendler
  • SAB Environmental Community Award — Fortunate Phaka
Each category winner received R15 000 in cash, while the Magqubu Ntombela and Ian Player Cub Award winners each received R7 000. Commenting on the awards, convenor Katy Katopodis says, "There's never been a more important time for journalists to write stories about this critical issue."

"The environment has a direct impact on every aspect of our economy and our lives and we encourage all journalists to keep writing about the catastrophic effects of climate change," adds Katopodis.

SAB has committed to several sustainability goals to be achieved by 2025 in the following areas:
  • water ttewardship
  • smart agriculture
  • climate action
  • circular packaging 
  • entrepreneurship
"Transforming a global business into one which is environmentally friendly is a behemoth task, but one which we know is vital for the sustainability of our business and the communities in which we operate," concludes Lisa.

For more information, visit www.sabenviromedia.co.za.