This year's theme, "The Human Factor — Africa's G20 Moment," aims to place people, purpose and progress at the centre of every discussion. It takes place between Thursday, 16 to Saturday, 18 October, the Summit and Awards celebrates the best in strategic communication and public relations and the professionals and organisations redefining Southern Africa's voice on the global stage, says PRISA.

"The 2025 PRISMS marked a shift from celebration to purpose. This year, we witnessed how communicators are not just storytellers but shapers of economies, policy, and social consciousness," says Bradly Howland, President of PRISA. "The calibre of entries, the sophistication of dialogue at the Summit, and the diversity of perspectives reflected an industry that is maturing, accountable and vital to Africa's development narrative."

Raising the Bar for Southern African Communications

The PRISMS Summit convenes senior leaders, academics and practitioners from across Africa to explore the intersection of technology, ethics and human-centred communication. Panels tackle critical issues such as AI governance, media trust, agency accountability, internal communication and the professionalisation of PR — aiming to affirm PRISA's role in Africa's communications future, says PRISA.

Speakers include representatives from Brand South Africa, the University of Johannesburg, Ogilvy, Edelman, MultiChoice and the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management, alongside international voices from Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Zambia and Zimbabwe, adds PRISA.

Honouring Excellence: 2025 PRISMS Awards Winners

The Grand Prix Agency of the Year title is awarded to Magna Carta Reputation Management Consultants, following a year of impact-led campaigns, says PRISA.

Flow Communications, Friday Street Club and Magna Carta win the titles of Best Large, Best Small, and Best Medium Agency respectively, aiming to underscore the breadth and innovation of South Africa's PR industry, adds PRISA.

The Campaign of the Year goes to 'Niggies' by MultiChoice, a true-crime series. The campaign achieved over 400 media features, a 250% timeslot spike, and a 1340% surge in Google search activity, all while maintaining a victim-centred narrative, says PRISA.

Honouring Lifetime Achievement and Leadership

The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to Professor Dalien Rene Benecke, an academic at the University of Johannesburg and thought leader who has dedicated her career to advancing public relations education and professional ethics in South Africa and across the continent, says PRISA.

The Fellowship Awards goes to Ailly Hangula-Paulino and Gert Jacobus Klopper for thei contribution to the profession and to PRISA's growth in the region, adds PRISA.

The Presidential Awards honours Tshepo Sefothleo, Ntokozo Ndlovu, Clayson Monyela and Mary Gearing for their leadership and service to the communications industry, says PRISA.

Celebrating the Next Generation of Communicators: PRISA Young Voice Programme, Proudly Brought by Nedbank

PRISA also recognises the participants of this year's Young Voices Programme, who aimed to bring fresh perspective, energy and curiosity to the 2025 PRISMS Summit, says PRISA.

These rising communicators — Ashla Mogane, Philani Mokoena, Thulisa Mvandaba, Themba Msibi, Thando Xaba, Tinyiko Nkuna, Malaika Ditabo, Rethabile Molehe, Bongiwe Mlambo, and Zemvelo Ndlovu — aim to represent the future of the profession, adds PRISA.

Their presence at the Summit and contribution to judging discussions aims to reflect the very spirit of the PRISMS: insight, integrity and imagination. Through programmes like Young Voices, PRISA aims to continue to nurture emerging talent, ensuring that the next generation of professionals are ready to lead Africa's communication story forward, adds PRISA.

A renewed Sense of Purpose

The 2025 edition of the PRISMS aims to reflect a maturing industry — one that is embracing accountability, ethics and collaboration across borders, says PRISA.

"The conversations this year were powerful, future-focused and deeply human," adds Howland. "From artificial intelligence to advocacy, what emerged was a shared understanding: our profession holds the power to rebuild trust, foster inclusion and lead Southern Africa's next chapter of growth."

The event concludes with a call for unity and professionalism under PRISA's aim of growing continental partnerships and cementing its vision of positioning the region as a key voice in the global communications community, says PRISA.

PRISA extends thanks to the partners and sponsors whose support makes the 2025 PRISMS Summit and Awards possible. Its appreciation goes to Johannesburg Tourism, Brand South Africa, Nedbank, The PR Power House, the University of Johannesburg, GCIS, Khalique, Coca-Cola, Alkemi Collective, Paddington Station, Flow Communications, Magna Carta and Ogilvy. PRISA says that each of these organisations play a role in aiming to celebrate excellence, advance professional dialogue and showcase the power of collaboration within our industry, says PRISA.

With a shared belief in the importance of communication as a catalyst for growth and connection, the non-profit institute continutes their aim to strengthen the PR and communications landscape across Southern Africa, adds PRISA.

B2B Categories:

  • B2B Diversity & Inclusion Campaign:
    Silver: Jacaranda FM's, 'Her Perfect Pitch,' The Platinum Club.
  • B2B Education & Training:
    Gold: OceanX: Around Africa Expedition, Tribeca PR.
  • B2B Products or Services:
    Gold: Financial TogethernessTM, Tribeca PR.
    Silver: Entrepreneur of the Year, Hook, Line & Sinker.
    Bronze: Power Shift — Fibon Energy, Flow Communications.
  • B2B Publishing, Internal Communications or PR:
    Silver: Advancing the case for an International Anti-Corruption Court, Good Governance Africa.
  • B2B Publishing — Custom Title:
    Silver: Mikateko Media, Sawubona Magazine.
  • Corporate Communications:
    Gold: Thungela Resources, PR Powerhouse.
    Silver: One Voice, Shared Responsibility, Weber Shandwick.
    Bronze: Mastercard, Weber Shandwick.
  • Crisis Management:
    Gold: Dondo Mogajane's 150-Day Journey from Reputation Defence to Dignified Transition, PR Worx.
    Silver: SAA is here to stay! — South African Airways, Flow Communications.
    Bronze: Kroomdraai acid mine, PR Powerhouse.
  • Digital Reputation Management (Long-term):
    Gold: When snow fell on the N3 — a rare South African crisis, Nerdware.
    Silver: Reframing Philanthropy campaign — Oppenheimer Memorial Trust, Flow Communications.
    Bronze: Voices of Impact — Women Presidents Organisation, Flow Communications.
  • Internal Stakeholder Engagement & Communication:
    Gold: Connecting the dots…to glu, Tribeca PR.
    Silver: #2025EEF - Women Presidents Organization (WPO), Flow Communications.
    Bronze: Nedbank: The Playground, Artifact Advertising.
  • Investor Relations:
    Bronze: DBSA's Role in the Africa Energy Sector Inward Buying and Investment Mission, Weber Shandwick, Old Mutual — FY24 Annual Results, Magna Carta Reputation Management Consultants.
  • Thought Leadership Profiling:
    Gold: The making of an authority: Positioning KnowBe4 Africa's Anna Collard, Red Ribbon Communications.
    Silver: Profiling Cornelius Coetzee, Alkemi Collective.
    Bronze: 27four: DEI Index Launch, Alkemi Collective.
  • Reputation & Brand Management (Long-term):
    Gold: Eskort and a 100+ year legacy, Eskort.
    Silver: Protecting a 15-year brand legacy, KFC.
    Bronze: SAB Reputation and Brand Management, Weber Shandwick.

B2C Categories: 

  • Agriculture, Fishing & Forestry:
    Silver: OceanX: Around Africa Expedition, Tribeca PR.
  • Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle:
    Gold: Naked Ape, Bophelo Communications.
    Silver: Eucerin Epigenetic Serum Launch, DNA Brand Architects.
    Bronze: The P-Word Survey, MSL.
  • Consumer PR for an Existing Product or Service:
    Gold: A Ribs re-launch that Rocked Mzansi, Eskort.
    Silver: How KFC owned the summer of 2024, KFC.
    Bronze: Disney's Mufasa: The Lion King — Press Tour, The Walt Disney Company Africa.
  • Content Marketing/Brand Journalism:
    Silver: Reimagining Rural Education — Good Work Foundation, Flow Communications.
  • Corporate Communication (Business-to-Consumer):
    Gold: Luxity, Hook Line & Sinker.
    Bronze: SAA is here to stay! — South African Airways, Flow Communications.
  • CRM/Customer Loyalty Campaign:
    Silver: Absa Rewards X Takealot House of Beauty, OnPoint PR & Lifestyle Management.
  • Education:
    Silver: Africa Skills Week — African Union, Flow Communications.
    Bronze: Reimagining Rural Education — Good Work Foundation, Flow Communications.
    Special Mention: Beyond the Sea — The Marion Island Expedition, KFC
  • Environmental, Renewable Energy and Technology:
    Gold: Glenfiddich The Spring, Tin Can PR.
    Silver: Power Shift — Fibon Energy, Flow Communications.
    Bronze: MPA Day 2024 — MPA Alliance, Flow Communications.
    Special Mention: The Glass Recycling Challenge, JNPR.
  • Financial:
    Gold: Bringing Together Funny People and Money People: A Bold Collaboration for Financial Literacy, Accenture Song.
    Silver: IFC — Changing Lives; one credit report at a time, ByDesign Communications.
    Bronze: Xero Tax Education, FleishmanHillard SA, FMCG.
    Silver: Cadbury 'The Lunch Bar Man', Accenture Song.
    Bronze: SPAR — A Christmas Like No Other, Magna Carta Reputation Management Consultants.
    Special Mention: No Lay's, No Game, DNAFood & Beverage.
    Gold: A new rib recipe that became an 8-week pop-up extravaganza, Eskort.
    Silver: S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy, Paddington Station PR.
    Bronze: Wozzaah #WhatDoesAfricaTasteLike, Tribeca PR.
  • Beverage (Alcohol):
    Silver: Savanna #TryJanuary, OnPoint.
  • PR & Lifestyle Management:

Silver: Glenfiddich Grand Château, Tin Can PR.

  • Healthcare & Related Industries:
    Gold: The Lifeline: Redefining Hope, Hook Line & Sinker.
    Silver: Momentum Health — The True Health Of Nation 2025, Fleishman Hillard SA.
    Bronze: EMGuidance — Powering local visibility, influencing global decisions, ByDesign Communications.
  • Industrial, Manufacturing & Resources:
    Gold: Anglo American — Building Capacity Beyond the Mine, ByDesign Communications.
  • Launch of a New Product or Service:
    Gold: Showmax X Eric Cantona, Retroviral.
    Silver: Vaseline Cera-Glow Launch, Ogilvy.
    Bronze: Wozzaah #WhatDoesAfricaTasteLike, Tribeca PR.
  • Professional Services:
    Bronze: Ntiyiso Consulting Group Professional Services, Flow Communications
  • Property & Construction:
    Gold: Just Property, Paddington Station PR.
    Silver: SA Property Investors Network (SAPIN), Brandscapers Africa.

Bronze: Bluegrass Rooted In The Wild, Paddington Station PR.

  • Radio As a Primary Tool:
    Silver: Mother's Day — The SPAR Group, Magna Carta Reputation Management Consultants.
  • Retail:
    Bronze: The SPAR Group - A Christmas Like No Other, Magna Carta Reputation Management Consultants, TOPS at SPAR — Celebrate for Mos, Magna Carta Reputation Management Consultants.
  • Social Media As A Primary Tool:
    Gold: Mercedes-Benz V-Class "Keep Them Guessing", Magna Carta Reputation Management Consultants.
    Silver: When snow fell on the N3 — a rare South African crisis, Nerdware.
    Bronze: The growth of the Technology Innovation Agency's voice online, Alkemi Collective.
  • Sponsorship:
    Bronze: Robertsons Spices x A Food, Love Story by Onezwa Mbola, INPR.
  • Sport:
    Silver: Keep Moving — African Union Sports Council, Flow Communications.
  • Technology:
    Gold: The Rise of Deepfake Fraud during elections — Sumsub, Tishala Communications.
    Silver: SAP — AI Skills Report, ByDesign Communications.
    Bronze: MTN #WinWinSummer, Magna Carta Reputation Management Consultants.
  • Travel & Tourism:
    Gold: Museum of Illusions Johannesburg, Jenny Griesel Communications.
    Bronze: Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company, Alkemi Collective.
    Bronze: SAA is here to stay — South African Airways, Flow Communications.

Special Categories:

  • The Human Factor:
    Gold: Making the (glu) circle bigger, Tribeca PR.
    Silver: Savanna #TryJanuary, OnPoint PR & Lifestyle Management.
    Bronze: NMF 22nd Annual Lecture 2024 — Nelson Mandela Foundation, Flow Communications.
  • Arts & Entertainment:
    Gold: Niggies, MultiChoice.
    Silver: National Geographic David Blaine: Do Not Attempt, The Walt Disney Company Africa.
  • Communication Research:
    Silver: SAP — AI Skills Report, ByDesign Communications.
  • Community Relations:
    Gold: Drive Sharp, SAB.
    Silver: 'Her Perfect Pitch,' Jacaranda FM.
    Bronze: TIA Grassroot Innovation , Alkemi Collective.
  • Corporate Citizenship:
    Gold: Impact Reports — Chasing Hope, Not Targets KFCSilver, Hands in Action, Hearts in Service: BAS's Sustainable Legacy in South African Communities, BASF.
    Bronze: Sanlam Investments: restoring confidence through purposeful stewardship, Accenture Song.
  • Digital Campaign:
    Silver: NMF 22nd Annual Lecture 2024 — Nelson Mandela Foundation, Flow Communications.
  • Event Management:
    Gold: Disney+ Quiz Nights, The Walt Disney Company Africa + Chilliengine + Capacity Relations.
    Silver: #ClicksBroScape Fives Championship — powered by BroNation, Magna Carta Reputation Management Consultants.
    Bronze: S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy, Paddington Station PR.
  • Influencer Management:
    Gold: Ya Rona House, Levergy.
    Silver: #MakingIt — The Power of Small Transactions, MSL.
    Bronze: MPA Day 2024 — MPA Allianc, Flow Communications, Dove Men + Care Broscape, Ogilvy.
  • Institute Of Higher Learning (Impact Fundraising):
    Silver: Reimagining Rural Education — Good Work Foundation, Flow Communications.
  • Institute Of Higher Learning (Higher Education Strategic Enrolment & Outreach):
    Gold: Gibs — from click to conversion, ByDesign Communications.
  • International Campaign:
    Bronze: Keep Moving — African Union Sports Council, Flow Communications, OceanX: Around Africa Expedition, Tribeca PR, #2025EEF — Women Presidents' Organization (WPO), Flow Communications.
  • NGO/NPC Campaign:
    Gold: OceanX: 'Around Africa Expedition', Tribeca PR.
    Silver: African Youth Survey 2024, Burson Africa.
    Bronze: 22nd Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture 2024 — Nelson Mandela Foundation, Flow Communications.
  • PR On A Shoe-String Budget:
    Gold: Rib Rack Shack — a small PR idea that blew big sales targets, Eskort.
    Silver: Mercedes-Benz V-Class — "Keep Them Guessing", Magna Carta Reputation Management Consultants.
    Bronze: MPA Day 2024 — MPA Alliance, Flow Communications.
  • Public Affairs:
    Silver: SAB — State of the Beer Economy, Weber Shandwick.
    Special Mention: From Scapegoat to Stakeholder: Putting Evidence and People at the Table, Zindela Communications.
  • Public Sector:
    Gold: IEC Elections, Magna Carta Reputation Management Consultants.
    Silver: SAA is here to stay! — South African Airways, Flow Communications.

Bronze: DBSA Financial Results, Weber Shandwick.

  • Video Communication:
    Gold: Voices of Impact — Women Presidents Organisation, Flow Communications.
    Bronze: Fearlessly Flavourful "In The Truck" Grilled BBQ launch, DNA.
  • Visual Communication:
    Silver: Voices of Impact — Women Presidents' Organisation (WPO), Flow Communications.
    Bronze: SAB Drive Sharp, Weber Shandwick Africa.

Individual Categories:

Honorary Awards: 

  • Presidential Award: Tshepo Sefothleo.
  • Presidential Award: Ntokozo Ndlovu.
  • Presidential Award: Clayson Monyela.
  • Presidential Award: Mary Gearing.
  • Fellowship Award: Ailly Hangula-Paulino.
  • Fellowship Award: Gert Jacobus Klopper.
  • Special Recognition Certificate: Amie Hunter.
  • Dedication Award: Lifetime Achievement Award: Prof Rene Dalien Benecke.
  • Best Public Relations Student of the Year: Rethabile Molehe, Vaal University of Technology.
    Runner-up: Aphindiwe Bangilizwe, University of Johannesburg.
    Runner-up: Luyanda Nqobile Qwabe, University of Johannesburg.
  • Best Public Relations Intern of the Year: Nonhlanhla Buthelezi, Magna Carta Reputation Management Consultants.
    Runner-Up: Lonwabo Ngonyama, Magna Carta Reputation Management Consultants.
    Runner-Up: Unathi Mahlangu, NerdNarrative.
  • Best Up-and-Coming Public Relations Professional:
    Gold: Sebabatso Lemaoana, Magna Carta Reputation Management Consultants.
    Silver: Angelique Goodall, Paddington Station PR.
    Bronze: Luyanda Mhlongo, DNA Brand Architects.
  • Best Public Relations Professional:
    Winner: Jessica Porter, Levergy.
    Runner-up: Roberta Makhambeni, Weber Shandwick.
  • Best Support Professional:
    Winner: Julian Hurley, Paddington Station PR.
    Runner-Up: Sheetal Vallabh, Magna Carta Reputation Management Consultants, Zemvelo Ndlovu, Brandscappers Africa.
  • Recognition in PR Leadership:
    Gold: Ronelle Bester, Red Ribbon Communications, Adam Hunter, Hook Line & Sinker.
  • Best Up-and-Coming Agency:
    No winner.
  • Best Small Public Relations Consultancy: Friday Street Club.
  • Best Mid-Sized Public Relations Consultancy: Magna Carta Reputation Management Consultants.
  • Best Large Public Relations Consultancy: Best Large Public Relations Consultancy (40 and more people): Flow Communications.
  • Campaign of the Year: Floating , Niggies, MultiChoice.
  • Grand Prix Agency of the Year: Floating, Magna Carta Reputation Management Consultants.

For more information, visit www.prisa.co.za. You can also follow PRISA on Facebook, LinkedIn, or on X.

*Image courtesy of contributior