The University of Johannesburg Prize for South African Writing, also known as the UJ Prize, is awarded annually by the University of Johannesburg (UJ) for the best creative works in each of five categories: English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Northern Sotho, and Literary Translation. There are usually two prizes, a main prize and a debut prize, in each category. The prizes are not linked to a specific genre, and each year's prize rewards work published in the previous year."Shortlists for the 2012/2013 University of Johannesburg Prizes for South African Writing in English". Books LIVE. Retrieved June 07, 2013. The winner of the main prize in each category receives R70 000, the winner of each debut prize receives R35 000, and the winner of the Literary Translation prize receives R50 000.
The Afrikaans prize has been awarded since 2001, but was previously called the RAU-Prys vir Skeppende Skyfwerk (RAU Prize for Creative Writing) and located at Rand Afrikaans University (RAU). In 2005, when RAU was merged with other institutions to establish UJ, the name of the prize was changed and the English category was introduced.
The Zulu, Northern Sotho, and Literary Translation prizes were awarded for the first time in 2021, with any work published between 2018 and 2020 eligible for entry.
Marlene van Niekerk, Willem Anker and S.J. Naudé have each won the Afrikaans prize three times; English translations of novels by Anker and Naudé have also won the UJ Literary Translation Prize, once each; in Naudé's case, he translated his own work.
Prizes for South African Writing in English +Winners of the English prize (2009–2023)YearPrizeWinnerWorkGenreRef.2024 MainMorabo MorojeleThree Egg DilemmaFictionDebutJarred ThompsonThe Institute for Creative DyingFiction2023 MainC. A. DavidsHow to Be a RevolutionaryFictionDebutPulane Mlilo MpondoThings My Mother Left MeFiction2022MainMandla LangaThe Lost Language of the SoulFictionDebutA’Eysha KassiemSuitcase of MemoryFictionLisa-Anne JulienIf You Save MeFiction2021MainJacob DlaminiSafari NationNon-fictionDebutRešoketšwe ManenzheScatterlingsFictionJamil F. KhanKhamr: The Making of a WaterslamsMemoir2020No prizes awarded2019MainGabeba BaderoonThe History of IntimacyPoetry"Gabeba Baderoon and Mphuthumi Ntabeni win the UJ Prizes for South African Writing"DebutMphuthumi NtabeniThe Broken River TentHistorical fiction2018MainLesego RampolokengBird-Monk SedingFiction"Lesego Rampolokeng and Barbara Boswell win the UJ Prizes for South African Writing"DebutBarbara BoswellGraceFiction2017MainNthikeng MohlelePleasureFiction"University of Johannesburg Prize for South African Writing in English 2016 winners announced"DebutMohale MashigoThe YearningFiction2016MainCraig HigginsonThe Dream HouseFiction"Craig Higginson, Eliza Kentridge and Nkosinathi Sithole win the 2015/16 University of Johannesburg Prizes"DebutEliza KentridgeSigns for an ExhibitionPoetryNkosinathi SitholeHunger Eats a ManFiction2015MainZakes MdaRachel's BlueFiction"Zakes Mda and Penny Busetto Win the 2014/2015 University of Johannesburg Prizes for South African Writing (English)"DebutPenny BusettoThe Story of Anna P, As Told By Herself Fiction2014MainLauren BeukesThe Shining Girls Fiction"Lauren Beukes and Dominique Botha Win the 2013/2014 University of Johannesburg Prizes"DebutDominique BothaFalse RiverFiction2013MainKen BarrisLife UnderwaterFiction"Ken Barris and Steven Boykey Sidley win the 2012/2013 University of Johannesburg Prizes"DebutSteven Boykey SidleyEntanglementFiction2012MainCraig HigginsonThe Landscape PainterFiction"Craig Higginson and Terry Westby-Nunn Win the 2011/2012 University of Johannesburg Prizes"DebutTerry Westby-NunnThe Sea of Wise InsectsFiction2011MainIvan VladislavicDouble NegativeFiction"Ivan Vladislavic and Shaida Kazie Ali Win the 2010/2011 University of Johannesburg Prizes for Creative Writing"DebutShaida AliNot a Fairy TaleFiction2010MainImraan CoovadiaHigh Low In-betweenFiction"Imraan Coovadia and Jacob Dlamini Win the 2010 University of Johannesburg Prizes"DebutJacob DlaminiNative NostalgiaNon-fiction2009MainDalmon GalgutThe ImpostorFictionDebutChris MarnewickShepherds and ButchersFiction
Prizes for South African Writing in Afrikaans +Winners of the Afrikaans prizeYearPrizeWinnerWorkRef.2025MainIngrid WinterbachOnrus op SteynshoopDebutGaireyah FriedericksEen voet inni kabr2024MainS.J. NaudéVan vaders en vlugtelinge2023MainAntjie KrogPlunderDebutCarien SmithBOT2022MainS.J. NaudéDol heuningDebutAshwin ArendseSwatlandFrederik de JagerMan op ‘n fiets êrens heen2021MainWillem AnkerSkepsel DebutRyan PedroPienk ceramic-hondjies2020MainEtienne van HeerdenDie biblioteek aan die einde van die wêreldDebutRuan KempGedeeltelik Bewolk2019MainCharl-Pierre NaudéDie ongelooflike onskuld van Dirkie VerweyDebutLodewyk G. Du PlessisDie dao van Daan van der Walt2018MainS.J. NaudéDie derde spoelDebutJolyn PhillipsRadbraak2017MainJohn MilesOp 'n dag, 'n hondDebutBibi SlippersFotostaatmasjien2016MainEna JansenSoos familieDebutRoela HattinghKamee2015MainWillem AnkerBuysDebutStephanus MullerNagmusiek2014MainMarlene van NiekerkKaarDebutDominique BothaValsrivier2013MainIngrid WinterbachDie aanspraak van lewede wesensDebutAndré KrugerDie twee lewens van Dieter Ondracek2012MainDan SleighWals met MatildaDebutS.J. NaudéAlfabet van die voëls2011MainMarlene van NiekerkDie sneeuslaperDebutNicole Jaekel StraussMaal2010MainElsa JoubertReisigerDebutKarin BrynardPlaasmoord2009MainEtienne van Heerden30 Nagte in AmsterdamDebutLoftus MaraisStaan in die algemeen nader aan vensters2008MainBreyten BreytenbachDie windvangerDebutWillem AnkerSiegfried2007MainIngrid WinterbachDie boek van toeval en toeverlaatDebutDanie MaraisIn die buitenste ruimte2006MainAndré P. BrinkBidsprinkaanDebutMarlize HobbsFlarde2005MainMarlene van NiekerkAgaat2004MainAbraham H. de VriesTot verhaal komDebutMarius CrousBrief uit die kolonies2003MainDan SleighEilandeDebutNini BennettStoornis2002MainRachelle GreeffMerke van die nagDebutNanette van RooyenOm te vlerk2001MainAntjie KrogKleur kom nooit alleen nie
Prizes for Creative Writing in Zulu +Winners of the Zulu prize (2021–2023)YearPrizeWinnerWorkGenreRef.2024MainAyanda MchunuAngikaze Ngikubone OkunjeDramaDebutEthekwini writersIqoqo lezindatshanaShort stories2023MainNdabayakhe William ZuluEmzileni KaShakaHistorical fiction2022MainNtombenhle Protasia DlaminiZinoju ZuluPoetryKhanyelihle MnguniKusazoba MnandiShort storiesDebutSandile NgwenyaImali YezipokiYA fiction2021MainE.D.M. SibiyaIsibusiso NezinyembeziPoetry anthologyDebutMbusiseni BhenyaUGovana kaGovanaDrama
Prizes for Creative Writing in Northern Sotho (Sesotho sa Leboa) +Winner of the Northern Sotho prize (2011–2023)YearPrizeWinnerWorkGenreRef.2024MainMorema Jack MabotjaLentšu le a KhorwaDramaDebutMashikane W MadigoeTšhidi ya KomaPoetry2023MainMoses SeletishaEto la MofaladiBiographyDebutNtloro Charlotte PebaneLerato la LephekoFiction2022MainPM Mashilo & MT MashaDitsakauma Tša MarumoVariousDebutKholofelo ThabaSedibeng sa KomeleloPoetryMahlatsi Maqwenjo Bohlale bjo foufetšegoFiction2021MainKobate John SekeleMadimabe a LešokoFiction
Prizes for Literary Translation The translation prize is awarded for the translation of a literary text from any language into any one of the official South African languages. There is no debut prize for literary translation; instead, there is a prize for the translation of a youth text. +Winners of the Literary Translation prize (2021–2023)YearPrizeWinnerWorkLanguageRef.2024MainLouise CilliersVan Alexandrië na Ithaka (original by Konstantinos Kavafis)Greek to Afrikaans2023MainHenrietta Rose-InnesA Library to Flee (Die biblioteek aan die einde van die wêreld by Etienne van Heerden)Afrikaans to English2022MainS. J. NaudéMad Honey (Dol heuning by the same author)Afrikaans to English2021MainMichiel HeynsRed Dog (Buys by Willem Anker)Afrikaans to EnglishYouth TextNathan TrantraalLang pad onnetoe (Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds)English to Afrikaans
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