Launched in 1980 and one of the longest-running competitions in the country, the Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature is awarded every two years.

This week the prize winners for 2017 will be announced.

Presented by Tafelberg Publishing, the Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature seeks to develop high quality literature for teenage readers (ages 12-18) and YA novels in all the official languages are considered for the prize. The competition is only open to South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and Swaziland citizens, who submit their writings in one of the six language categories: English, Afrikaans, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Nguni and Sotho.

This year Sanlam introduced the “250 Words a Day” campaign to make the competition more accessible to young and upcoming writers. By joining the “250 Words a Day” group on Facebook, entrants had access to a panel of renowned authors who acted as writing mentors. To motivate would-be authors to complete their manuscripts before the closing date of 7 October 2016, they were encouraged to write 250 words every day.

Six finalists are included in each category: English, Afrikaans and African languages. The total prize money amounts to R54 000: R12 000 for the winner (gold) and R6 000 for the runner-up (silver) in each category.

The Shortlist for the 2017 Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature Awards are:

English:
 Nick Wood from London;
 Nerine Dorman from Welcome Glen, Cape Town;
 Lesley Beake from Stanford;
 Joanne Hichens from Muizenberg;
 Erna Müller from Windhoek; and
 Jayne Bauling from White River.

Afrikaans:
 Nellie Alberts from Calvinia;
 Annerle Barnard from Bloemfontein;
 Jan Vermeulen from Despatch;
 Carin Krahtz from Centurion;
 Riana Scheepers from Wilderness; and
 Jelleke Wierenga from Napier.

Nguni languages:
 Dumisani Hlatswayo from Cosmo City, Johannesburg;
 Siphatheleni Kula from Butterworth (Eastern Cape); and
 Thabi Nancy Mahamba from KwaNdebele (Mpumalanga).

Sotho languages:
 Mathete Piet Molope from The Tramshed, Pretoria;
 Thabo Kheswa from Bophelong, Vanderbijlpark; and
 Lebohang Jeanet Pheko from Meloding, Virginia.

Tshivenda languages:
 Lazarus Mamafha from Kutama, Zimbabwe; and
 Thilivhali Thomas Mudau from Rosslyn, Pretoria.

Xitsonga languages:
 Musa Given Sithole from Kempton Park.

Number of entries per language:
English: 55
Afrikaans: 33
Zulu: 14
Venda: 7
Xhosa: 7
Xitsonga: 5
Ndebele: 4
Sesotho: 4
Setswana: 3
Sepedi: 2

“As Wealthsmiths, we have a deep understanding of and respect for what it takes to turn the twenty-six letters of the alphabet into something of great value.  The Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature celebrates writers’ ability to make the most of what they have. Their books create enriching experiences for our youth and have the ability to take readers on journeys that will make them cry, or scare them, and to places that will stay with them forever,” says Elena Meyer (Senior Manager:  Sponsorships for Sanlam).

Puku eagerly awaits South Africa’s newest stories!