Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature

Since its inception in 1980, the prestigious Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature has consistently rewarded work of outstanding quality and has therefore become a trusted brand among both the general book buying public and the educational sector.

The prize has been awarded to 67 books and the list of winning authors reads like the who’s who of South African youth writers – from Barrie Hough and Dumisani Sibiya to Tsireledzo Mushoma to name but a few.

Why youth literature?
At Sanlam, we believe that finding and developing new talent is vital to sustaining South Africa’s fairly small publishing industry. That is why we joined hands with Tafelberg Publishers to encourage literature for readers between the ages of 12 and 18 years.

Who can enter?
The two-yearly competition accepts manuscripts in all eleven official languages and always has a different theme to ensure that the winning entries reflect the Zeitgeist of the particular period. Click here for information on previous winners or here for photographs.

Winners and prizes
Two winners are chosen from the Afrikaans category, two from the English category and two from the African languages category. Prize money amounts to R30 000 for a Gold and R20 000 for a Silver. Click here for more information or to enter, and here for the relevant dates.