The DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette’s editorial team were among the country’s top community journalists honoured at the 2025 AVBOB FCJ Excellence Awards in Pretoria on Friday evening (21 August).

The annual awards ceremony brought South Africa’s community press together and are presented by the Forum of Community Journalists (FCJ) and AVBOB as the headline partner with other sponsors, including Novus Media, Caxton Local Media and Stellenbosch University.

A total of 602 entries were received for the competition, which recognises work published last year.

Yaseen Gaffar won top honours in the category for municipal and local government reporting. The judges’ feedback mentioned that municipal reporting remains one of the most important responsibilities of community newspapers.

“Entries [submitted] demonstrated a clear understanding of the role local journalism plays in promoting transparency and accountability,” they said on the category and submitted entries.

“The strongest submissions tackled issues that have a direct impact on residents’ daily lives, including governance, service delivery, infrastructure and local politics.”

Gaffar’s portfolio included a range of articles from across the Helderberg. It included residents’ concerns about a derelict problem building in Bridgewater, Somerset West, which had become a hotspot for criminal activities, the proposed establishment of a city improvement district in Gordon’s Bay; sewerage concerns linked to the upgrade of the Geelsloot Ponds in Somerset West; a community meeting focusing on the upgrade of the Faure Wastewater Treatment Works; and a detailed article looking at the rapid expansion of the Helderberg compared to the general state of infrastructure in the basin.

“Yaseen Gaffar’s solid municipal reporting focused on issues that would affect several residents. Generally good work of a high standard. The finer details were highlighted in his articles,” the judges wrote.

Apart from his overall category win, Gaffar also placed among the top 10 for sports reporting, placing sixth.

Jamey Gordon, news editor of DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette, was also among the finalists in the sports and general photograhy categories. She took seventh place for her sports-writing portfolio and ninth place for her portfolio of general photos.

Barend Williams was also recognised for his portfolio of news photos, claiming fourth place in the news photography category.