OFM journalist Olebogeng Motse has been named a 2023 national winner for the Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards. The winners were announced at a ceremony in Johannesburg.

Motse is the presenter of the Business Hour on Mondays to Fridays, 18:00 to 19:00.

Her feature the construction mafia: Is it transformation or criminality? won in the Financial and Economics category.

According to the judges, “Stories involving criminality, in which the perpetrators were willing to go to any lengths to achieve their ends, require courage and enterprise from journalists. Among the most dangerous stories to cover were those involving construction mafias across the country, and Motse ventured into this perilous terrain.”

“To be selected as a national winner among some well-known and revered journalists from media outlets and groups like eNCA, News24, Daily Maverick and GroundUp is immensely validating. Interestingly, my category was not the only one where radio was triumphant. The features category garnered a radio win, which is exciting for the medium. Thank you to the judges and thank you as well to OFM’s management for constantly molding, shaping, encouraging, and mentoring us,” Olebogeng said.

OFM program manager Tim Thabethe said, “The accolade showcases the caliber of journalism that Motse applies to her career. Her passion for commerce, trade and industry is prevalent in the program that she presents.”

“The Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards once again showcased the incredible talent and dedication of South African journalists, highlighting their ability to inform, engage and entertain,” concludes judging panel convener Mapi Mahlangu.