Announcing the PEN South Africa Student Writing Prize Winner

PEN South Africa is very excited to announce the winner of the PEN SA Student Writing Prize. We ran this competition because we believe in the power of writing to effect change and inform the way we see the world and ourselves. We also believe in the talent and power of young South African writers. As PEN SA President Margie Orford said when the shortlist was announced, “These clear and welcome and articulate new writers distil and give form to the student movement that is changing and shaping a generation.”

Click on the titles of the pieces to read them and click on the names of the writers to read their bios and Q&As:

Winner: Koleka Putuma for “Water”

Second place: Sithembiso Khalishwayo for “The Forgotten”

Third place: Puleng Lange-Stewart for “A love poem to the ‘Problematic’ Black Womxn”

Congratulations to all three writers, who were selected by the talented panel of judges, Gabeba Baderoon (chair), Panashe Chigumadzi, Nick Mulgrew and Masande Ntshanga.