Helgaard Steyn Prize 2020

Die Dao van Daan van der Walt has been named the winner of the Helgaard Steyn Prize 2020. This prize has been awarded annually since 1987, and is given alternately on a four-year cycle in four disciplines – painting, literature, sculpture or musical composition.

This year’s prize, R650 000 in cash, goes tothe most outstanding work in literature published between 2016 and 2019. This year’s recipient is the author Lodewyk G. du Plessis forDie Dao van Daan van der Walt, his debut novel, which was published in 2018 by Tafelberg, an imprint of NB Uitgewers.

The novel has already been awarded the University of Johannesburg Debut Prize, the Eugène Marais Prize, the WA Hofmeyr Prize, the ATKV Prose Prize, as well as the kykNET-Rapport Prize for Fiction.

The other books on the shortlist were Die derde spoel by SJ Naudé, Uittogboek by Johan Myburg, Spertyd by Elsa Joubert and 1795 by Dan Sleigh.

Die Dao van Daan van der Walt is an “exceptional debut”, says the convener of the judging panel, Professor Bernard Odendaal of the Literature Unit of the School of Languages at North-West University.

“It is a novel that intellectually challenges the reader, confronts them with current issues and affects them emotionally. At the same time, it is an engaging book; the main character is someone with whom readers can identify for various reasons.”

The prize is awarded by the Helgaard Steyn Trust, which came into being after a bequest in the will of diplomat, farmer and company director, Dr Jan Steyn, who named the Trust in honour of his father.

Previous winners of the Literature Award are:

1988 –Karel Schoeman for’n Ander Land

1992 –John MilesforKroniek uit die doofpot

1996 –Breyten BreytenbachforNege landskappe van ons tye bemaak aan ’n beminde (1993)

2000 –John KannemeyerforLeipoldt: ’n Lewensverhaal

2004 –Dan SleighforEilande

2008 –Marlene van NiekerkforAgaat (2004)andHermann GiliomeeforDie Afrikaners (2004)

2012 –PG du PlessisforFees van die Ongenooides

2016 –Willem AnkerforBuys

For more information and the judging panel’s full commendation, visit helgaardsteynpryse.co.za, or email info@helgaardsteynpryse.co.za.