Health For Mzansi is proud to announce that journalist Vateka Halile has been crowned the national winner in the written category at the prestigious 2024 Climate Media Awards, presented by Scrolla.Africa!
Halile’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Starting as a citizen journalist for our sister publication, Food For Mzansi, in 2021, she has become one of South Africa’s top climate change storytellers. She earned this accolade for her community-driven reporting that amplifies the often-ignored voices of grassroots communities grappling with climate change.
What clinched Halile’s title is her hard-hitting article “Health crisis looms as high temperatures hit townships hard.” It looks at how informal settlements bear the brunt of climate change, with residents facing sweltering heat, increasing health risks, and possible sustainable solutions.
Scrolla.Africa said Halile’s dedication to uncovering important stories and bringing attention to the urgent realities of climate change is both inspiring and essential.
The deputy editor of Health For Mzansi and Food For Mzansi, Raylentia Simmons, congratulated Halile on behalf of both publications and underscored her passion, hard work, and commitment to quality journalism.
“Vateka is an integral part of our publications and we are immensely proud of her achievement. She is a talented and creative storyteller with a unique voice that can inspire, inform, and break down stigmas on crucial health issues.”
Raylentia Simmons
“It is not easy to get people to open up but she always manages to win their trust and tell their stories in a meaningful way – and that is a special skill that will take her far,” Simmons said.
Get to know our climate change warrior
Health For Mzansi asked the winner to share a few details about her life and passion.
Who is Vateka?
Vateka Halile is from Cofimvaba, Eastern Cape, and mother to Abukwe, an upcoming rugby star. I am a passionate human rights activist and a strong advocate for community health.
My experiences in solidarity spaces allowed me to challenge stereotypes, understand people’s unique characters, and explore gender and intercultural differences. I have also deepened my knowledge of political education and gained a better understanding of what makes individuals and communities unique.
While I am now interested in learning more about food politics, my love for the connection between food and health remains at the core of my work.
Who made the biggest impact in your life, and what or who inspires you?
So many people have shaped the person I am today. Twelve years ago, I connected with Nondyebo Mgoboza on social media, and what began as a chance encounter turned into a bond that changed my life. She went from being a stranger to becoming a sister in every sense of the word. I will forever be grateful for her kindness and strength.
Meeting strangers who became family to me inspires me to do good, to do more, and to show them how a person’s story can change – from being hopeless to becoming someone worth Googling.
I am fortunate to have people I can rely on. Pulane Mlangeni, who I recently met and now consider my life coach, has taught me invaluable lessons about navigating the corporate world. She’s shown me how to dodge the bullet, even on the ugliest of days. Themba Maxongo has been a constant source of encouragement, always reminding me of my abilities and the potential I hold. Then there’s Malinge Tonya, whose intellectual brilliance and mastery of language have been an inspiration and a source of learning for me.
My siblings – Makhe, Zubenathi, Someleze, and Asavela – and my son bring clarity and perspective into my life. They remind me every day of the beauty in the world and the strength we draw from family.
When I joined Food for Mzansi, Duncan Masiwa told me I write like Ivor Price – dramatic and full of flair. I embraced that observation as a testament to my creativity and my ability to use words to leave a lasting impression. It reminded me of the power I have to tell stories and think critically, a power I carry with pride.
And lastly, Noluthando Ngcakani, the former HFM editor, believed in my work when I wasn’t even sure what I was doing. From there, I listened and learned the ropes of what makes good storytelling worth reading.
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Where does your passion for journalism, and more specifically community and health, come from?
Growing up in rural areas, seeing full-time mothers struggling, and raising their children alone while fathers would only come home once or twice, left a lasting impression on me. The pain of needing a shoulder to lean on or simply someone to vent to was often seen as a weakness. This is something I always knew I could challenge, whether directly or indirectly.
I hated the norm of being treated as less worthy and less important than other boys. I knew deep down that I was not the submissive type, not the type to be abused and stay quiet. Although I have experienced sexual, physical, and verbal abuse, I learned that it wasn’t my fault and that I could rise above the bullies who mistreated me.
I always knew that somewhere, I could make an impact, whether through broadcasting or with the power of paper and pen.
Then, Food For Mzansi came to my rescue with the Sinelizwe Citizen Journalism Programme, which I grabbed with both hands. While I wasn’t familiar with how I would fit into agricultural writing, my love of storytelling led me to the sister publication, Health For Mzansi, which I treated as my baby and used as a platform to grow. This journey has helped me become the award-winning journalist I am today.
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How important is raising awareness of climate change in communities, especially in rural areas? Do people even know it exists?
With less education and awareness, I believe many people know only a little about climate change, especially in rural areas where almost everything is believed to happen naturally or as a result of changing times. This is a loud cry for help, urging us to do more – to communicate in languages they understand, with practices they can relate to, using familiar people, and tools they can adapt to.
There is so much work to be done in spreading the gospel of climate change to make a significant impact, not only in rural areas but globally!
How difficult was writing the winning story and how does it feel to get the recognition for your hard work?
For me, writing the story was easy. I have made many contacts since I started my journey in journalism, and I often receive referrals. Getting sources from the communities is like frying eggs – quick and easy. But the tricky part was that I was mentally exhausted, having just come back from leave, and still feeling tired. However, when Raylentia Simmons and Ivor Price told me I could do it, the little voice inside me said, “If people see the light in me, I shouldn’t dim that.”
So, I got to work, made a few calls, and within two days, the story was complete and ready to be published.
Receiving this recognition has completely challenged everything I once believed about the media industry and how I feel about it now. This is more than huge – it’s truly epic. Saying “I’m happy” doesn’t even begin to capture it. I am deeply humbled, and filled with gratitude. I now realise that I haven’t been lied to.
My stories are making an impact, and my voice, once uncertain, is now bold and unapologetic.
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