Taco Kuiper was a highly successful publisher who, shortly before his death in 2005, set up the Valley Trust to promote investigative journalism. The trust has partnered with the Wits Journalism Programme in this initiative.
“To foster investigative journalism in South Africa was Taco Kuiper's greatest wish”, says Justice Tom Cloete, of the Valley Trust. By aiming to create role models in probing, in-depth journalism, the Trust hopes to strengthen the country’s young democratic structures.
“This award has two huge advantages,” says Anton Harber, Caxton Professor of Journalism at Wits University. “Not only is it the biggest in the country, but it is also independent of commercial sponsorship. This means there is a long-term commitment to focus entirely on the encouragement and recognition of probing, in-depth journalism. We are very pleased to be a part of this initiative.”