The M-Net Literary Awards were established in 1991 by M-Net

M-Net

M-Net is a subscription-funded television channel in South Africa, established in 1986 by Naspers....

(Electronic Media Network), a commercial television station based in South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

. It is among South Africa's most prestigious literary honors. Winners received a prize of R50,000 beginning in 2011, up from R30,000 in previous years.

The prize was created to encourage the writing of quality novels by South African authors in one of South Africa's 11 official languages. M-Net also hosts a “film” category, which offers a prize for a novel showing the greatest promise for translation into a visual medium.

2011

In 2011, 95 novels, published between January and December 2010, were submitted for consideration in the various award categories. The winners were celebrated at a gala event in Cape Town

Cape Town

Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...

.

• English category: Double Negative by Ivan Vladislavic (Umuzi)
  

• Afrikaans category: Die benederyk by Ingrid Winterbach (Human & Rousseau)
  

• Nguni category: Inkululeko Isentabeni by Ncedile Saule (Hibbard Publishers)
  

• Sotho category: Lehutso by KJ Sekele (Hibbard Publishers)
  

• Film category: Happiness is a Four-letter Word by Cynthia Jele (Kwela)

2005

• Life Achievement Award

Prof Mazisi Kunene

Mazisi Kunene

Mazisi Kunene was a South African poet best known for his poem Emperor Shaka the Great. While in exile from South Africa's apartheid regime, Kunene was an active supporter and organizer of the anti-apartheid movement in Europe and Africa...

• Nguni works

Fiction: SD Khumalo for Isiqalo Esisha (A new beginning)
Poetry: C Nyanda and J.J Thwala for Intathakusa

2001

• Sotho

Kabelo Duncan Kgatea - Njeng manong fa ke sule! (Devour me, vultures, when I'm dead!) -

1994

• Afrikaans category: Karolina Ferreira by Lettie Viljoen (pseudonym of Ingrid Winterbach).

See also

• Amstel Playwright of the Year Award
  Amstel Playwright of the Year Award
  The Amstel Playwright of the Year Award, an independent non-governmental prize, was launched in South Africa in 1978. It recognised South African playwrights. The prize was awarded to many of South Africa's anti-apartheid playwrights....
  
  
• Exclusive Books Boeke Prize
  Exclusive Books Boeke Prize
  The Exclusive Books Boeke Prize is a book prize awarded in South Africa, loosely modelled on the United Kingdom's Man Booker Prize, and sponsored by Exclusive Books...