Jabulani Sikhakhane, who has 18 years’ journalistic experience, has been appointed as editor of Business Report, Independent Newspapers said on Thursday.
Sikhakhane joined Business Report in February last year as deputy editor.
Said Independent Newspapers chief executive Tony Howard: ”With his wealth of experience, we have no doubt Jabulani will play the pivotal role in the growth strategy for Business Report. We are fortunate to have such an experienced and well-regarded editor at the helm.”
Sikhakhane said: ”I am honoured to be given the opportunity to edit Business Report. This must rank as one of the very best jobs in journalism in South Africa today.”
Howard paid tribute to Business Report‘s outgoing editor, Alide Dasnois, who is currently acting editor of the Pretoria News.
Howard said that Dasnois has shown her versatility first as editor of Business Report and currently as acting editor of the Pretoria News. She will be taking up the position of deputy editor at the Cape Times from December 1.
Sikhakhane’s relationship with the Independent Group dates back to 1989 when he was a financial journalist for The Star, writing on company developments and trends in black business before joining international news agency Reuters.
A recipient of the Nieman Fellowship, Sikhakhane has worked for business publications including Enterprise, FinWeek, Business Times and Financial Mail, and most recently was editor of City Press business before joining Business Report.
Originally trained as a business journalist by Wits Business School, Sikhakhane was part of a leadership exchange programme organised by the University of Pennsylvania in 1996.
He was part of the Black Economic Empowerment Commission established in 1998 and chaired by Cyril Ramaphosa, which reported to President Thabo Mbeki in July 2001.
”It will be a challenge to build on the work that Alide Dasnois did during her tenure at Business Report, but it is a challenge that I will relish because of the great team with whom I will be taking Business Report into the future,” Sikhakhane said.
Sikhakhane has won several merit awards. — Sapa