Cape Town mayor Helen Zille has been voted Newsmaker of the Year for 2006 by the National Press Club, Pretoria.
Zille had regularly made the headlines, press club chairperson Patrick Hlahla said on Wednesday.
”Following the municipal elections in March, she eventually became mayor after deals with smaller political parties.
”The balance of power in Cape Town remained controversial and newsworthy throughout the year,” he said.
Her name remained in the public eye with dismissal of the previous municipal manager, the city’s readiness to participate in the 2010 Soccer World Cup and the N2 Gateway housing project.
Previous recipients of the award include President Thabo Mbeki, actress Charlize Theron, the original Big Brother television series and African National Congress deputy president Jacob Zuma. — Sapa