Award to Honour Can Themba and Nurture South African Short Story Writers

The Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation (DALRO), in collaboration with Wits University Press, The Market Theatre, and the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Arts, has launched the DALRO Can Themba Merit Award.

This initiative honours Can Themba’s legacy and supports emerging South African short story writers.

DALRO is a leading Collective Management Organisation (CMO) established in 1967 to protect intellectual property. It focuses on three areas of copyright: literary works (including all forms of writing and dramatic works), artistic works (such as paintings, sculptures, and photographs), and published editions (referring to the typographical arrangement of literary or artistic works). Books, generally, contain two forms of copyright. One is copyright in the expression of ideas, which usually belongs to the creator of the literary work, and the other is the copyright in the typographical arrangement, which usually belongs to the publisher.

DALRO licenses literary works, artistic works and published editions, facilitates and grants permission for copyright users to reproduce works, collects fees and remunerates copyright holders. As a leading authority in managing and licensing works, DALRO continues to champion creators’ rights while nurturing a thriving creative economy in South Africa.

Launched at the 28th Time of the Writer Festival, the award is part of a two-year programme designed to provide mentorship, resources, and exposure for writers. It seeks authentic, engaging stories that reflect the South African experience.

The programme will focus on literary development in 2025, culminating in the adaptation of the winning story into a theatrical production at The Market Theatre in 2026. The winner will receive mentorship, festival participation, publication in an anthology by Wits University Press, and a R10 000 cash prize from the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Arts.

Submissions are open to South African nationals for original, unpublished short stories up to 8 000 words, and entries close at 23h59 on 10 April 2025.

Full details can be found on the DALRO website.

Words: Sinoyolo Mahlasela

Image: Supplied