The literary legacy of Can Themba gained fresh momentum this week with the announcement of the first-ever DALRO Can Themba Merit Award for Short Story. Emerging writer Dyondzo Kwinika was named the winner for his story Mr. Duiker Sang the Blues, unveiled during the launch of the anthology When Water Wants To at Exclusive Books, Rosebank, on Monday, 8 September.
The award, launched at the Time of the Writer festival in March 2025, drew over 250 entries from across South Africa. A jury led by Ismail Mahomed and featuring prominent voices such as Niq Mhlongo, Shafinaaz Hassim, Lynn Joffe, Lorraine Sithole, Greg Homann, Neil Coppen and Tiisetsetso Mashifane selected the top ten stories for publication. The anthology, edited by Neil Coppen and published by Wits University Press, showcases the best of the submissions.
As part of his prize, Kwinika receives R10 000 from the Centre for Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal) and will be supported in attending upcoming literary events, including the Bergen International Literature Festival in Norway (February 2026) and the Time of the Writer festival (March 2026). In addition, the Market Theatre will appoint a dramaturge to adapt his winning short story for the stage.
Reflecting on his achievement, Kwinika said he was “deeply honoured” to receive the award. He described his story as “both a confession and a posthumous love letter,” capturing a father’s reckoning after the medically assisted death of his estranged son. His writing, he added, seeks to confront silence, stigma and sexual shame through “language that feels lived-in, not performed.”
The anthology When Water Wants To brings together stories that range from the deeply personal to the allegorical, exploring the national psyche through themes of identity, grief, imagination and resilience.
Project partners praised both the anthology and the award as vital contributions to South Africa’s literary landscape. Wits University Press director Veronica Klipp said the project highlighted “fascinating stories from a talented group of new writers” while DALRO managing director Lazarus Serobe noted the award “honours Can Themba and supports emerging creators whose work will shape the future.”
Greg Homann, artistic director at the Market Theatre Foundation, called the initiative a bridge between oral traditions and contemporary storytelling, while Ismail Mahomed of the Centre for Creative Arts said the award not only recognises talent but also provides writers with mentorship and industry insight.
