She reported that South Africa has one of the highest birth rates of inter-sexed babies in the world.

Friedman was awarded with television feature of the year for ‘Girl/Boy’, before taking the main award. Her colleagues from e.tv helped the station to scoop all awards in the TV category when reporter, Paula Chowles and cameraman, Jo Komane, scooped the award for best TV news. They were awarded on their coverage of the effects of the recession and how it has affected the adoption rate in the country.

The SABC followed in e.tv’s winning ways when it also scooped all awards in the radio category. Reporter, Teboho Letshaba, won the radio feature award for his coverage on human trafficking while his colleague, Zanele Buthelezi, won the radio news award for her coverage on the 2010 FIFA World Cup kick off.

Another big winner on the night was veteran journalist, Raymond Louw, who was presented with the lifetime achievement award for his role as feisty media freedom activist and an award-winning journalist. Louw’s courage has earned him numerous awards and accolades in South Africa, Africa and the world. His name is synonymous with many groundbreaking events, debates and forums for media freedom in Africa and the rest of the world. He has made and continues to make a significant contribution to ensure South Africa’s media operates in an environment that is free of intimidation and suppression.

In a formal dinner, attended by different media houses in South Africa, the night started with a key note address from veteran journalist, Allister Sparks. Sparks thanked Vodacom for hosting the awards and said that media is currently going through severe challenges. “The digital revolution is eating into the media, many media houses have been closed because of the digital revolution which is taking over. Government also wants to implement the media tribunals and appeals tribunal act,” said Sparks.

Expressing his distaste for the proposed acts, Sparks shared with the gathering how he was forced to squash a story he had written about the death of struggle hero, Steve Biko. Sparks says his newspaper, the Rand Daily Mail, was blackmailed by former Prime Minister of South Africa, John Vorster. “I had conducted an interview with Biko’s family doctor who had confirmed to me that he had died of brain injuries. Vorster lied that Biko had died after he went on a hunger strike. They did not want to open an inquest case and hence they buried my story and forced me to write an apology.” For his role in trying to inform the public, Sparks says he has a criminal conviction - and he is proud of it.

Other winners on the night were: Piet Rampedi from City Press, who won in the category of print news for his coverage on Julius Malema’s business empire. Sunday Times’ Rowan Philip won the print feature award for his report on the Haiti earthquake. In the financial and economic news category, Lloyd Gedye from Mail & Guardian won for his report on the bread price-fixing scandal. City Press’s Babalwa Shota won in the category of the best columnist. Anthony Stidolph from the Witness was named as the best cartoonist. Volksblad’s Charl Devenish won in the category of best photographer. Dominic Peel from Daily Dispatch took the award for best sports journalism. Paddy Hartegen from Watt Now took the award for best community media. In the online category, Livhuwani Mammburu of the TimesLive was the winner, and the Editor’s Choice Award went to Vicus Burger from Volksblad.