Reimagining Sunday World: Unsung Heroes 2026

Celebrating South Africa’s Game Changing Young Leaders

Sunday World (SW) is evolving. 

Under the editorial leadership of Caiphus Kgosana and the vision of new owner John Bailey, we are reimagining how SW Unsung Heroes stories are celebrated.

Introducing a digital-first, video-led nomination process. Every story, feature and campaign is designed to connect, inspire, and shine a spotlight on South Africa’s young changemakers.

SW Unsung Heroes 2026 honours South Africa’s exceptional leaders under 35—trailblazers whose courage, innovation, and dedication are quietly shaping communities, industries, and society. 

This year, digital-first nominations give young leaders the platform to tell their own story in a 3-minute video, capturing achievements, vision and impact, while their stories are celebrated across Sunday World’s trusted print and media platforms.

Who Qualifies as an SW Unsung Hero?

We celebrate young leaders who:

• Inspire through action, creativity, and commitment

• Lead measurable change in communities, sectors, or the economy

• Demonstrate courage, integrity, and excellence

• Shape the future with vision and tangible impact

Digital nominations allow our heroes to speak for themselves, bringing authenticity and energy to their stories while still being featured and celebrated across Sunday World (SW).

NOMINATION FORM

Deadline

The closing date for entries is Monday, April 7th at 12 noon.  Nominees must be between the ages of 18 and 35 on June 30, 2025, and be prepared to be profiled in the Sunday World.

Criteria For Entry

1. The Sunday World is looking for young people who change the world. Those who drive innovation and lead the way. Those who work tirelessly to make the world a better place.
2. All nominees must be between the ages of 18 and 35 on June 30, 2025, and be prepared to be profiled in Sunday World and used for promotional purposes.
3. A hero is somebody who is admired for their conviction. For their determination and courage. For their honesty and helpfulness. For the changes, they bring for good.
4. Heroes are inspirational and are genuine people who take a leadership role in stimulating change and progress.

General Terms and Conditions

The following terms and conditions for purposes of entry shall apply:

1. An individual can self-nominate or choose to nominate an individual belonging to their community or workplace whom they believe has an exceptional ability to lead a community, an organization, a group, a university, a governmental body, an initiative, or a sports team. This unsung hero must be someone who works in the community for the good and betterment of the citizens (or animals) of South Africa.
2. The person must be a South African citizen, older than 18 years of age and younger than 35 on 30 June 2025.
3. Your nomination must include the following:
4. Name and surname of the nominee and their contact details.
5. Your name and contact details (the nominator).
6. An explanation in about 100 – 200 words why the young person should be celebrated and what they have done to deserve your nomination.
7. Your nomination will be forwarded to your nominee who must then furnish and verify details.
8. The nominee will then be requested to provide further information regarding their nomination. It is the responsibility of the nominee to ensure that the information provided is accurate and complete. If any of the information provided by the nominee in relation to this project is found to be inaccurate, invalid, false, or misleading, such an entry shall be disregarded, and the nominee will be prohibited from participation.
9. It is the nominator’s responsibility to ensure that the entry is received by Sunday World before the closure of the project at noon on April 7, 2025. Any entries not received by Sunday World before the closure of the competition will not be eligible to participate, regardless of the reasons for late entry. Sunday World is not responsible for any entries that are not received by Sunday World, whether timeously or at all, regardless of the cause thereof.
10. Sunday World is not responsible for any injury or damage to your or any other person’s device used to enter into or obtain any material related to this project.
11. A panel of leaders from various fields will assess the entries and choose Sunday World’s Unsung Heroes 35 (or younger) in time to celebrate Youth Month in June 2025.
12. The successful candidates will be notified using the contact details provided to Sunday World. All entrants will be invited to celebrate their recognition as a Sunday World Unsung Hero 2025. In addition, all Heroes will receive a 3-month subscription to Sunday World. T&Cs apply – non-distribution areas, including Western and Eastern Cape, will receive e-editions.
13. Sunday World reserves the right to vary, postpone, suspend, or cancel the project or any aspect thereof without notice at any time, for any reason which we deem necessary. In the event of such variation, postponement, suspension, or cancellation, you (the nominee and/or nominator) agree to waive any rights, interests, and expectations that you may have in terms of this project and acknowledge that you will have no recourse against Sunday World.
14. You agree that your participation in the project and your acceptance of any aspect thereof is at your own risk and that the Sunday World can publish your name and photograph for promotional and project purposes.
15. The decision of the assessors is final and binding on you, and no correspondence will be entered into