Siphiwe Sibeko is a South African photographer born in Soweto Township, west of the country’s commercial capital Johannesburg. Largely a self-taught photo-journalist he received some formal training during a workshop in the city.

Sibeko, winner of several prestigious awards, launched his career in 1995 when he began freelancing for South Africa’s Sowetan newspaper, the mass-selling publication targeting mainly the country’s black majority. He was later to work for other mainstream newspapers as a senior photographer.

His awards include the Steve Biko Scholarship sponsored by the Johannesburg-based Institute for the Advancement of Journalism. The award honors the late Black Consciousness leader Biko killed by apartheid agents for his anti-apartheid activities.

Also he was named a regional winner in Africa in the Commonwealth Photographic awards.

His work has been showcased in several books including a UNICEF publication highlighting children and the future of mankind. Other pictures can be found in the book entitled “MOVING IN TIME” comprising images of life in a democratic South Africa exhibited in Rome and Germany.

Recently his work has been showcased in a photographic manual being used by university and college students studying journalism. The manual is being used across the African continent.

Sibeko was also commissioned to produce photographs for a housing project carried out by a Non-Governmental Organization in South Africa. The photographs are featured in a book published in the United States. 

I was the only photographer given permission to take photographs of the wedding of former South African President and liberation icon Nelson Mandela to Graca Machel.

In 1995, I was chosen from a group of experienced South African photographers to submit my work for a Japanese calendar. 

My other work appears in the heavy-weight magazine Time, BBC Africa on Focus magazine and Germany’s Geo magazine.

HONORS AND AWARDS
 
• Highly Commended - Common Wealth Photographic Competition, 2001
• Winner: News Category - Fuji Photo Awards, 2001
• Winner: Feature - Fuji Photo Awards, 2001
• Winner: Picture Story Category - Fuji Photo Awards, 2001
• Winner: Print of the Year - Fuji Photo Awards, 2001
• Portfolio: Highly Commended - Fuji Photo Awards, 2001
• Winner: Mondi Photographic Competition - Mondi Awards, 2002
• Winner: Mondi Photographic Competition - Mondi Awards, 2003
• Runner-up: Portfolio News - Fuji Photo Awards, 2003
• Runner-up: Portfolio Feature - Fuji Photo Awards, 2003
• Runner-up: Portfolio Sport - Fuji Photo Awards, 2003
• News: Highly Commended - Fuji Photo Awards, 2003
• Feature: Highly Commended - Fuji Photo Awards, 2003
• Winner: Picture Story Category - Fuji Photo Awards, 2003
• Mohamed Amin Photographic Award (CNN) - Mohamed Amin Photographic Award (CNN), 2003
• Vodacom Journalist of the Year (JHB Region) - Vodacom , 2003
• Over-all Winner: Vodacom Journalist of the Year (Photography) - Vodacom, 2003
• Regional Winner (Africa): Common Wealth Photographic Award - Common Wealth, 2003
• Honorable Mention at the UNICEF Photo of the year - UNICEF (Photokina 2004), 2004