So who's judging Pendoring this year?

Heading up the team of Pendoring judges this year is Leon Jacobs, executive head of Saatchi & Saatchi in Hongkong and this advertising group's regional creative head for Pampers in Asia. Apart from being the chairman of the judging panel, he is also this year's foreign judge.

Jacobs is a notable copywriter, creative head and film editor and has won several international advertising awards. “International agencies can learn from much of the work in Afrikaans. I am therefore looking forward to seeing this year's entries,” he says.

“Pendoring is very fortunate to have an advertising genius of Leon's calibre at the helm of this year's panel. Not only is Leon himself a crowned advertising creator, his international experience and exposure are also invaluable in the adjudication process. Moreover, Afrikaans advertising is close to his heart,” says Dawid Brand, Pendoring co-ordinator.

Brand adds, “Besides the regular panel that will be judging all the categories, we also have several specialist judges that will adjudicate as specialists in their respective fields in the different categories.”

The judging panel is as follows:

Leon Jacobs, creative director: Saatchi & Saatchi Hongkong.
Thebe Ifalakeng, executive head: Brand Leadership.
Peet Pienaar, creative director: The President.
Klasie Wessels, chairman: Streetschool Management Services.
Pepe Marais, executive creative director and senior partner: Joe Public.
Gerard Myburgh, creative director: draftfcb.
Coenie de Villiers, director: Brandwealth.
Suzanne Jenner, graphic director: Ogilvy.
André Beyers, MD: André Beyers Marketing.
Annette Nel, copywriter: Baie-Lingual Blink Stefanus
Xolisa Radebe, freelance copywriter

Apart from the judging, says Brand, Jacobs will also present workshops for students. “Leon will share his experience on Tuesday, 12 August 2008 with students at the North-West University's Potchefstroom Campus and on Wednesday 13 August, with students at the AAA School of Advertising in Johannesburg. People that are interested in attending the workshops can send e-mail to or to .”

The closing date for entries was 18 July 2008 and the judging takes place in August. This year's finalists will be announced at the end of August and the winners are announced on 19 September during a gala event at Vodaworld in Midrand. Category winners will win a cash prize of R6000, while the overall student winner will receive a study bursary to the value of R10 000. The winner of the Pendoring Prestige Award receives a study tour abroad to the value of R25 000.

More details are available on www.pendoring.co.za. The public can also vote for their favourite Afrikaans advertisement by SMSing the word Pendoring, the trade name and three words describing their favourite advertisement to 34089. The most popular advertisement will receive the People's Choice Award.