The South African Booksellers Association (SABA) have announced the winners of the 2022 SA Book Awards.

In its 20th year, the award aims to recognize bestselling books written and published in South Africa, as voted for by South African booksellers. Recent winners have included Trevor Noah, Sam Beckbessinger, Jacques Pauw and Sally Andrew.

The shortlist of books for the 2022 prize was determined by sales via data drawn from Nielson Book Data, who are also co-sponsors for the award. The awards were conferred in four categories: Adult Fiction, Adult Non-fiction, Children’s Titles, and one of the winners is named an overall winner as well.

Joanne Joseph was named winner of the Adult Fiction category for her novel Children of Sugarcane. She was up against no other than the Booker Prize-winning author Damon Galgut for The Promise, as well as Nataniël for 107 Kaalkoppe, Rudie van Rensburg for Hans Bars die Bioborrel, and Hartedief.

The Profiler Diaries: From the Case Files of a Police Psychologist by Gerhard Labuschagne was named winner in the Adult Non-fiction category. Also nominated were Fatima Sydow Cooks by Fatima Sydow, Hosting with the Lazy Makoti by Mogau Seshoene, The Billionaire Mindset: Secrets of a Successful South African Entrepreneur by Daniel Strauss, and The Stellenbosch Mafia: Inside the Billionaires’ Club (updated edition) by Pieter du Toit.

How Many Ways Can You Say Goodbye? by Refiloe Moahloli won the Children’s Title category. Also nominated were Leer My Lees met Tippie die Olifant, Vlak 4: Boek 1-10 by Jose Palmer, Minki Se Avontuurkamp by Jaco Jacobs, My Coily Crowny Hair by Zulaikha Patel, and Shudu Finds Her Magic by Shudufhadzo Musida.

Finally, the overall prize went to Joanne Joseph for Children of Sugarcane.

Congratulations to the winners!