For Skhu, photography has never simply been about capturing what happens on the field. It is about seeing what others might miss – the emotion before the competition, the intensity of the contest, the elation of achievement and the quiet moments that reveal the person behind the athlete.

His recognition at the SA Sports Awards celebrates that ability to tell powerful stories through a single frame.

“This recognition is first and foremost a celebration of Skhu and his remarkable talent. He has an extraordinary ability to see the moment within the moment, and to capture not only what is happening in sport, but what it means to the people experiencing it,” said USSA President, Jerry Laka.

Seeing the Story Behind the Sport

Skhu’s work has become closely associated with the visual storytelling of university sport, documenting student−athletes across USSA competitions and international events.

His images take audiences beyond results and statistics. They capture the early−morning preparation, the concentration before competition, the physical and emotional intensity of performance, the joy of a personal best and the disappointment of defeat.

But perhaps most importantly, his photography captures people.

There is an intimacy to his work that allows audiences to connect with athletes beyond their performances – to see their determination, vulnerability, joy, disappointment and resilience. His photographs tell stories of young people pursuing excellence while balancing the demands of sport, study and life.

In this way, Skhu has helped create a visual record of a generation of South African student−athletes and the journeys that shape them.

A Lens With Purpose

What distinguishes Skhu’s work is not simply technical skill. It is the relationship he has with his subject and his understanding of sport.

He knows that the most powerful sporting image is not always the winning moment. Sometimes it is the athlete preparing quietly before competition. Sometimes it is the embrace after a hard−fought contest. Sometimes it is the expression of a coach, the support of a teammate or the emotion of a family member watching from the sidelines.

These are the moments that give sport its humanity.

Through his lens, Skhu has consistently demonstrated an ability to find those moments and preserve them – creating images that communicate emotion without requiring words.

His Visual Journalist of the Year award is therefore recognition not only of the photographs he has produced, but of the perspective, discipline and care that sit behind them.

From University Sport to a National Stage

While Skhu’s work has played an important role in telling the story of university sport, this recognition places his craft on a much broader national stage.

The SA Sports Awards honour provides an opportunity for South Africa to recognise the photographers and visual journalists whose work shapes how the country experiences sport. For USSA, it is particularly meaningful to see one of its own recognised among the country’s leading sporting storytellers.

Skhu’s achievement also reflects the depth of talent that exists within university sport and the contribution that creative professionals make to the sporting ecosystem.

His work has ensured that many of the defining moments of university sport are not simply experienced once and forgotten. They are documented, preserved and given a life beyond the competition itself.

A Proud Moment for USSA

USSA is proud that Skhu’s contribution to university sport has received this national recognition.

His achievement is a reminder of the importance of giving talented creatives the opportunity to practise their craft, to tell stories from within the sporting environment and to bring audiences closer to the people who make sport meaningful.

For the student−athletes whose journeys he has documented, his photographs provide something lasting: a record of moments that mattered.

For university sport, they provide a visual history.

And for Skhu, the award is recognition of the skill, passion and perspective that he brings to every assignment.

“To Skhu: USSA is profoundly proud of you. You have shown us that the most powerful equipment in sport is not always a ball, a bat or a pair of spikes. Sometimes, it is a lens wielded by someone who cares deeply enough to look,” said Laka.