A lid blown by three Sunday Times reporters on a hit squad within the South African police in Kwazulu Natal has won the 2012 African Investigative Journalism Award organized in Johannesburg, South Africa. The expose’ on police criminality involving several scores of assassination of both civilians and police officers ranked the Kwazulu Natal for having recorded the highest number of suspect killings in South Africa in past three years. The police hit squad, the Cato Manor Squad had been holding parties after killing suspects, something considered strange among police. For their award, the team will receive 4000 US dollars. Estacios Valoi of the Zambezi Daily News picked the runner up slot with his story on timber smuggling, looting and abuse of power by officials of the Zambezi Province in Mozambique. Sponsored by Free Press Unlimited, thirty seven entries were received in all, with English entries topping the list with 27, followed by 7 in French and two Portuguese entries. Chairman of the Judging Panel, Brant Houston commended Investigative Journalists who participated in the award for their quality of work done especially on research. He told the gathering in the plush Orion House corruption, human rights and other real issues affecting the people on the African continent must attract the attention of Investigative Journalists. Houston who is co-founder of the Global Investigative Journalism Network called for a review of the FAIR award to include for example, how investigative journalists use public data. Some past award winners in the last three years include, Anas Aremeyaw Anas (Ghana), Peter Nkanga and Idris Akinbajo- all from Nigeria. The Face of FAIR The Forum for African Investigative Reporters (FAIR), currently present in 38 African countries in West, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa has produced refined investigative journalists who over the years, have won several international awards. It has collaborated well with the Witwatersrand University to organize the African Investigative Journalism Conference (AIJC), the first ever assembly of refined and best investigative journalists. The annual event does not only provide a platform for IJs to review their work over the year, but also a learning avenue for journalism students to meet and share experience with experienced colleagues already on the field of practice. Executive Director of FAIR, Abdullah Vawda says there are attempts to increase FIAR presence to 40 countries soon.