When crisis strikes, PR Worx strikes gold
Double win at the 2026 PRISMs extends agency’s five-year crisis awards streak
PR Worx has won gold and bronze in the Crisis Management category of the 2026 PRISA PRISMS Awards, once again securing its place as South Africa’s top crisis communications agency of the year. The double win takes the independent agency to five awards from five entries this year and marks its fifth consecutive year of recognition for crisis communications.
The two awards were confirmed after the Crisis Management category, which was not judged in time for the PRISMS gala on Saturday, 24 October, was adjudicated separately this week.
Following this process, PR Worx struck gold for its crisis communications work for the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health, while its campaign for Mrs South Africa earned bronze.
Thabisile Phumo, Chief Judge of the 2026 PRISMS Awards, said: “We congratulate PR Worx on its gold award for KZN MEC of Health and bronze award for Mrs South Africa in the crisis management category at the PRISMS 2026. We apologise that these achievements were omitted from the gala announcements and are pleased to give the winning teams and their clients the recognition their work deserves.”
PR Worx founder and CEO Madelain Roscher said: “PRISA acted professionally to put this right, and we thank them for it. They did what we advise our own clients to do: own it, fix it, and move forward. Now the spotlight belongs where it should be – on the teams and clients behind the work.”
Five entries, five awards
The two crisis awards add to the three 2026 PRISMS wins for PR Worx on Saturday night, in categories unrelated to crisis work – namely a gold award honouring Roscher’s PR leadership, the highest accolade in the Travel and Tourism category for Extraordinary Tourism, and a bronze award in the Launch of a New Product or Service category for the BioWell campaign, “The Slow Route”.
“Five awards from five entries demonstrate the breadth of the agency’s work. But I’m especially proud of our crisis record. Being recognised in this category for five consecutive years says a great deal about the team and its ability to keep a clear head when the pressure is at its highest,” noted Roscher.
The 2026 results continue a PRISM crisis communications award streak dating back five years to 2022, with previous recognised campaigns including work for Richester Foods, Mrs South Africa, POPCRU, and Dondo Mogajane.
Heavy is the head who wears the crown
The two 2026 crisis awards come from very different arenas: a provincial health executive under intense public and political scrutiny, and a consumer-facing national brand that represents a personal development and empowerment programme for married women. But the fundamentals of managing the situation remain the same.
“A crisis does not wait for the next board meeting or for everyone to agree on the perfect statement. People need answers fast, and an information vacuum gives speculation room to become accepted fact.
“Our job is to establish what can be verified, advise leaders on what needs to happen, and communicate honestly with the people affected. No statement can substitute for action. People are entitled to question you. Ultimately, how you respond and whether you follow through on your commitments will determine whether they have reason to trust you or your brand again.”
25 years of counsel
The awards come during PR Worx’s 25th anniversary month. Roscher founded the agency on 13 October 2001, and today it works across the African continent through a network of independent partner agencies. PR Worx offers government, corporate and association clients a fully integrated, 360-degree marketing and communications service, with crisis communications, reputation management and executive counsel among its core specialities.
