TWIB finalists announced
“A women’s place is everywhere you would like it to be. Everyone is equal before the law, but it is up to you if you are going to make a success".
MBOMBELA – On Thuesday it was yet again proved that “a women’s place is no longer in the kitchen,” as the Media Liaison officer for the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD), Mr Noko Manyelo, welcomed six dynamic women for their innovative ideas in the business sector.
The Deputy Minister of DSBD, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe and the MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism (FDEDT) of Mpumalanga, Mr Eric Kholwane, announced the 2014 finalists of the Technology for Women in Business (TWIB) Awards at the Protea Hotel in Nelspruit on Tuesday.
Ms Tsholofelo Majeng (Mailtronix), Khaya Cokoto (X Spark Design and Advertising), Shameem Kumandan (Washtub Industrial Laundry Services), Dudu Mofokeng (Legac’l Dry Cleaners and Laundry services), Thembisile Sithole (G&T Auto Body) and Phindile Machweu (Sasamela Trading Enterprice and Projects) were this year’s top performers.
TWIB is a programme of the DSBD which plays a crucial role in supporting and promoting women entrepreneurs to utilize technology to advance their businesses. “TWIB is tailor-made for women and its moral is to promote gender equality to the post apartheid era,” Kholwane said. He referred to the triple oppression women suffer from and added that with this program, women will be on the receiving end and granted the opportunity to develop their business and skills even more as majority of women suffer from economic discrimination.
Although Mbombela was chosen as the hosting city for this year’s awards, no one from Mpumalanga made the final cut. “We did receive applicants from Mpumalanga, but unfortunately they did not meet the criteria,” Thabethe said. A total of 69 entries were received.
Thabethe congratulated the finalists and encouraged them to continue with the good work they are doing. “In South Africa we have women with exceptional talent and capabilities and these six women proved it yet again. Women are creative and innovative and I am thrilled by the work they are doing as well as the effort of the department to support them. All women are entrepreneurs and now is the time to shine”, she said.
Thabethe made use of the opportunity to encourage women to tackle “male dominated fields” such as science, mathematics and technology. “A women’s place is everywhere you would like it to be. Everyone is equal before the law, but it is up to you if you are going to make a success. Before 1994 women were minors, but that is no longer the case. All can be billionaires, but it is in your head and in your hands to make it a reality,” she concluded.
All winners will receive a business incentive of R200 000 and other non financial support from the department and sponsors. The overall winner will in addition receive R600 000 for her business.
The winner will be announced on October 30 in Mbombela.
