MBOMBELA- Fewer women have proven their capabilities of doing better in male dominated industries including technology hence the call for women and girls to pursue careers in this industry.

“Why are there fewer women in science and technology, why do we still have males dominating in these sectors?

Hence there is need of encouraging young girls to pursue careers in technology, maths and science related fields,” remarked the province MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Mr Sikhumbuzo Eric Kholwane during the media launch of the Technology for Women in Business (TWIB) Awards to be held in the city of Mbombela on October 30 at Church on the Hill.

The launch was attended by various media houses and six dynamic women who made it to the finalists. They came from Limpopo province, Cape Town, Gauteng boasting with two finalists, Northen Cape and Eastern Cape.

Deputy Minister for the department of Small Business Development, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe said the TWIB Awards were honouring South African small, medium, micro and emerging women entrepreneurs for their extraordinary achievements and contributions towards the growth of their enterprises.

“This is done through employing innovative technology methods in their operations to enhance production and grow as businesses,’’ she said adding that woman’s place is everywhere, where she wants to be because there are available government opportunities available for them.

“From 1996 our rights are equal, be respectful and do the right things you can be billions , its all in your hands,just make use of the opportunities given to you,” she said.

She added that government was no longer talking start ups only, but advancement and expansions of women owned businesses, and through TWIB this has truly demonstrated that women are creative and innovative.

She added that although the event was being hosted in the province there was no finalist from the province mostly because applicants did not meet the criteria needed for them to reach final stage also adding that some applications were probably not received on time due to ongoing Post office’s strike.

She also emphasized on the need of being innovative and creative in this awards.
Only 69 applications were received for this year’s awards and only 36 qualified for the awards with only 12 making it to the top finalists.

The overall winner will take home a non-financial Seda technology transfer intervention worth R600 000 and the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) sponsored trip to attend the 2015 Global Summit of Women in Brazil.

All finalists will receive a non-financial support from Black Business Supplier Development Programme (BBSDP) worth R200 000 and laptops.