Hats tip for Limpopo’s Women of Excellence

POLOKWANE- Limpopo’s first lady, Margaret Mathabatha, launched the province’s first ever First Lady Women of Excellence Awards during a gala dinner at Protea Hotel Ranch Resort last Thursday evening.

The awards were launched under the theme Moving Forward by Unifying Women for Limpopo’s Excellence.

The gala dinner was attended by all the province’s female MEC’s in the province, Polokwane mayor Thembi Nkadimeng and international relations and cooperation minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, in support of Mathabatha.

The awards cover 14 categories:

• Ambassador of the Year;

• Best Domestic Worker;

• Best Local Fashion Designer;

• Best Local Hairstylist;

• Best Local Woman;

• Best Woman Academic;

• Best Traditional Woman Leader;

• Best Woman in Beauty Artistry;

• Best Woman in Nursing;

• Best Woman in Community Development;

• Best Woman in Home-Based Care;

• Best Woman in Expressing Goodwill;

• Best Woman Spiritual Leader of the Year, and

• Best Young Woman Leader.

The launch kicked off earlier in the day when more than 20 domestic workers spent the day with Mathabatha at Protea Hotel Ranch Resort. They enjoyed spa treatments as well as neck and feet massages.

This was followed by a game drive, after which it was time to freshen up and get dressed.

The workers’ make-up for the gala dinner was done for them by beauty specialists.

“I had a beautiful day with the domestic workers. Thank you to all their employers who agreed to give them a day off and who let them spend the day with us, we appreciate that.

“Our house helpers are often not recognised or thanked for the job they do, the most difficult job.

“It is time we celebrate these women; women who clean after us and take care of our children.

“Women who do our hair and make us look beautiful.

“Women who make our dresses for gala dinners.

“Women who nurse us back to health when we are not feeling well. We need to appreciate each and every one of them,” Mathabatha said.

“The awards that we are launching tonight will know no colour. These awards are meant to recognise all hard-working women of Limpopo beyond all racial, political and class divides.

“It is our intention to reach out to women, even in the most rural and remote villages of our province. As long as there is hard work, talent and innovation, we shall bestow the necessary honours.

“The idea is to encourage women to strive for excellence in whatever they do.

“I have been raised with the attitude that says, one must excel wherever she is, it does not matter where you are, what matters is that you must excel in whatever you do.

“It is those women who sell on the side of the streets, those who make fat cakes, who continue to bring the best out of our nation.

“Out of the works of their hands great men and women were raised,” she said.