It is that month again when South Africa celebrates the outstanding contributions by women and the role they continue to play in their communities. From 1 August, many events have been outlined by various institutions and organisations to mark and commemorate this important historic month in our country.
Various provinces have also outlined their activities that will ensure that woman in all corners of the country are well celebrated. The Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is amongst those organisations that have awarded and celebrated the contributions made by female farmers in an effort to reduce poverty in the province.
Over the years, the Female Famer Awards became an empowerment platform that recognised the entrepreneurial skills of woman in the agricultural sector.
Traditionally, the female farmer event commences at the provincial level and culminates with the National Female Farmer of the Year Awards, at the end of the year. This year's Female Farmer Awards have been transformed to the Female Farmer Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.
Categories this year are top entrepreneur: commercial; top entrepreneur: small holder; top young entrepreneur, best subsistence producer; and best female worker. This year's prestigious Female Entrepreneur of the Year Awards was held Friday, 13 August at Emerald Hotel in the Vaal.
Amongst the dignitaries who attended the event was the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Ms Nandi Mayathula-Khoza and other departmental officials.
This year's Gauteng Female Entrepreneur of the Year winners are Ms Maria Mzungu in top entrepreneur: commercial and Ms Karin Pretorius. Top entrepreneur: small holder category winners are Sungula Trading Enterprises and Ms Dora Matlou. Top young entrepreneur winners are Zivuseni Agricultural Cooperatives and Gugu and Daughters CC. Best subsistence producer category winners are Thuthukani Agricultural Cooperatives and Winterveld Morula Delights. Ms Thami Jack went away with the best female worker of the year award.
Ms Karin Pretorius from Keiwietsvlei Dairy in Pretoria was crowned the overall winner of this year's Gauteng Female Entrepreneur of the Year. Ms Pretorius will represent Gauteng province in the national Female Entrepreneur of the Year event to be held In Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, on 28 September 2010.
Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development management and staff would like to congratulate all the winners and take this opportunity to wish Ms Pretorius good luck in the upcoming stiff competition.
Source: Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gauteng Provincial Government
Gauteng honours female entrepreneurs
Province
