The Northern Cape Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison’s Women in Transport Awards on Wednesday night was a great success as women’s contribution in transforming the Northern Cape Transport Industry were celebrated and honoured.
MEC Mr Mac Jack on Wednesday, 16 October 2013, honoured women who played a role in transforming the Northern Cape Transport Industry during the awards ceremony held in Upington.
The Awards in their second year aimed to recognise the outstanding achievements of Women in the Northern Cape Transport Industry. The night highlighted the contributions women are making in delivering value services to their clients, and their efforts in growing and developing their businesses.
The overall winner of the Women Entrepreneurs in the Transport Industry category Lina Simboyia said winning came as a surprise but that it was about time women took charge of the male dominated taxi industry. Simboyia is a Taxi Operator, Regional Chairperson for Namakwa Santaco and on Santaco’s PEC.
“It is a big victory for the industry as a whole especially for us women to be recognised in this magnitude. I have been operating in the taxi industry for 10 years with the aim of developing the rural area of Namakwa called Pella Namakwa,” said Simboyia.
She said she motivated other women to enter the industry and has encouraged seven other women to join the industry while women in other areas were also making their own strides.
MEC Jack said: “The Women in Transport Awards is not only aimed at celebrating achievements of women in the transport industry, but is also geared at consolidating and concretizing their quest to make a meaningful impact moving forward into the future.”
“Without a doubt, we have all said over and over again that this industry has been dominated by men for a very long time and to the disadvantage of our women. We must continue to speak in one voice and say that is history, women have arrived,” said MEC Jack.
MEC Jack added that a women-friendly transport environment in our province must be ushered in. “Conducive conditions in this industry must be created to ensure that women’s skills are enhanced and a shift in corporate culture that realise the aspirations our women in transport, does find expression indeed.”
The Winners for the two categories
Women Entrepreneurs in the transport industry:
1st place – Thieka Bella Sebitloane (Kuruman taxi owner and member of Santaco)
Winner - Lina Simboyia (Taxi Operator, Regional Chairperson for Namakwa Santaco and on Santaco’s PEC.)
Women with best outstanding law enforcement role in the transport industry:
2nd Place – Kayleen Brandt (Calvinia Traffic Station)
1st Place – Ballisa Tuku
Winner – Tanya Anders (Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison’s Provincial Transport Inspectorate)
The Winners and runner-ups received certificates, gifts and cash vouchers and the winners received a trophies and holiday vouchers.
Background
Our aim as a department in having this prestigious event is to promote gender equality in the mainly male dominated transport industry. We aim to encourage women to pursue careers in the field while stirring innovation and creativity.
The Women in Transport Awards will provide both individual and group recognition, and non-monetary rewards nominees. The 20 nominees in the various categories are selected based on their contributions towards developing, supporting and empowering themselves and other women in the province.
The categories are:
- Women Entrepreneurs in the Transport Industry - This is for women who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, growth and development in their transport business.
- Women with best outstanding law enforcement role in the Transport Industry - This is women who have performed well and supported the transport industry in their law enforcement roles (traffic, transport inspectors, rail, etc.).
Enquiries:
Lebogang Majaha
Media Liaison Officer
Cell: 071 883 6404
Keitumetse Moticoe
Communication Officer
Cell: 074 251 6567
