A KwaZulu-Natal business woman was crowned the overall winner of the prestigious annual Technology for Women in Business (TWIB) Awards by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe in Boksburg last night.
Nokuthula Dladla who hails from Durban, was nominated in the Small Industrial Category and won both awards. The enterprise owner, who manufacturers road traffic signs, road markings, boards and protective clothing, was ecstatic when she was announced a winner.
“I had such a good feeling about the nomination and told myself even if I don’t win my work and company have been recognised for the impact we have made in the manufacturing sector,” said Dladla.
Deputy Minister Thabethe said with each passing year, she was proud that the high standard, quality and innovative use of technology by companies that have been shortlisted for the TWIB awards, have not declined but rather moved a notch higher.
"I would like to congratulate Nokuthula and all the women nominated once more for their technology efforts and innovations and remind them of the potential that they have contributed towards the economic activities of our country, at a local, national and international level," said Thabethe.
She urged women to take their rightful place in the economic landscape of the country and be the drivers and enablers of the development of South Africa.
Each category winner romped home with R200 000 worth of enterprise development incentives from the dti’s incentive administration division, while the overall winner received R600 000 worth of prizes from the Small Enterprise Development Agency, a brand new lap top, a Cell C goody bag and will attend the Global Summit of Women in Malaysia next year.
The purpose of the awards is to recognise and reward women entrepreneurs for the significant impact they have made in various sectors of the economy, through the application of technology in their businesses.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe
Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 079 492 1774
Tel: 012 394 1650
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
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