A 60-year-old Lebowakgomo business woman, Ms Flora Mabitsela is confident that she will fly the Limpopo flag high at the prestigious annual Technology for Women in Business Awards that will be taking place at the Birchwood Conference Centre, in Boksburg, Gauteng on Wednesday, 31 October 2012. Mabiletsa is a finalist in the Very Small Business Category where she will be contesting for the first prize with three other finalists from Gauteng and Western Cape.
Mabitsela, who owns a bakery located in Lebowakgomo, could also make Limpopo even more proud if she were chosen the overall winner of the Awards. The winners will be crowned by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe in an auspicious ceremony.
“By being nominated as a finalist I’m already a winner. I’m already feeling very proud that I will be representing my province in these prestigious national awards. And I’m confident I will walk away with a prize so that I can use whatever I will be getting for winning to grow my business and create employment for more people,” said Mabitsela with a wide and confident smile.
Each category winner will romp home with R200 000 worth of enterprise development incentives from the Department of Trade and Industry’s incentive administration division, while the overall winner will receive R600 000 worth of prizes from the Small Enterprise Development Agency, brand new lap top and a Cell C goody bag.
The mother of four, started her business in 2005 to supplement the income she earned as an enrolled assistant nurse at the Lebowakgomo Hospital and has never looked back ever since. Today she is employing four people. She still has enough energy to wake up at 2am every morning to ensure that her customers, who include hospitals, clinics, schools and many members of the public get fresh rolls, break, buns, cakes, meat pies, muffins and Swiss rolls that she bakes everyday.
Deputy Minister Thabethe says 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.
“Through this initiative, hundreds of women have benefited from various incentives and non-financial support offered by the department and it has enabled them to grow and sustain their businesses,” said Thabethe.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe, Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
