Tshwane Women in Business Awards: Empowering Female Entrepreneurs

The annual Tshwane Women in Business Awards (TWIBA), now in its fourth year, honoured this week the accomplishments of women entrepreneurs in various sectors at a prestigious ceremony held at the Maslow Hotel in Menlyn Maine. 

Organised by the Tshwane Economic Development Agency (Teda), the awards recognised the significant contributions of women business owners to the local economy and their efforts in overcoming obstacles.

Sarah Mabotsa, Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Economic Development and Spatial Planning, emphasised the importance of inclusive growth in Tshwane's economic development strategy.

“Women are uniquely skilled in their ability to multi-task. We wear many hats: we are mothers and wives, but we are also leaders and work to empower our communities. These awards serve to recognise, celebrate and develop women leaders in Tshwane,” she said.

Teda board member Anjue Hirachund highlighted the awards ceremony's impact, saying it has  successfully recognised over 200 women-owned companies and secured more than R1.5 million in sponsorships.

“These awards have helped women-owned businesses in Tshwane to develop markets and grow their companies. These impacts have a ripple effect across the entire value chain, economy and community,” she said.

Khuliswa Mazizi, a past winner of the business awards in the agriculture and agro-processing category, credited Teda for empowering her food production company, Tanolemon. 

She said what began as a small venture in her garage has blossomed into a thriving business, now supplying food products to both national and international markets.

One of the winners, Nomathemba Selesho, founder of Themba Liyeza Solutions, is a trailblazing entrepreneur and advocate for women in transport and logistics. 

With hands-on experience in heavy-duty coal transport, scholar transport, courier services, and water solutions, she has built her company into a Level 1 BBBEE enterprise that empowers local communities.

A special award was presented to Itumeleng Moloto from Eden Farm for her innovative approach to agriculture. 

Eden Farm's precision irrigation systems optimise water usage, reducing waste and ensuring crops receive the exact amount of water needed. 

Their drip irrigation method delivers water directly to the roots, minimising soil erosion and runoff.

Tlangi Mogale, MMC for Roads and Transport, praised the awards for recognising the hard work of women entrepreneurs and encouraging more women to build their own businesses. 

“Next year I hope we will also see a TWIBA category for women engineers,” she said.

Mabotsa congratulated all the finalists and winners, saying: “The Tshwane Women in Business Awards send a clear and powerful message to aspiring women leaders: that their dreams are valid, their contributions are valued, and their leadership is essential to shaping the future of our city.”

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za