“My nooi is in ‘n nartjie,
my Ouma in kaneel,
daar’s iemand…iemand in anys.
Daar’s n vrou in elke geur!”
These cheerful words from the poem, Liefdesgedig by South African poet DJ Opperman, kicked off the Cape Winelands District Municipality’s (CWDM) final event for Women’s Month.
The Phenomenal Women of the Cape Winelands Award Ceremony was held in Paarl last week and is the results of a partnership between the CWDM, Afrikaanse Taalmuseum en -monument (ATM) and the Historium Trust.
The poetry reading formed part of the opening address by Michael Jonas, Director of the ATM.
“Through this event and the nomination process, the CWDM and our partners sought an opportunity to celebrate the unsung heroes, the women who give their time, love and care in order for others to thrive, often while neglecting their own needs. I am proud to be among the phenomenal women in this room, district and country,” Executive Mayor of the CWDM, Ald Elna von Schlicht stated.
Members of the public were invited to submit nominations for a woman that they consider phenomenal. The rules of entry were kept simple to help ensure inclusivity and submission was made easy through a mobile friendly online form. Close to 100 entries were received from all corners of the district. Judges had their hands full in categorising, checking that the criteria were correct and then contacting winners and runner’s up. Phenomenal woman are often also the busiest women!
The Awards Ceremony was led by Pietie Williams, Executive Director of the CWDM’s Community Development and Planning Services and attended by winners, runner-ups, the people who nominated them, members of the partner organisations and two guest speakers. Chrystinn Jacobs co-owner of Jacob’s Jam in Ceres and Jaydee Joubert an up-and-coming entrepreneur from Paarl, shared their inspiring stories of success.
The winners and runner’s up received gifts from the CWDM and partners, Afrikaanse Taalmuseum en -monument and the Historium Trust as well as from Jacobs’ Jam and Tupperware Western Cape.
Here are the winners:
Phenomenal Woman in Agriculture:
Elize Boer (BVM)
Runner-up: Yvonne Tema (CWD)
Phenomenal Woman in Early Child Development
Andeline Coetzee (Witzenberg)
Runner up: Elsie Mosaku (Witzenberg)
Phenomenal Woman in Higher Education
Felicity Fransman (BVM)
Runner up: Nonalanga Tisan (Drakenstein)
Phenomenal Woman in the NGO/CDW Sector
Nicolette Labuschange (BVM)
Runner up: Lavona Solomons (BVM)
Phenomenal Woman Entrepreneurs
Jocelyn van der Ross (Stellenbosch)
Runner up: Karen Schultz (Langeberg)
Phenomenal Woman Supporting others
Tembi Mehlo (Langeberg)
Runner up: Elouise Peters (Langeberg)
Phenomenal Women in Management
Elmarie Rabe (Stellenbosch)
Runner up: Nuraan Adams (CWD)
Phenomenal Women with Passion
Juenieta Everson (BVM)
Runner up: Nabila Anystere (BVM)
