As part of the annual Women’s Month programme, the Honourable Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) honours women across Gauteng who have made meaningful contributions towards empowering others in society.

Each year in August, the GPL’s Multi-Party Women’s Caucus leads the Annual Vita Basadi Awards – an initiative that recognises excellence among women in various fields of work, as well as acts of service to those in need.

Through these awards, the Speaker celebrates women of courage who continue to make a positive impact in their communities.

Celebrate the winners of the Vita Basadi Awards…

WINNER: COMMUNITY BUILDER OF THE YEAR

Lungiswa Tshaka

Lungiswa started voluntary youth empowerment programs in 2016, delivering a range of activities. More than 3000 Gauteng youngsters were trained in different areas with the help of Social Development Region C and other sponsors and stakeholders.

She later expanded her empowerment programs to Women, training them in sewing, and later founded the Cosmo City Women’s Forum for their social & economic empowerment.

She also founded the Black Pearls co-operative to educate Women in property investment, management, and construction. She leads many community campaigns and touches many lives.

WINNER: COMMUNITY HEROINE AWARD

Victoria Phoku

Victoria Phoku founded the Hope & Restoration Movement NPO in 2019. She started off helping senior citizens and 12 child-led families with groceries, clothing, and uniforms. She went on to work with Takalani Home for the Disabled in Soweto, where she distributes food supplies, sanitary towels, and adult diapers.

A call center agent, Victoria, is actively seeking sponsorship from organizations to enable her to help more people with disabilities. 

WINNER: OUTSTANDING CREATIVE AWARD

Karabo Chauke

Karabo Mapula Chauke is a passionate scriptwriter and content producer who has conceptualized and written on relatable topics for public education campaigns, children’s books, theatre, film, and TV.

The 31-year-old single is passionate about changing attitudes and reflecting social ills to inspire the next generation. Currently, Karabo is developing and producing her own original short stories, children’s series, and theatre productions for face-to-face education under her newly established multimedia company, Story Fixers Pty Ltd. She encourages a new generation of storytellers by getting the youth to read and write.

WINNER: OUTSTANDING YOUTH PHILANTHROPIST AWARD

Adelaide Selemela

Adelaide is an author, publisher, social activist, entrepreneur, and Supreme Girls Leader. In 2019, she initiated a community project, Planetary Academic Excellence, that offers guidance to high school learners for informed career choices and subject selection.

She has a writing consulting and publishing house, which led her to broadcast her show, The Authors World TV, on YouTube.

She is passionate about education, community development, policymaking, and promoting youth leadership and participation in governance as keys to achieving socio-economic development. 

WINNER: THE GUARDIAN AWARD

Angela Mokasi

Ms. Angela Mokasi became the first female acting Chief of JMPD. Not only is she young, black, and female, but she has also claimed her place in this male-dominated sector and strives every day to break stereotypes about Women in law enforcement and leadership.  

She supports community initiatives, buys uniforms for underprivileged children, and seeks sponsorships to help communities. She empowers and mentors Women and is currently planning a gala dinner for Women in uniform. She led the recruitment of over 1300 youths into JMPD, and more will be recruited as traffic wardens.

She is always visible and available to lead safety operations and has forged relations with other law enforcement agencies to fight crime in Jozi

WINNER: UNSUNG LEGEND AWARD

Mathabo J. Hlomuka

Known in Alexandra as ‘Aunty we Block’, she ran a crèche from 1996 until 2019 without a fee, with parents making voluntary contributions and buying food items for children. In 1998, she started a soup kitchen to feed the homeless, and in 2009, she extended it to senior citizens at two clinics. With her pension payout, she has raised nine (9) orphans without any government grant and currently supports a young lady with two children. Social workers used to ask her to take care of displaced children without any compensation, while trying to place them at foster homes. She shelters young pregnant Women from abusive relationships and runs a support group for mothers with nyaope-addicted children.

WINNER: WOMAN OF HONOUR

Andiswa Xozwa

Ms Andiswa Xozwa is the Founder and CEO of Okuhle Project Management. She is a qualified Quantity Surveyor and Project Manager with broad technical experience and over 15 years’ experience.

She is passionate about empowering and developing Women, youth, and disadvantaged communities. 

Through Okuhle Project Management, she has created employment opportunities, skills development, and on-site training for unskilled Women. 

She actively empowers and creates opportunities for many Women in construction. She also strives for inclusive supply chain process and fosters business relationships with Women-led enterprises. She created opportunities for Women-led SMMEs, local subcontractors and suppliers. 

SPEAKER’S SPECIAL AWARDS

WINNER: SPEAKER’S SPECIAL AWARD 

Sibongile Mdlalose

Sibongile is a youth advocate who has been working with the GPL volunteer to bring in girls to actively participate in the business of the Legislature. She has invested herself and the little resources she has to ensure that the underserved communities of the West Rand are represented in many youth participation activities

WINNER: LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD