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…

OUTSTANDING YOUTH PHILANTHROPIST AWARD  2016

WINNER:                  

LIZA SMITH 

  • A young professional who’s committed to improving the lives of Kempton Park’s youth. 
  • Digs into her own pocket to assist with events and projects run by both the organisation and the Activate Leadership network. 
  • Her projects range from teaching youngsters how to use a library; and registering them for cards to organising free eye tests and glasses for children. 
  • Shares info with students across the country about bursary opportunities, learnerships and available jobs.

RUNNER UP:            

MPHO SALAMINA MOFOKENG

  • Co-founder of ‘Life 4 U Foundation’ – which runs programs on social welfare, community development and schools’ sanitation projects.
  • Organises many projects aimed at poverty and disaster relief.
  • Runs projects that provide free toilet maintenance and refurbishments at rural and disadvantaged schools.
  • Runs educational initiatives in public spaces to promote hygiene and water conservation.
  • The organisation operates without any formal funding. 

COMMUNITY HEROINE AWARD

WINNER:                  

ALINA NTHABISENG MOKOENA 

  • A librarian who organises and facilitates reading programmes for children, youth and adults across Mogale City – particularly the rural areas. 
  • Also runs public speaking education program for the youth and encourages a culture of reading and research.
  • A true public servant and community heroine who works tirelessly for the benefit of ordinary citizens.
  • Through her programs, learners from different schools have won valuable prizes such as laptops and tablets, stationaries, vouchers and many others.

RUNNER UP:            

JULIANA DIDI MOHULO

  • Feeds orphans in the Etwatwa area.
  • Volunteers to help vulnerable youths, orphans and the elderly – gives motivation and mentorship.
  • Organises local marathons for youth, with 45 entrants subsequently completing the 2015 and 2016 Comrades Marathon under the 8 hour timeframe.
  • Assists local youths to participate in athletics and marathons by: paying for affiliation and registration fees, buying running shoes, food, accommodation and transport. 

COMMUNITY BUILDER OF THE YEAR AWARD

WINNER:                  

BETTY NKOANA 

  • Works with women and children in informal settlements who have been/ are victims of abuse.
  • Collects second hand clothes for poor and vulnerable children.
  • Runs educational program in informal settlements on prevention of shack fires.
  • Runs educational program for teenage girls to prevent pregnancies.
  • Runs centres that assist children born in Mozambique/ Zimbabwe to learn English and Tswana after hours.
  • Runs brick-making as well as a baking project – with all profit generated benefitting the community.

RUNNER UP:            

THANDI MARTHA MNYAKENI  

  • Manager at Phuthanang Protective Workshop a centre for people with disabilities in Tsakane, Ekurhuleni. 
  • Secures learnership and employment opportunities at different institutions and companies for those receiving care at Phuthanang. 
  • Has the ability and patience to transfer sewing, embroidery, looming and bead making skills to beneficiaries that are unemployable due to the nature of their disability. 
  • Has managed to establish ABET classes for people with disabilities.
  • Runs HIV/Aids, life skills and skills transfer workshops for people with disabilities.

WOMAN OF HONOUR AWARD 

WINNER:                  

WILHEMINA JM BODIBE 

  • A social worker who established the 29 year-old Tembisa Child and Family Welfare organisation, which takes care of vulnerable children and women.
  • Employs more than 80 females from the Tembisa community.
  • The organisation provides rehab counselling services for community members living with HIV/Aids.
  • Has helped more than 3000 family get foster care grants.
  • Runs a sewing school and baking project for women recovering from domestic abuse.
  • Helps reunite broken families. 

RUNNER UP:            

EMILY MASEMOLA 

  • Has voluntarily raised most of the young girls in her community.
  • Mentors young girls and teaches them to start businesses and pursue individual dreams.

UNSUNG LEGEND AWARD 

WINNER:                  

DEVI MOODLEY 

  • Runs many social upliftment programs in communities including a monthly feeding initiative for the poor.
  • Donates groceries to children’s homes and runs feeding schemes for orphans and senior citizens.
  • Works with other organisations to rollout different social development initiatives – the recent one being giving out blankets to needy during the winter season. 
  • Has helped build extra clasrooms for a local school from her own pocket.
  • Voluntarily counsels and gives talks to vulnerable women, youths and children who are experiencing difficulties.

RUNNER UP:            

ROSINA MOKAMELA 

  • Has served the Mamelodi community for over 20 long years – asking for nothing in return. 
  • Gathers women and encourages them to start businesses – some of whom now own established businesses..
  • Voluntarily counsels women and children who experience various problems in the private lives.
  • Started a gospel choir to get Mamelodi youths off nyaope, alcohol abuse and criminal activities.
  • Runs annual initiative to celebrate women in sports. Also discusses many women health issues through this platform.

THE GUARDIAN AWARD

WINNER:                  

PAULA TERBLANCHE 

  • Actively involved in communities in West Rand, i.e. Krugersdorp, Munsieville, Hekpoort and Kagiso.
  • Introduced self-defence lessons for women and children in informal settlements as a preventative measure against domestic and general violence and abuse.
  • Actively involved at Project Hope and Polokego a shelter for abused women and children.
  • Hosts National Child Protection Week in Munsieville – in partnership with the Project Hope Child Welfare, the Teddy Bear Clinic and Life Line.
  • Works with the sick in society, senior citizens, people with disabilities, and the homeless.

RUNNER UP:            

THANDI LIETA 

  • Received military training in Malanje Angola in 1985.
  • Currently actively involved in different aspects of community work at Ward 91 in Ekurhuleni.
  • Previously honoured for contribution in South Africa’s 1st Democratic National Assembly of the Republic of South Africa from 1994 – 1999.  
  • Honoured as part of women who ensured that SA Constitution is gender balanced, and the rights of women are enshrined in our Constitution 1994 – 1999.

YOUNG DIGNITARY AWARD 

WINNER:                  

BIANCA RAUTENBACH 

  • A Grade 12 learner involved in hospital visits, fundraising initiatives and donations programs meant to benefit disadvantaged children from the age of 10.
  • Runs a ‘Christmas Wishes for Kids’ initiative, where poor and orphans are treated to a Christmas party.
  • Collects clothes, holds bake sales and runs fundraising initiatives at super markets to change the lives of underprivileged children and households. 
  • Holds Mother’s Day parties for disadvantaged mothers and gives out gifts.
  • Collects food parcels for old age homes and for animal shelters.

RUNNER UP:            

AMMAARAH WADEE 

  • South Africa’s youngest published author with the distribution of her first book, A Feather’s Tale.
  • Part of the Kingsmead Buddy Reading program which assists orphans from Alexandra, Johannesburg to read. 
  • This reading program includes teaching unfortunate children from child-headed households. 
  • With the assistance of her sisters, Ammaarah recently helped clean up at Ikhaya Lomusa

Childrens home in Alexandra. 

  • Involved in the “World Read Aloud Day” campaign for hospitalized children at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital.

OUTSTANDING CREATIVE AWARD 

WINNER:                  

MASINGITA MASUNGA 

  • Host of TV show Masingita with Confidence, motivational and inspirational speaker, entrepreneur, producer, TV director and philanthropist.
  • Founder of the Miss Confidence SA pageant – the first beauty pageant for women with physical disabilities which was founded in 1999.
  • Masingita with Confidence is a 30 minute inspirational talk show on Soweto TV, which helps South Africans find restoration, vision and purpose. 
  • Helps young people to access education and create opportunities for better lives. 
  • Provides support including school fees, accommodation, and youth development programs for youth, both with physical disabilities and those suffering from social ills. 

RUNNER UP:            

LORNA DE VILLIERS

  • A teacher at one of the primary schools in Eldorado Park. Works with most local NPOs and enrichment centres.
  • Deals and assist with trauma counselling and motivational talks.
  • Board member at the Eldorado Park True Men’s Forum – helps with matters related to women & children abuse.
  • Runs programs to help with youth rehabilitation from drugs and substance abuse. 
  • A mother to orphaned children in the area – has opened her home to people with different needs for many years.