The fabulous 'Shoprite Checkers Women of the Year'

Sing it, girlfriend! Lira was one of the performers at the Shoprite Checkers Women of the Year awards at Emperors Palace.


Those stalwarts who have attended every single Shoprite Checkers Women of the Year Awards, which searches for exceptional and visionary women achievers whose determination and foresight are making an impact on the future of fellow South Africans, said that this year's event at Emperors Palace near OR Tambo Airport was the best ever.

August is the month which celebrates the women of South Africa and their role in our future, and this was a particularly feel-good function as some of these women are unsung heroines who do such good work in their communities, never expecting any sort of reward.

This year there were some intriguing new categories, from a Corner Shop to Big Business Makers Category to Good Neighbours, Health Care-Givers, Educators and a Youth Movers Category. In addition there was a Lifetime Achievement Award up for grabs.

The entertainment was pretty great too, as the fabulous voices of Mara Louw, Lira, Jennifer Jones, Sibongile Khumalo and Loyiso were raised in song.



Winter wonderland ... the table settings were done by Nataniel with lots of candles, crystal, silverware and white linen.




Sister Jane Munyadziwa Dzebu ... who won in the Health Care Givers category. Sister Jane, who treats women for gynaecological cancers at the Charlotte Maxeke-Johannesburg Hospital, said she wanted the girl children of South Africa to be informed about their bodies and their health and that the only barometer to gauge the health of this nation is how we treat and empower our women and girl-children.



Founder of SA Fashion Week ... Lucilla Booyzen, who won in the From Corner Shop to Big Business category. Modest Lucilla said the award is an acknowledgement of the impact that SA Fashion Week has had on the SA public at large. She added: “Our aim is to create awareness in the minds of the SA consumer to the vast creative design resources that are available to them through our emerging design industry and the unlimited opportunities to create thousands of jobs through building SMMEs and luxury brands which is the future of fashion in Africa”.



The Good Neighbours Award ... went to Lesle Ann Van Selm who founded the Khulisa Crime Prevention Initiative 13 years ago. To create a positive outcome in the aftermath of crime she used African stories for morals in a series of crime prevention and community development interventions aimed at offenders in prisons, ex-offenders and at-risk youth and vulnerable children in communities to restore their self esteem, prevent crime and reduce recidivism, make restitution, and offer socially responsible alternatives to gangs, drugs and crime.



Educator ... Jackie Gallagher is the founder and general manager of the Sparrow Schools Educational Trust which started 20 years ago after she placed a small newspaper advertisement resulting in her teaching 4 learners on Saturdays in a church hall in Joubert Park in Johannesburg. The initiative grew to a well-respected educational organisation that has helped thousands of children to better their education and skills for a brighter future. Today the Sparrow Schools and Educational Trust are two interconnected projects catering for around 600 children and youth from impoverished communities at a time, employing 82 staff members at the Foundation School in Melville and the Sparrow Combined Vocational Training Centre in Sophiatown.



Khanyisile Motsa ... was honoured with the Youth Movers Award for her work at the Berea-Hillbrow Home of Hope. She founded the Berea-Hillbrow Home of Hope ten years ago and has since touched the lives of more than 8 000 street children who have had the opportunity to get their childhood back and have the prospect of becoming responsible citizens shaping the future of South Africa. Ms Motsa works in an area in South Africa that’s hardly spoken about and often ignored – child prostitution – and also has to confront dangerous intermediaries - the pimps further putting her life in danger. Human trafficking is a fact of life in South Africa, she said, and every human being deserves to be treated with dignity.

By winning the Award these five women each received R30 000 in individual prize money as well as R100 000 towards the work they do for a better future in South Africa.




Dr Mamphela Ramphele ... seen here with Whitey Basson from Shoprite Checkers, was honoured with the Shoprite Checkers Women of the Year Lifetime Achiever Award after the public nominated her as an esteemed South African whom during her lifetime has inspired generations. She received R100 000 to donate to a cause which she believes will better the lives of South Africans.

The event will be broadcast during prime time on Monday, 9 August 2010 on M-Net.