Hosted by Tumi Makgabo, and musical entertainment by Lira, the 400 guests and VIPs were able to share in acknowledging Epainette Mbeki (Ma'Mbeki) for her lifelong, tireless dedication to bringing empowerment to the rural communities around her in the Eastern Cape, when she was honoured with Top Women's Lifetime Achievement Award.
The two overall winners of this year's prestigious awards, were presented as follows:
TOP GENDER EMPOWERED COMPANY OF THE YEAR KMPGTOP WOMAN OF THE YEAR IN BUSINESS Nedbank Group Ltd Professor Shirley Zinn Winners of the nine main categories are as follows: TOP GENDER EMPOWERED CORPORATE COMPANY THE MEDIA SHOPTOP GENDER EMPOWERED COMPANY: ICT IBM SOUTH AFRICA LTD TOP GENDER EMPOWERED COMPANY: SMALL & MEDIUM BUSINESS TRAVEL WITH FLAIR TOP COMPANY INVESTING IN WOMEN KMPG TOP GENDER EMPOWERED GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT TOP GENDER EMPOWERED PARASTATAL ACSA TOP EXECUTIVE CORPORATE SA Professor Shirley Zinn Nedbank Group Ltd TOP ENTREPRENEUR Kate Shuttleworth MARVELLOUS MAIDS TOP WOMAN OF THE YEAR IN GOVERNMENT Helen Zille Executive Mayor: City of Cape Town |
The Top Women Awards, in association with Top Women in Business & Government encourages the equitable distribution of power among leaders in business and government who have earned the right to be called captains of their industries. The awards are geared to acknowledge dedication, leadership and achievement; inspire women to transcend the ‘glass ceiling'; and encourage those companies and institutions that have instituted integration as part of their business models and corporate governance.
Commenting on this year's proceedings, Ilse Pienaar, Associate Publisher of Top Women in Business & Government, said: “The awards always deliver a great networking occasion, but this year both the Top Women in Business & Government publication and the Top Women Awards' ceremony reflect the more significant stance South Africans have developed towards transformation and gender empowerment.”