Dr Pranill Ramchander, Portfolio Manager PR & External Communications says, "Sentech is proud to be associated with Top Women in Business and Government, as this groundbreaking publication provides an excellent platform to profile leading and gender empowered companies."
Sentech's CEO, Dr Sebiletso Mokone-Matabane herself is a prime example of Sentech's gender equity achievement in South Africa. "Breaking into top management is still difficult for women; however Sentech is an exception in this regard as we have a significant number of women on our board. We also have a gender empowerment initiative called Khulisa, aimed at developing the talent of young women from historically disadvantage groups, in the ICT sphere."
The Department of Land Affairs has created a Gender Unit to address the need of women ownership of land and property. This unit is headed by Deputy Director, Sarah Manthata. Sarah states that "the main objective of the Gender Unit is to strengthen the gender perspective in corporate services and in the execution of the land reform programmes. The land reform programmes cater for women in terms of assisting them to acquire land to better their lives. Therefore, our alignment with Top Women in Business and Government helps further the goals of both the department and the gender unit."
Top Women in Business and Government, has since its inception in 2004, gone from strength to strength. 2005 was tremendously successful for the project, which entailed a 400-page glossy publication; a glamorous awards evening and the Women Creating Wealth: Leadership in Business Conference.
With a distribution roll-out of 15 000 copies, the publication now boasts its highest retail figures ever. The unparalleled success of the publication has increased its distribution demand, ensuring dissemination through a variety of business channels - across all JSE-listed companies, government departments, and chambers of business both locally and abroad.
The publication, sponsored by Arivia.kom, Absa, IDC and Edcon, was further refined through quality design and editorial, with input from various role-players; which assisted the publishers in producing the most comprehensive gender empowerment directory in the country. The gala awards and conference, supported by Standard Bank, were a resounding success - receiving unprecedented media coverage from print to television.
Top Women in Business and Government has established itself as a champion of women entrepreneurship and leadership. The relationships with many partners, sponsors, clients, advertisers, suppliers and the public, remains a key contributor to the success of the project. Without the collaboration of so many committed organisations and individuals, Top Women in Business and Government would not be able to reach key decision-makers, leaders and protagonists.
Says the editor, Samantha Dominy, "As South African society, we are more and more accepting the common practice of women's excellence in business and government. It should come as no surprise then that the publication grows thicker and more comprehensive each year as women-owned and managed businesses continue to excel in a way that no one could have anticipated - apart from women themselves!"
Ilse Fourie, Associate Publisher concludes, "Gender empowerment has increasingly become a priority on the national agenda, recognised as a factor that is vital to the future success and prosperity of our country. Top Women in Business and Government actively seeks and pursues all manner of partnerships with the public and private sector in our efforts, along with the efforts of so many great women's organisations to ensure the visibility of women's empowerment, and it is these partnerships that will forge even greater success for our country, for women's empowerment movement, for life in general for all South Africa."
For further information please contact Lee-Anne Barnard on (+27 21) 441 2500 or email
Two of South Africa's leading organisations, Sentech and the Department of Land Affairs, have illustrated their commitment to the empowerment of women in South Africa, through the sponsorship of the 2006/7 edition of Top Women in Business and Government - for the third consecutive year.