The Limpopo branch of the Businesswomen’s Association of South Africa (Bwasa) hosted a winner’s breakfast at Protea Hotel Ranch Resort last Thursday to honour winners of the recent Regional Business Achiever Awards (RBAA). Four of the winners were in attendance and were given the opportunity to address and motivate other businesswomen.
Rachel Maphanga was the winner of the Social Entrepreneur Category Award and is the Project Manager of the Civil Society Development Initiative which started in 1998 at Riba Cross under a Marula tree. Due to her initiative as Fund Raising Manager, the society now receives funding from the Department of Health and all the programs are running smoothly because of those funds. The Civil Society Development Initiative is a multipurpose centre with six board directors, three other office bearers and 37 caregivers.
Lorna Maphuthuma was the winner in the Professional Category and is the owner and manager of Maphuthuma Medical Practice. She manages a team of four full time employees and works successfully with three allied services of Psychology, Chiropractic and Speech and Hearing. She also consults for the mining and building industry in terms of Occupational Health Services and runs very successful social responsibility programs which includes motivational speaking, charity work, youth camps, women empowerment group sessions and church activities.
Winner in the Established Entrepreneur Category Granny Matsaung is the owner of Lapologa Bed and Breakfast, a four star bed and breakfast situated at Aqua Park in Tzaneen. Her Bed and Breakfast caters for local and international guests. She graduated from the University of Pretoria holding a Masters Degree in Social Sciences (MSOCSCI), her passion and dedication in running her business stems from the experience she acquired while working for Coca-Cola Fortune, the Department of Labour and the Greater Tzaneen Municipality for more than 15 years.
In the Emerging Entrepreneur Category Malukuta Annikie Nndanganeni was the winner. During her employment at Langeberg tomato canning factory she worked in the laboratory and developed a loving for farming. During 2005 she managed to secure ten hectares of land at Nwanedi from the Department of Agriculture and equipped the land with infrastructure. In 2007 she registered Malukuta Farming CC and it curre
ntly supplies Tiger Brands with fully ripe tomatoes, NTK with beans and Techno Serve with butternuts. Malukuta Farming CC specialises in producing cash crops such as tomatoes, butternuts, chillies, okra, and maize meal.
Chairperson of Bwasa Limpopo, Mmabogoshi Msiza addressed the women and said that Bwasa is not just a ladies’ social club. “Yes, ladies do enjoy socialising but Bwasa is also the mouthpiece for women nationally. Women share knowledge and experiences. Women motivate and inspire each other,” Msiza said and announced that Bwasa is in the process of rolling out a mentorship programme to assist and support women in the growth and development of their businesses.
Msiza also alluded to Bwasa’s Sanitary Wear for Girls Project in terms of which Bwasa provides re-usable sanitary pads to women. Another project of Bwasa is the Corporate Wear for Young Ladies Project which collects and provides corporate wear to young entrants to the labour market.
Msiza concluded by motivating women to grow and develop to decrease the gap of entrepreneurship compared to other African countries.
Story and photos: BARRY VILJOEN
>>barryv.observer@gmail.com
Featured photo: Mmabogoshi Msiza, Chairperson of the Limpopo branch of Bwasa addresses guests at the Regional Business Achiever Awards Winner’s Breakfast.
