Prisa awards focus on women’s achievements

The gala dinner of the Limpopo branch of the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa (Prisa) that was hosted at Uhuru Lifestyle Emporium in the city on Friday evening focused on the role of women in government, the business sector and their communities and a highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to outstanding women in the Public Relations and Communications fraternity.
The theme of the event was ‘The strategic role of women within the Public Relations and Communications environment’ and awards were made to the President of the South African Local Government Association (Salga) and Polokwane Executive Mayor Thembi Nkadimeng who was honoured for her outstanding astute leadership in the communication and marketing profession both in the government and private sector and Sheila Mmusi, Unesco Chair on Community Media at the University of Limpopo (UL), was recognised for her 20 years’ experience of transforming the community media landscape in academia. Senior Vice President and Head of Stakeholder Relations and Communications at Sibanye-Stillwater, Thabisile Phumo was recognised for her influential role in the profession within the mining sector for the past 17 years and Yolande Nel was recognised for her positive impact in the print media spectrum, with three decades in journalism and nearly 14 years of service as editor of Polokwane Observer.

In absentia, former SABC Editor for radio and television in Limpopo Esther Moloto was awarded for her brilliant leadership in the broadcast media.
Deputy Minister of Communications Pinky Kekana spoke from her heart and said that it is high time that public relations and communication professionals move with the age of globalisation by reskilling, cross-skilling and upskilling in the advent of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR).“We have to immerse ourselves in Online Reputation Management, as the rise in fake news is not subsiding, even worse, with the rise of artificial intelligence and its advancements combined with a market that demands videos, there will be very ‘real’ videos created that are fake, and to defend that it is fake will become a futile exercise,” she added, reiterating that communicators needed to step up and start looking at the risks now and how to manage the negatives with the advancements of technology in the era of 4IR.
Prisa’s first female Black President, Kate Bapela also addressed the guests and shared interesting stories about her experiences as a communicator. Bapela is currently the Spokesperson and Chief Communications Officer of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). “Women should pull each other up as they advance in fighting inequality in the workplace. As we celebrate Women’s Month, we have to know that one strategic move is passing on the baton to sustain the skills needed for the market, and stand your ground because you owe nothing to no one but your skills,” Bapela said.

Story/photos: BARRY VILJOEN
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