AWCA unveils this year’s Woman of Substance Award Winner
FOURWAYS - The African Women Chartered Accountants (AWCA) announced Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as the winner of the AWCA Woman of Substance Award 2016.
Dlamini-Zuma was unveiled as the winner at AWCA’s 12th Annual Woman of Substance Fundraising Banquet held at the Theatre on Track in Kyalami. The award recognises a woman’s outstanding achievements in their field of expertise, one who has played a significant role in the uplifting of black women, and demonstrated quality and successful leadership in areas of governance and business to realise gender parity.
In her many roles in service for the country, Dlamini-Zuma has more than earned her colours.
She is currently the chairperson of the African Union Commission, a position which she will hold until January next year, and is the first female chairperson of the African Union, a post which she has held since 2012. Prior to that, she was the Minister of the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa.
She is also a member of the African National Congress National Executive Committee and National Working Committee, the African National Congress Women’s League National Executive Committee, and the National Progressive Women’s Movement of South Africa.
The banquet was attended by previous winners, including the winner last year, Advocate Thuli Madonsela. “Being a Woman of Substance Award winner for 2015 has been an honour as I had the opportunity to interact particularly with women from different sectors and I also enjoyed the vibe of networking with black women accountants,” she said.
“The award is important in two ways; in the one it affirms to whatever the winner is doing, even though we do not do our work to win awards; and in the second, it profiles the winner in such a way that that person is exposed to younger and aspiring women, that way it becomes a way to empower and uplift younger women.”
Lesego Sennelo, president of AWCA said, “We are excited to be acknowledging and celebrating milestones that women have achieved in the face of adversity. The 2016 recipient of the Woman of Substance Award is an undisputable trailblazer in the upliftment and empowerment of women across the African continent. Dlamini-Zuma’s career as a struggle activist and politician is testimony to her indestructible and courageous spirit.”
She added that since its inception, the award has been conferred to 11 powerful women who are business and social leaders engaged in business transformation, community development and nation building.
