Pretoria - A Free State businesswoman has come out tops in the South African Women Entrepreneurs Network (SAWEN) awards - held last night in Boksburg.
Anna Lelimo, 39, the proud owner of a small bakery based in Thabong near Welkom, was crowned the overall winner of the inaugural Ligugu Lami Awards hosted under the auspices of the SAWEN, an initiative of the Department of Trade and Industry.
Lelimo, who is a Chemical Engineer by profession, received the award from the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Elizabeth Thabethe, at the glittering ceremony.
She said since starting her small business in 2001, she never looked back and always knew she would reap the rewards one day.
"Being an overall winner hasn't sunk in as yet. I'm still overwhelmed by excitement and the whole experience seems like a dream, but at the same time I feel really blessed.
"I was competing with other successful businesswomen who employ more people than the eight that I'm currently employing at the bakery. But this first prize is for all of us as every one of them has contributed to the success of the business, and the positive impact it makes to the people of Thabong," said an elated Lelimo.
She added that the award would open more doors for her business and her small workforce. She said she would reinvest the R145 000 prize money back into the business and employ more people.
Thirty one women entrepreneurs from all of the country's provinces vied for top honours at the awards ceremony.
Thabethe wished Lelimo and other category winners well adding that SAWEN was a strong base to support and empower women-owned small businesses in the country.
Thabethe said that the awards are meant to encourage women operating their little business to take pride of their efforts and to nurture their enterprises to grow so that they will eventually enter the main stream economy of the country.
"The awards were initiated with the aim of acknowledging women entrepreneurs for their contribution to the economy of this country, extend a helping hand to deserving women and raise the profile of SAWEN as a key player in the women economic empowerment space," said Thabethe.
She added that research had proved that women represent approximately 56% of the survivalist company category, 38% of micro-enterprises with no employees, and 15% of micro-enterprises with 1-4 employees.
"With this status quo in mind, it is only befitting for SAWEN to introduce the awards and support the unsung heroines of South Africa," emphasised Thabethe. - SAnews.gov.za
