CWDM honours strong women

Beginning with the powerful and inspiring poem “Phenomenal Woman” by the late American poet Maya Angelou, executive mayor of the Cape Winelands District (CWDM) Dr Elna von Schlicht paid tribute to the power of women in her address to the Phenomenal Women of the Winelands Awards gathering at Paarl Town Hall last Wednesday (13 August).

The annual event is held in partnership with the Afrikaanse Taalmuseum en Monument (ATM) and the Historium Trust.

“The purpose behind this function is to elevate and acknowledge leadership in women who do not normally have a public platform, leaders in communities who move through life anonymously, the ones who go unnoticed, the ones you do not think about,” Von Schlicht said. “We want to honour them for their achievements and also celebrate their presence.”

The event began with a heartfelt welcome from Michael Jonas, director of the ATM and Historium, setting the tone for a morning filled with inspiration and celebration. It also recognised other phenomenal women who shared their uplifting stories, including

Beverley Farmer, co-founder and CEO of Women in Wine, and poet Petro Gordon.

A special moment of silence was held in honour of Joha van Dyk, a winner in 2024 and author from Stellenbosch who died earlier this year.

Through the awards the CWDM and its partners acknowledged and elevated the unsung heroines, those who give more of themselves to others, their time, care, guidance and, in some cases, even their protection, so others can accelerate their futures.

Members of the public nominated phenomenal women from their communities via a mobile friendly online form or by hand delivering the nomination. The third annual edition of the awards attracted nominations from all corners of the Cape Winelands.

“There are so many inspiring women in our district doing unbelievable work in their communities and careers, so choosing the winners and runners-up is no easy task,” said Farmer, who was also a judge.

“The competition gets tougher every time, and that really shows how much of a difference these women are making. They are truly living up to the ‘Accelerating Action’ theme of Women’s Month.”

Von Schlicht added: “There’s one part of the event that is especially close to my heart… With support from the municipal manager and his team I am allowed to choose one woman who might not be nominated through the usual process personally, but who still deserves recognition.

“This special honour is called the Mayoral Discretionary Award, which is given to someone who shows leadership in her own way.”

This year Von Schlicht chose Setta Pieters, a 78-year-old retired domestic worker who has been part of her employer’s household for most of her life. Their bond goes back many decades, and Pieters has played a key role in supporting the family over the years. Sadly, she couldn’t attend the event due to illness.

However, her 97-year-old employer and friend Annatjie van Wyk accepted the award on her behalf.

Von Schlict reminded all present how important it is to celebrate domestic workers, who are mostly invisible as they work behind the scenes facilitating other people’s lives, often making a huge difference in the lives of their employers.