Two remarkable women from the Stellenbosch municipal area were lauded for their outstanding work in their respective fields, winning the top prizes in their categories at the Phenomenal Women of the Cape Winelands Award Ceremony in Paarl last week.
The ceremony marked the final event of the Cape Winelands District Municipality’s (CWDM) celebrations for Women’s Month and is the result of a partnership between the municipality, Afrikaanse Taalmuseum en -Monument (ATM) and the Historium Trust.
Jocelyn van der Ross, an eco recycling warrior and entrepreneur, won the category for Phenomenal Woman Entrepreneurs. The Franschhoek local founded her company Green Spot Recycling about 18 years ago, with two employees and a small car, collecting and sorting recyclables as well as buying recyclables from reclaimers in an around the valley.
Stellenbosch Wine Routes project manager Elmarie Rabe walked away with the Phenomenal Women in Management prize. This Stellenbosch native is responsible for the organising of events for Stellenbosch Wine Routes, which showcases wine, food, people, music and activities in and around the town.
The public were invited to submit nominations for a woman that they consider phenomenal. The rules of entry were kept simple to help ensure inclusivity and submission was made easy through a mobile friendly online form.
Close to 100 entries were received from all corners of the district. Judges had their hands full in categorising, checking that the criteria were correct and then contacting winners and runners up.
“Through this event and the nomination process, the CWDM and our partners sought an opportunity to celebrate the unsung heroes, the women who give their time, love and care in order for others to thrive, often while neglecting their own needs. I am proud to be among the phenomenal women in this room, district and country,” said Dr Elna von Schlict, CWDM executive mayor.
The awards ceremony was led by Pietie Williams, executive director of the CWDM’s Community Development and Planning Services, and was attended by winners, runners-up, the people who nominated them, members of the partner organisations and two guest speakers – Chrystinn Jacobs, co-owner of Jacob’s Jam in Ceres, and Jaydee Joubert, an up-and-coming entrepreneur from Paarl. Both speakers shared their inspirational stories of success with those in attendance.
The winners and runners-up received gifts from the CWDM and its partners, as well as from Jacob’s Jam and Tupperware Western Cape.
The CWDM’s Community Development and Planning Services department houses the Rural and Social Development unit who are responsible for programmes such as Women’s Month. The unit ran a comprehensive Women’s Month campaign throughout the district. These events and initiatives included a victim empowerment programme, another that promotes breastfeeding among pregnant and new moms, and a programme for the elderly aimed at the prevention and management of abuse.
The Phenomenal Women of the Cape Winelands District was the last project of Women’s Month 2022.
