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Woman of the Year announced
The workday garb of the Protea restaurant on the Muckleneuk campus was exchanged in favour of exotic drapes and colourful beaded African dolls as Unisa honoured its women achievers at the Vice-Chancellor's Women Empowerment Gala Dinner on 7 August 2009.
Prof Mandla Makhanya, Acting Principal and Vice-Chancellor, in his welcome address, said that the function offered a place for Unisa to take stock of women and their achievements at the university. "Unisa has an impressive track record of promoting women actively and remains committed to its agenda of achieving equity in gender and disability," he avowed.
"Where does this evening fit into the Unisa vision to be the African university in the service of humanity," was the searching question posed by Dr Thandi Sidzumo-Mazibuko, Executive Director: Corporate Affairs. "It requires us to be vigilant so that we do not pay mere lip service to the notions of the enhancement and promotion of women. We must ensure that these permeate our planning processes," she cautioned.
Owing to an indisposition, Ms Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya, Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, was unable to attend and her address was delivered by Adv Nomazotsho Memani-Balani, her political advisor. The Minister said that in the three months since her appointment, she had been honoured to meet women from different walks of life across the country. She paid tribute to these unknown women, who were not wealthy or powerful, yet who had not yet lost hope and continued to trust that things would change for the better.
Dr Anniekie Ravhudzulo, Chair of the Unisa Women's Forum (UWF) acknowledged all the nominees and explained that the categories had been extended across the university spectrum to include women in professional and student support.
The 11 nominees were
- Dr Martine De Marre, Classics and World Languages
- Ms La-Portia Matjila, Director: Student Admissions and Registration
- Dr Mpine Makoe, Institute for Open Distance Learning
- Prof Zodwa Motsa, Chair: Department of English Studies
- Prof Phumla Mtala, Department of Human Resources
- Prof Hellicy Ngambi, Executive Dean: College of Economic and Management Sciences
- Prof Pamela Ryan, Executive Director: Office of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor
- Prof Mamokgethi Setati, Executive Dean: College of Science, Engineering and Technology
- Dr Thandi Sidzumo-Mazibuko, Executive Director: Corporate Affairs
- Dr Mala Singh, Executive Director: Human Resources
- Dr Britta Zawada, Director: School of Arts, Education, Languages and Communication
Prof Makhanya then joined Dr Ravhudzulo to present the awards.
The academic award was shared by Prof Hellicy Ngambi and Dr Martine De Marre.
Prof Hellicy Ngambi won in this category for her outstanding ability to support and mentor both colleagues and students. She runs the largest college, the College of Economic and Management Sciences, and is appreciated by her colleagues for her enthusiasm and optimism, and for her commitment to fostering productive relationships within the realm of academic scholarship.
Dr Martine De Marre is highly regarded by her peers, and her openness and generosity to others is clear from the submission made nominating her as a winner. What set her nomination form apart was that she was not only nominated by one person, but an entire list of names and signatures was attached.
The professional support award was won by Dr Mpine Makoe because of her commitment to community work and her approach to her work, which is humanitarian and fundamentally equal. She is also comfortable working with diversity, and her energy and dynamism are much appreciated by her colleagues.
Ms La-Portia Matjila was the winner of the student support award owing to her clearly competent work in this area. She has shown excellent management skills as well as strong leadership abilities, and is open to new challenges in her work.
Dr Mala Singh won in the administration category because of her extraordinary ability to facilitate major changes in the Human Resources Department. She has an enormous amount of experience and expertise which she has set about applying to better the working environment at Unisa. Dr Singh is a strong leader and is highly respected in the workplace.
Dr Martine De Marre was awarded the Feroza Adam Memorial Shield as Woman of the Year. The award honours not only Feroza Adam, but all women who have contributed to women’s equality in South Africa, and especially to those who paid the ultimate price so that today we are free.
Entertainment was provided by the vibrant Ms Gloria Bosman and her backing quartet, while Dr Thandi Sidzumo-Mazibuko and Ms Jenny Lemon, Director: Gender Studies Programme, were the programme managers for the evening. | 
