By Nangamso Mabindla
14 June 2006

THE Business Women Association (BWA) celebrated the regional Achievers Awards with the nine women that have managed to make a mark in various areas of business and walks of life.

At a business networking breakfast held in East London on Tuesday, 13 June, the three winners and six finalists were presented with their awards. The breakfast was attended by women in business and president of the Border Kei Chamber of Business, Hanlie Bassingthwaighte

Speaking about their [winner's] achievements, Bassingthwaighte, who is the first woman president of the Chamber, said that she was happy that there were women prepared to stay in the Border Kei region and make a difference. "To be chosen as the businesswomen of the year is a great privilege that will stay with each of the winners for the rest of their lives," she said.

She encouraged more women to venture into business and make a name for themselves. "We should move away from the mentality that every time a woman achieves something we make it a big deal; there are many women that are already achieving in all walks of life. It is time that women took charge and made a difference in society."

There were still lots of opportunities for business growth in the Border Kei region and women were urged to play their part. The Chamber was already driving the process of improving the National Road, the R72 between East London and Port Elizabeth, to encourage tourism and business relations between the two cities.

The port also needed to be deepened from 11 metres to 14 metres in order to cater for bigger ships.

"Having said that, I want to congratulate all the nine women that have made a difference in the lives of our people."

The nine finalists included entrepreneurs, start-up businesses, corporate award and a new award for community projects. Winner of the Entrepreneur Award, Penny Whitfield of Boston Business College, said she was honoured to have been recognised.

"The Boston Business College franchise I opened in East London in 1999 was the first in the Eastern Cape and it has done wonders since then. We now have over 1 400 students attending that campus," she said. "There is great potential in East London and I am happy to have had the honour of winning this award."

Founder of Xoliswa Tini Properties, who won the start-up award, thanked the BWA for recognising work put by women in business. "When I established my company in 2003, I had little experience in the property business. However we have grown and I am happy that our progress has been recognised," said Tini.

Tini said that her company was more than an estate agent but an empowerment company. "I took young agents with no prior experience and empowered them; now they do a great job for the company."

In the Community Projects awards, all three finalists were winners. One of the finalists, executive director of Living Waters, Melonie Gobel, said that this was a new award in the BWA regional awards and it recognised people involved in changing people's lives.

"You really cannot have a winner because our main aim is to make a difference in people's lives. For instance, our main aim is to help abused women and children in our city. I am very happy that the BWA has recognised our work and initiated this award," she said.

Gobel urged women in business to make a difference and help the people of East London. "Women are the heart of society, and with women in powerful positions, we can be confident that they will strive to make a difference."

Lynn Snooke from the Promised Land agreed with Gobel, explaining that the BWA has shown that it was interested in working with community projects in making a difference in people's lives.