Women in Water Awards presented by Minister Ronnie Kasrils
Press Release by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
19 March 2004
The third annual Women in Water Awards were presented at a glittering ceremony held at the Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria on 19 March 2004. The awards, hosted by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry and sponsored by Eskom, honoured women involved in the water sector in South Africa.
Minister Ronnie Kasrils presented awards to six women for their outstanding achievements in water sector. Speaking at the awards evening, the Minister said that he was pleased with the contributions being made by all the nominees, finalists and winners. “The awards are presented to women of stature, women who have excelled in their field and who have made a significant contribution to the management of water in South Africa. In particular, the women who have been chosen have used their knowledge, their skills and their considerable capacity to ensure that water management in South Africa contributes to a better life for all. My sincere congratulations to all the winners. They are all shining stars and through their commitment and dedication, our water sector is stronger than before.”
The Minister however stressed the need for a progressive approach of transformation in certain sections of the Water Sector, in particular the engineering (civil, mechanical, and chemical engineering) and scientific fields, with a special emphasis on opportunities for women from historically disadvantaged communities.
Eskom’s Managing Director (Generation Division), Mr Ehud Matya, said in his address “that as an organisation that places a premium on gender equity in the workplace, it is a privilege for Eskom to be associated with an event that recognises women who have made valuable contributions in the field of water”. He continued by pointing out that women have moved a long way from their traditional role as providers of water to the household and, in line with a fast transforming society, are acting as catalysts of change in improving their own lives as well as those of others. “This is evidenced by the large contingent of women in my own organisation and other organisations across the country, who not only play key roles in our economy, but bring a new perspective on issues affecting our lives on a daily basis.”
The winners of the Women in Water awards were:
Jenny Day in the Research Category (35 & over)
Widely viewed as a leader within her field, Professor Jenny Day has devoted her life to water research and conservation. She has contributed to numerous scientific publications, received invitations to foreign universities and research centres, and overseen more than fifteen major projects concerned with the water field. In 1984 Jenny co-founded the Freshwater Research Unit at the University of Cape Town. Her book Vanishing Waters, which she co-authored with Bryan Davies, has become the standard textbook for freshwater ecology courses at tertiary institutions in South Africa.
Claire Reid in the Research Category (under 35)
Reel Gardening, the simple and effective invention for which Claire Reid was nominated, uses five times less water when gardening. Her creation has helped uplift rural and informal communities by making it easier for people to grow their own vegetables and save water, whilst also protecting the environment. Claire’s project was awarded a gold medal at the National Expo Finals in 2002. In 2003 she won the SA Youth Water Award and went on to win the highly prestigious Stockholm Junior Water Prize, beating contestants from 26 other countries. She was also invited to address 16 000 delegates at a recent International Water Conference in Los Angeles.
Mirriam Dooms in the Community Development Category (Professional)
The principles of equality and human dignity are paramount to Miriam Doom’s outlook on life. She takes this ethos to work with her, and is determined to provide every citizen of Tshwane with, at the least, a basic supply of water and adequate sanitation. She has been serving on the local Water and Sanitation portfolio and is a Member of the Mayoral Committee of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. Here Miriam has implemented numerous successful projects and leads by example, tirelessly working to bring about a positive change to the lives of her immediate community.
Maria Wildschutt in the Community Development Category (Non-Professional)
By offering education to anybody under the age of 40, Maria Wildschutt has taken it upon herself to provide the people in her poverty-stricken Northern Cape community with an opportunity to build themselves better lives. Originally a primary school teacher, she was elected by her community to take over the building responsibilities of a school and household sanitation project that was in danger of being dropped. Her lack of experience in water-related matters did not stop her from pursuing her newfound passion. The Moribund Household Sanitation Project is now one of the many projects that Maria has successfully introduced to her community.
Nomxolisi Matyana in the Education and Communication Category
Nomxolisi’s career in the water sector started in 1988 in the Department of Public Works. She later transferred to the Eastern Cape Department of Water Affairs and Forestry in 1996. Her work has addressed issues from HIV/Aids awareness to capacity building and training. She is currently the National Programme Leader of the 2020 Vision for Water Education Programme, within which she co-ordinates the annual Baswa Le Meetse (Youth and Water) arts competition. Through her drive and determination, the South African Youth Water Prize Competition is one of the most successful environmental competitions for learners, having also achieved international accolades at the Stockholm Junior Water Prize Awards. Nomxolisi is an inspiration to all public servants.
Delana Louw in the Management & Policy Category
Delana Louw has tirelessly worked to ensure that South Africa’s water resources are sustainable and compliant with environmental standards. Working on all fronts she has been instrumental in ensuring that scientists and water managers achieve common goals. Her main focus has been managing and developing ecological Reserve determination processes, contributing huge amounts of effort and expertise to this project. A committed team player, Delana’s leadership skills have seen her achieve very impressive results across a wide variety of projects.
The winners were chosen by a distinguished panel of adjudicators based on a number of criteria, including the use of knowledge, skills and capacity to ensure that water management in South Africa contributes to a better life for all.
The panel included: Mr Willie Modishe (Chairman of National Water Advisory Council), Mr Solly Manyaka (Independent consultant), Ms Tsepo Khumbane (Social activist and recipient of Certificate of Recognition in 2002), Dr Heather MacKay (WRC and recipient of Certificate of Recognition in 2002) and Dr Nozi Mjoli (Independent consultant and winner of Policy category in 2003).
Enquiries:Hayley Rodkin
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