The Johannesburg Sports Confederation, in collaboration with the City of Johannesburg and the Gauteng Sports Confederation, hosted the Johannesburg Women in Sport Awards 2022 at the Brixton Multipurpose Centre under the theme “Women Transforming the World Through Sports” on Saturday, 26 February 2022.
The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development, Cllr Ronald Harris, applauded the Sport and Recreation employees for a job well done.
“One of the obstacles that women face in sports is the inequality in media representation, disparity in access to facilities, discrepancy in financing the work you produce, and disparity in the compensation you receive for what you accomplish.
“As a result, we are grateful that you continue to persevere in the face of social hurdles, ensuring that you will ascend to the top and be the greatest,” said MMC Harris.
The trophy handover was divided into four sessions with entertainment in between. South Africa’s most well-known female footballer, Portia Modise, received an award for her contribution to sport.
“I would want to take this time to thank the organisers for acknowledging us as women along with the challenges that we face. I’d like to thank everyone who participated and applaud all finalists because I don’t think we could have accomplished this without the motivation,” she concluded.
The Spar South Rand Distribution Centre sponsored the event with trophies and goodie bags.
Nokuqina Mbatha, HR Manager in the logistics department at the Spar South Rand Distribution Centre, expressed her delight at being a part of the awards ceremony.
“I’m very impressed with the fact that women are recognised. This has been put on the side for quite some time, and now, seeing it happening in Johannesburg and seeing women appreciating that they are being acknowledged is remarkable.
“I appreciate how these women understood that the prizes are not only for them, but also for the people who have and continues to support them,” Mbatha added.
Vicky Magu, the Joburg Sports Confederation President, said: “Our appreciation goes to the MMC of Community Development, Cllr Ronald Harris, and the City of Johannesburg for making this ceremony possible, we celebrated and recognized girls and women in 17 categories.
Through sport, we are empowering women and the Johannesburg Women in Sport Awards are the first of its kind, supported by the MMC and the City of Johannesburg, we will be returning next year with bigger and better awards.”
Siyanda Mnukwa, the Director of Sport and Recreation, confirmed that supporting women in sport is in the best interests of the City of Johannesburg. “We are methodical in our planning and executions to expand sport in the City. We can’t do it on our own and as a result, we invite and call on stakeholders to join us.”
01/03/2022