Cell C Take a Girl Child to Work Day® took place around South Africa yesterday on global Africa Day.
Since its inception, the lauded initiative has given nearly one million Grade 10 to 12 South African girl learners the opportunity to visit a place of work and to experience various career opportunities available in business, industry and within the public service sectors.
Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, the Honourable Susan Shabangu, hosted a group of learners - who came from all of South Africa's nine provinces as well as from Botswana, Namibia and Lesotho - at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Also at the event was Miss South Africa Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters who joined forces with fellow African national pageant winners Miss Botswana Thata Kenosi, Miss Lesotho Mpoi Mahao and Miss Namibia Lizelle Esterhuizen. Nel-Peters is the 2017 goodwill ambassador and spokesperson for Cell C Take a Girl Child to Work Day®
Cell C Take a Girl Child to Work Day® also celebrated its 15th anniversary this year by showcasing 15 top jobs.
In addition to the more than 600 companies, NGOs and Government departments who opened their doors to girl learners, 15 dynamic South African businesswomen and personalities engaged with students.
They were:
Asinath Mahapa – Founder of African College of Aviation (Pty) Ltd. She was the first black female pilot trainee in South Africa.
Busisiwe Mkhwebana – Public Protector.
Danuta Blanckaert – Head of Radiology at Milpark Hospital.
Dolly Mokgatle – Independent Non-Executive Director of Zurich Insurance Company SA Ltd. She is the co-founder and Executive Director of Peotona Group Holdings Ltd. She is also an Independent Non-Executive Director of Sasfin Bank Ltd, as well as a Non-Executive Director for Sasfin Holdings Ltd.
Donne Nicol – CEO of the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation. A trustee of the Cyril Ramaphosa Education Trust, the Alexander Forbes Community Trust, Mabindu Trust and the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation, she is also a director of Shanduka Black Umbrellas.
Jenna Clifford – World-renowned jewellery designer, known for her unique customised creations. Involved in various mentoring programmes for women of all ages, including the Breaking the Mould series launched by Octagon in 2012 which saw Jenna designing two bespoke diamond butterflies for the tennis champions, Venus and Serena Williams.
Johanna Mukoki – Entrepreneur and Travel with Flair Group CEO. She has numerous accolades including being named Emerging South African Entrepreneur of the Year at the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Awards and named as South Africa's Most Influential Woman in Business and Government in the Tourism Sector.
Judy Dlamini – Chairperson of Mbekani Investment Holdings Ltd and Aspen Pharmacare Ltd.
Ketso Moorosi – Clinical and Forensic psychologist and former senior lecturer in clinical psychology at the Medical University of South Africa (MEDUNSA). An educator, speaker and facilitator, she is the director of KJM Health Wellness and a former regular panel judge on 3 Talk.
Koo Govender – CEO of Dentsu Aegis/former Group CEO of VWV and M-Net director, chairperson and founder of the Phakama Women's Academy.
Lerato Kganyago – Television presenter, model and businesswoman best known for hosting The LKG Show; SABC1 lifestyle magazine show The Link as well as Ask a Man on Metro FM
Nicky Newton-King – CEO of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange Ltd. She also serves as a member of the Financial Markets Advisory Board and previously served as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
Nomzamo Mbatha – Actress, presenter and model. She starred in Tell Me Sweet Something and received an Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
Pamela Stein - Partner and head of the Employment and Employee Benefits Practice at Webber Wentzel.
Val Boje – editor of the Pretoria News, part of Independent Newspapers.
