“I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need for my care.
’Cause I’m a woman Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.”
With these, powerful and inspiring words from the poem by African American poet, Maya Angelou, Executive Mayor of the Cape Winelands District Municipality, Ald. (Dr) Elna von Schlicht, kicked off her speech at the Phenomenal Women of the Winelands Award Ceremony held at the Paarl Town, on the 13 August 2025. The event is presented in partnership with the Afrikaanse Taalmuseum en monument (ATM) and the Historium Trust.
“The purpose behind this function is to elevate and acknowledge, leadership in women, that do not normally have a public platform; leaders in communities that move through life anonymously, the ones that go unnoticed, the ones you do not think about. We want to honour them for their achievements and also celebrate their presence”. Stated Executive Mayor.
The CWDM and partners were able to provide an opportunity to acknowledge and elevate the unsung heroes; the ones who give more of themselves to others, their time, their care and guidance; in some cases, even their protection, so that others can accelerate their futures!
The public was invited to nominate and submit nominations for a Phenomenal Woman of their choice. This rule of entry was simple and easy. To ensure inclusivity, nominations could be done via a mobile friendly online form, or by hand delivering the nomination. This year, which is the third year of the event, attracted nominations from all parts of the Cape Winelands District. Each year, the nominations for Phenomenal Women keep getting better, which makes the judging process even harder. “There are so many inspiring women in our district doing unbelievable work in their communities and careers, choosing the winners and runners-up is no easy task. The competition gets tougher every time, and that really shows how much of a difference these women are making. They are truly living up to the theme of Women’s Month- Accelerating Action!” said judge and previous winner, Beverley Farmer, co-founder and CEO of Women in Wine.
Mayoral Discretionary Award
Executive Mayor Ald. (Dr) Elna von Schlicht explained that the Phenomenal Women event has strict nomination and judging process. “But there’s one part of the event that is especially close to my heart. With support from the Municipal Manager and his team, I am allowed to personally choose one woman who might not be nominated through the usual process, but who still deserves recognition. This special honour is called the Mayoral Discretionary Award, and it’s given to someone who shows leadership in her own way.”
This year, the mayor chose Setta Pieters, a 78-year-old retired domestic worker who has been part of her employer’s household for most of her life. Their bond goes back many decades, and Setta has played a key role in supporting the family over the years. Sadly, she couldn’t attend the event due to illness. However, her 97-year-old employer and friend, Annatjie van Wyk, accepted the award on her behalf. The mayor reminded everyone how important it is to celebrate domestic workers, who often work behind the scenes but make a huge difference in the lives of the families they work for.
The ceremony began with a heartfelt welcome from Mr. Michael Jonas, Director of the ATM and Historium, setting the tone for a morning filled with inspiration and celebration.
The celebration recognised other phenomenal women who shared their uplifting stories. As previously mentioned, Beverly Farmer from Women in Wine shared how her business has grown and what it has offered women, while poet, Petro Gordon and Diewke-Jean Linee offered powerful messages on hope, resilience, and finding purpose.
A special moment of silence was held in honour of Joha van Dyk, who was a winner in 2024, but sadly passed away earlier this year. Joha found her passion and voice through writing, and her legacy continues to inspire many.
The ceremony reminded guests that leadership comes in many forms, and that every woman should be honoured.
Be bold, brave, confident, authentic, and unapologetically yourself. Progress is not just a vision; it’s something we must actively pursue every day.
In total, the event had 14 winners and runners-up, from different categories, they are as follows:
Category: Basic Education
Winner: Cathy Roodman (Worcester)
Runner-up: Bernadine Uys (Worcester)
Category: NGO sector
Winner: Amanda Barnard – (Montagu)
Runner Up: Sara Mankapan (Ceres)
Category: Entrepreneur
Winner: Bronwen Bayman – (Paarl)
Winner: Khanyisa Mhlakaza (Kayamandi)
Runner Up: Nicolene Schoeman-Louw (Paarl)
Category: Support
Winner: Anne Davids (Robertson)
Runner-up: Anneva Van der Westerhuizen (Paarl)
Category: Passion
Winner: Monica Tiras – (Robertson)
Runner-ups: Marieta Botma (Worcester)
Runner Up: Irma Stuurman (Worcester)
Category: Promotion of Afrikaans
Winner: Gaireyah Fredericks (Paarl)
Mayoral Discretionary Award Winner
Setta Pieters – (Paarl)
