Fhatuwani Ramabulana, Woman of the year 2002
Fhatuwani Ramabulana was the overall and business category winner of the 2002 Shoprite Checkers / SABC 3 Woman of the Year Award. At the time Fhatuwani was a young poultry farmer in her early twenties, whose vocation benefited her entire community as the owner of Khumbe Poultry Farm in Venda in the Limpopo Province.
Ms Ramabulana, a qualified teacher, started farming in 1985 and today operates a business with a multi-million turnover in which she employs community members from the area, and offers children from high schools and universities employment during their school holidays. Her business practices sustainable self-reliance and offers a viable food source in a poverty stricken area.
“We have become very involved with the community,” she says. “We sponsor the local football team and we also offer advice on caring for our natural resources by using good farming methods, from clean and hygienic poultry farming to building barriers for floodwaters.”
Judges deliberated for several hours due to the high standard of finalists and Judge Lucy Mailula said at the time they chose Fhatuwani because of her drive and ambition. “She is young, has had no formal business training and has achieved a turnover of nearly R4-million in only four years, competing against commercial giants,” says Judge Lucy. “She is a pace-setter and a woman with ideas. She intends taking her business global and has proved that she can succeed in a business world normally reserved for men. She is a role model to women of all ages, and although she is relatively unknown, she is a leader.”
Winning the Award, Fhatuwani says, has elevated her business to a higher level. She invested the prize money into her company and the publicity of the Award has helped a lot with marketing the concern.
Her advice to this year’s nominees is to enjoy the exposure and have fun. Fhatuwani is looking forward to a future in which she will continuously look at ways and means to better herself.
News
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Three finalists have been announced in each of the five categories of the 2012 Shoprite Checkers Women of the Year Award.
Judges Announced
The names of the judges who will select this year's Shoprite Checkers Women of the Year, have been announced.
Women of the Year success stories
As the 2012 Shoprite Checkers Women of the Year Award enters its judging phase, the winners of 2011 tell of how they are utilizing the prize money received from the Shoprite Group of Companies, to enhance their work and build a better future for the people of South Africa.
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