​Thembisa Shologu
The 2025 Gauteng Women's Excellence Awards, held on Saturday, 08 March 2025, were a dazzling showcase of glamour, style, and celebration. 
The prestigious black-tie and traditional attire-themed event, held at the ANEW Hotel OR Tambo in Benoni, Ekurhuleni, honoured dynamic, innovative, and influential women who have made significant contributions to improving the lives of Gauteng residents while exemplifying excellence and leadership in both the public and private sectors.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, who delivered the keynote address at the event, reaffirmed the provincial government's commitment to advancing gender equality and empowering women.
"We want to declare our commitment to defend and ensure that all women in our province are treated with respect and are given opportunities, but most importantly, we create a platform that will make them shine. "
Premier Lesufi expressed concern about the way women, including girl children, were treated in society. 
He indicated that research conducted by the provincial government revealed that young girls endured being harassed and intimidated during their trips until they arrived at school daily.
"I come to you limping and shamefully so that as a province, we lead in the statistics of several women that have been abused or killed; I go to you hurt that as the province, it is shameful that more women are sexually harassed in this province than any other province in our country. 
"I am also embarrassed that a number of girl children who are attacked and who are not safe within the school premises that this province leads number. 
"I am raising these figures and statistics to confirm that we will not sit on our laurels and only appreciate the good part that we do; we must also embrace the bad part that characterizes us," he said. 
Lesufi added that the provincial government was committed to ensuring that everything was correct and done in a manner that would make women feel safe in our province.
He paid homage to former ministers Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Dr Naledi Pandor and struggle stalwart Nokukhanya Luthuli for their contributions to South Africa's liberation.
He also extended his tribute to Dr Gcina Mhlophe for her wonderful work, not only in poetry but also in the struggle for women and, most importantly, her love for children and children's stories, including a girl child and Tanya Jakeni, who has represented the country on global stages in debate competitions. 
Speaking at the event, Pandor said she was deeply honoured to walk on stage and receive these awards, which were presented to her and Dlamini Zuma. 
"We won the civil and political struggle and left the economy to you to undertake. We can see from the entrepreneurs on the stage this evening that we were not wrong in our belief that our young people can transform our country and be charged with the core elements of the heights of our economy, so that is what we wish for from you."
Girl Child award winner Jakeni expressed gratitude to her mother, who has always been her pillar of strength, as well as to her teachers and mentors.
Last year, the Bertharry English Private School learner represented the country in an international debating competition in Germany.
"I usually label myself as honourable Jakeni because I believe that one day I will occupy a seat in parliament, but besides that, nothing makes me fantastic than being a learner at Bertharry English Private School. 
"Last year, I went to an international competition in Germany. There were 60 participating countries, and I was number three in December. Again, I went to the USA for a public speaking competition with 40 participating countries. I came with number one," said Jakeni, adding that their vision is to participate in the Oxford United Nations debate next year.
The evening winners announced across different categories were met with applause and cheers, underscoring women's collective pride in their successes.