Logistics & Transport News South Africa

Top Women Awards to recognise female leaders in transport

Earlier this year, Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan highlighted that, on a national infrastructure level, the government will prioritise transport in South Africa, demonstrated by the fact that, over the next three years, transport and logistics will account for approximately R292-billion of the national budget. As a sector that affects nearly all the other sectors of the South African economy, it is central to the development of the country.

As Africa’s largest and busiest airport, with approximately 20 million passengers passing through this airport, O.R Tambo International Airport is at the heart of transport in South Africa. It is thus with great honour for the Standard Bank Top Women Awards to announce that Airports Company South Africa’s flagship airport, O.R. Tambo International, will be sponsoring the Top Gender Empowered Company in Transport and Logistics award. This category is relevant to all companies in the airlines and airports, rail, road and freight, shipping and ports, import and export, infrastructure and logistics industries.

“The wheels of transformation and women empowerment are gradually in motion where we witness the appointment of women in strategic and influential positions. We acknowledge and appreciate women who soldier on and make a concerted and conscious effort to break barriers with the objective of ensuring female representation in key strategic roles. It encourages us to steadfastly challenge the status quo and paves the way for our girl children.” – Bongiwe Pityi, General Manager: O.R. Tambo International Airport.

This year, Topco Media and the Standard Bank Top Women Awards will host some of the highest esteemed figures and companies in South African society, including Denel, ACSA and Schneider Electric to celebrate and recognise female leaders in business that will form a part of the 13-year legacy that is the Top Women Awards. This year’s event will take place on 18 August 2016, at the Emperors Palace in Johannesburg.

The government has stated that the transport sector is a key contributor to South Africa’s competitiveness in global markets and is regarded as a crucial engine for economic growth and social development. It is for this very reason that Topco Media and the Standard Bank Top Women Awards are proud to celebrate the women and companies that are creating ripples of change in the transport sector.

“Transport facilitates growth and development in the other sectors of the economy such as agriculture, mining and tourism. It is for this reason that the vision of the Department of Transport is to 'make transport the heartbeat of the economy.”

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