By Lloyd Govindsamy
The Belvedere Civic Association hosted its first annual BCA Woman of the Year Awards, in recognition of all the women who make a difference within the Tongaat community and lives of residents in the area.
The event was held at the Trubel Primary School Hall on Women’s Day, 9 August, and featured prominent guest speakers such as the Station Commander of Tongaat SAPS, Colonel Santha Moodley, award winning humanitarian, Eva Munsamy, nurse and volunteer at King Shaka Wound Care, Nonhlanhla Makanya and Devina Mathews from the Tongaat SAPS Victim And Trauma Care Unit.
The awards function served as a day of recognition and celebration of the hardworking women of Tongaat whose efforts often go unnoticed. It was also a day held to draw attention to the average women of the community: mothers, grandmothers and mother-figures who are pillars of their family.
The day of celebration was filled with dances from Tongaat dance maestro, Sindy Muruvan and the Sakhangolwazi Tradional Dance Group from Belvedere. The highlight of the event was the crowning of the BCA Woman of the Year, Dr Zhinelle Brown-Pillay.
Humbled by her win, Dr Brown-Pillay said: “It is truly an honour to be recognised by my own community. I was nominated among prolific women who have been a beacon of Tongaat for many years and I am delighted that the community chose me as their woman of the year. I did what I thought was necessary and in the spirit of paying it forward, I wanted to give back my time to my community and thank them for making me the woman that I am today.”
Speaking about the hardships faced by the community, during the times of the floods and the civil unrest in July 2021, Dr Brown-Pillay said Tongaat was tested during these times but remains standing strong. She said the women and men of Tongaat rose to the occasion and continue to do so.
“Tongaat has always been a hardworking community and our women are pushing boundaries. They are becoming more vigilant by taking the helm and driving the process of community leadership with the likes of the many women I shared the stage with,” said Dr Brown-Pillay.
She added: “Well done to the BCA committee who came up with the idea of recognising the women of Tongaat. This initiative will showcase the prolific women that tirelessly work in our community without recognition, they do this selflessly and require no reward for their efforts. I fully support the entire spectrum of recognition and hope that this will become an annual event where we, as the community, reward individuals for their selfless efforts.”
Sindy Muruvan, who provided entertainment that night, said: “I felt honoured when asked to perform at the awards ceremony and couldn’t say no. I was born in Belvedere and lived most of my life there so I felt a great deal of pride and honour at being asked to perform.”
On the resilience of women in Tongaat, Muruvan said: “They are very strong and inspiring. The challenges we face with the water crisis has brought about a whole new kind of strength. They have adapted what many would consider a hopeless situation. Some are widows, some have ill partners and some are elderly with no family. Yet they are there, everyday, chugging water back and forth and they still have strength to assist others. They’re an inspiration and I am very proud to be a part of this community.”
Ward 61 councillor and Woman of the Year nominee, Dolly Munien, said: “The women of Tongaat are hardworking and admirable. My message to all woman who have worked tirelessly to ensure that the elderly, sick and young are assisted during the water crisis is thank you. All the efforts you have put in, even though you have busy lives, makes you super women in my eyes. You really are a blessing to us all.”
