Shoprite Checkers/SABC 2 Woman of the Year Award finalists announced

Their work is varied and range from developing maize tolerant to drought, finding a woman-controlled HIV prevention method known as microbicides, conquering the world market with beauty products, applying vast indigenous knowledge and traditional medicinal plants, undertaking ground-breaking research into molecular biology of the bacterium that causes tuberculosis, differentiating between pain and anxiety in paedriatics facilitating correct pain treatment, pioneering work in veterinary health care, to caring for hundreds of children orphaned by HIV/Aids and many more extraordinary achievements.

The finalists are:

• Sister Abegail Ntleko
• Dr Lungile N Bhengu
• Charlotte Mtetwa

• Sarah Ramodolela
• Dr Cheryl McCrindle
• Dr Saloshna Vandeyar

• Dr Rene Albertyn
• Bathepa Lady Zilpha Maja
• Dianne Powell

• Thoko Mlonyeni
• Esther Watson
• Ivy Meyer

• Prof Jennifer Ann Thomson
• Prof Gita Ramjee
• Prof Valerie Mizrahi

Arts, culture and communications

• Rear Admiral (Junior Grade) K Litchfield Tshabalala
• Nomthandazo Swartbooi
• Simone Aronje

Business entrepreneurs

• Khomotso Choma
• Erin Limbert and Maeve O'Donoghue
• Maria Garcia

The Shoprite Checkers/SABC 2 Woman of the Year Award, a major initiative for National Women's Day, identifies and pays tribute to the most exceptional and achieving women in the country who have not only achieved success in their own respective fields but who have made a tangible difference in communities and society as a whole.

In celebrating its 11th anniversary the Award will honour seven winners in the following categories: arts, culture and communications; business entrepreneurs; education; health; science and technology; social welfare; and sport.

The overall winner will be selected from one of these seven category winners. Profiles of the achievements of these women will be broadcast on SABC 2 every evening after the Afrikaans and Sotho News starting on Monday, 17 July 2006.

Each of the seven category winners of the 2006 Shoprite Checkers/SABC 2 Woman of the Year Award will receive R10 000 in prize money, while the overall winner will receive R30 000 in prize money.

The Award culminates at the end of July 2006 with a gala ceremony in the Mother City to announce the winners. This event will be broadcast at 9pm on SABC 2 on Wednesday, 9 August 2006 - National Women's Day.

South African Airways will for the sixth year running be the official carrier of the Shoprite Checkers/SABC 2 Woman of the Year Award while Sun International's flagship Table Bay Hotel will host the finalists and judges in Cape Town.