The finalists of the 2004 Shoprite Checkers/SABC2 Women of the Year Award represent 29 outstanding achievers selected from over 1,000 nominations countrywide.

The finalists in the arts and culture category are Joyce Levinsohn, Masingita Masunga, all based in Gauteng.

A pioneer of children’s theatre in South Africa, Joyce Levinsohn established Children’s Theatre Productions in 1976 and has since been relentless in her quest to expose children of every race to the magic of interactive, high quality theatre. She firmly believes that the performing arts communicate in a universal language, which builds bridges across cultural, economic, racial and religious divides. In 2001 she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Arts and Culture Trust and to date she has staged thousands of performances for underprivileged schools, children’s homes and institutions.

Masingita Masunga has given physically disabled people throughout South Africa an opportunity to make valuable contributions to society through projects created by her Tinyungubyiseni Talent Promotions company. As the company’s Managing Director and a champion of the disabled from an early age, Ms Masunga has overcome her own disability of cerebral palsy to establish an organisation that motivates men, women and the youth.

Promoting music as a powerful force for healing and change, Gauteng-based Susan Harrop-Allin’s commitment and belief in the role of arts and culture in transformation and development led to the founding in 2000 of EYETHU Soweto Music Project, which teaches young musicians and integrates them into different communities as well as youth orchestras.

The Shoprite Checkers / SABC 2 Women 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, whose unswerving commitment and dedication have made a tangible difference to their communities and society as a whole.

The winners of the Award will be announced during a gala event at the Cape Town International Convention Centre and broadcast on National Women’s Day, August 9 August at 21h00 on SABC2, and re-broadcast on August 10 on SABC2 at 12h00.

Inserts of the following finalists in each of the nine categories can be seen on SABC 2 from July 15 until 29 after the 19h00 Afrikaans and 20h30 Sesotho news broadcasts.