During the opening of the 2025 Empowerment and Recognition of Women in Construction (Erwic) awards on August 14, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson lauded the resilience of women who have showed that professionalism, competence and leadership are not defined by gender or race.

During this sixth iteration of the Erwic awards, held in Gauteng, Macpherson said women were part and parcel of South Africa’s infrastructure plans and that his department’s goal was to equip women to compete in the open market and win based on their capabilities, qualifications and competitiveness.

The awards recognised exceptional achievements across 15 categories and honoured the contributions of women at all levels of the construction value chain.

Among the Project Delivery Excellence award winners across Grades 1 to 9 of project size include Nondumiso Ceba, from Ceba Projects; Lindiwe Mathenjwa, from Emadwaleni Holding; and Susan Phalane, from Sue Phalane Trading and Projects.

The projects in this category included the maintenance of sanitary facilities and the construction of new sanitary facilities, the construction of stormwater drainage and roads, and residential development for the Milano Estate, near Alberton.

The Rural Project of the Year award went to Makoma Julia Matlala, from Mabalane A Seven Construction and Projects, while Carrol Masevhe, from Kapcor Construction, won the Interior Design and Build Project of the Year award for the Daveyton Mall Retail Academy.

Sharon Isaacs, from Amabamba Fencing, won Specialised Project of the Year and Avenir Holdings won Mentoring Entity of the Year.

Phalane’s company also won Transformation Entity of the Year.

The Innovative Entity of the Year award was handed to Dingwedi Renewable Energy, while Zimile Consulting Engineers bagged the Professional Entity of the Year award.

Erwic announced Isubisiso Holdings as the Manufacturing Entity of the Year, while Econocom 47, trading as Qualicion Construction, won Youth-owned Woman Construction Entity of the Year and GD Projects and Construction won Woman-owned Construction Entity of the Year.

In honouring exceptional contributions from individuals, Erwic announced Mampho Sotshongaye, from Gold Rewards 1981, as Woman Mentor of the Year; Taryn Beaton, from Beaton Enterprises, as Woman with Disability Contractor for the Year; and Sotshongaye again as Exceptional Woman in Construction.

The Chairperson’s award went to Allyson Lawless, recognising her contribution to industry development and transformation in the built environment.

Construction Industry Development Board (cidb) chairperson Khulile Nzo says the cidb’s programmes continue to create real opportunities for emerging women contractors, supporting their growth and ensuring they have a seat at the table where decisions are made.