A TRIO from the Eastern Cape women – two from Grahamstown and one from Jeffreys Bay – have been named among South Africa’s most influential women.

The most influential women in business and government (MIW) were announced at three ceremonies held in Gauteng, Western Cape and in KwaZulu Natal ahead of National Women’s Day this month.

The 21 winners in various categories included Rhodes University chemistry professor Tebello Nyokong and Jeffreys Bay businesswoman Cheron Kraak. Grahamstown entertainer and teacher Janet Buckland was a finalist.

Nyokong shared the award in the education and training category with Professor Leana Uys.

This Grahamstown academic has done pioneering research into photodynamic therapy which uses specially developed dyes to direct deadly light on to cancer cells.

Nyokong started out as a shepherd and farm worker and last year was awarded The Order of Mapungubwe (bronze) for her "outstanding contribution in the field of science and putting South Africa on the world stage", one of many awards she has received.

Photodynamic therapy is being researched all over the world as an alternative to chemotherapy, the standard treatment for cancer.

Kraak won the wholesale and retail category. Country Feeling founder Kraak has come full circle, selling the Billabong surf brand back to its international company two years ago.

Now she has a Country Feeling shop once more. She took on the Billabong South Africa licence in 1984, after a successful business career that started with making board shorts for surfers in Jeffreys Bay under her own label, Country Feeling.

Buckland, a former The Herald Citizen of the Year category winner, was a finalist in the arts and culture category which was won by Yvonne Chaka Chaka-Mhinga.

With the awards, CEO Communication recognises that there are many women across South Africa who are helping to transform South Africa.

Source: Weekend Post