The Gauteng Provincial Legislature has officially opened nominations for the 11th edition of the prestigious Vita Basadi Awards as part of the 2026 Women’s Month celebrations.
The annual Vita Basadi Awards recognise and honour women across Gauteng who continue to uplift communities through selfless service, leadership, compassion, empowerment initiatives, and dedication to social development.
Residents are encouraged to nominate deserving women who work tirelessly to empower vulnerable groups, support communities, and make a positive social impact without seeking recognition.
According to the Legislature, nominations are open to women of all ages, cultures, backgrounds, faiths, sexual orientations, and abilities, including women living with disabilities.
How to Nominate for the Vita Basadi Awards 2026
To submit a nomination, members of the public must provide:
- The nominee’s full name
- A motivation of no more than 300 words explaining:
- The work undertaken by the nominee
- Why she deserves recognition
Multiple category nominations are permitted, but each category submission must include its own motivation aligned to the award criteria.
The Legislature emphasised that nominees will not be judged based on the number of nominations received, but rather on the strength of the motivation and the meaningful contribution made to communities.
New Award Categories Introduced for 2026
This year’s awards introduce two new education-focused categories aimed at recognising excellence within schools and learner development:
Innovative Educator Award
This category recognises a science teacher who brings the subject to life through innovative and inspiring teaching methods.
Community Builder Award
The award celebrates educators who contribute meaningfully towards the academic growth and development of learners.
Young Dignitary Award Open for School Learners
The Young Dignitary Award is open to girl learners attending primary and secondary schools.
To ensure authenticity and prevent misrepresentation, all nominations within this category must be validated by the learner’s school.
Guardian Award Honours Women in Protection Services
The Guardian Award recognises women working in protection and emergency-related professions, including:
- Police officers
- Military personnel
- Security guards
- Firefighters
- Lifeguards
- Law enforcement officials
- Emergency service workers
Vita Basadi Awards Ceremony Set for August 2026
The winners will be honoured during the prestigious Vita Basadi Awards Ceremony, which will be hosted by the Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Morakane Mosupyoe, in August 2026.
The closing date for nominations is Tuesday, 30 June 2026.
Members of the public can access nomination forms and submission details on the official Gauteng Provincial Legislature website.
For additional information, enquiries can be sent via email to zmtsweni@gpl.gov.za.
