WomenCan returned for its third annual A Night of Mystery Gala and WomenCan Awards, bringing women together for an evening of achievement, leadership, connection and transformation.
Held under the theme Rebirth and Reinvention, the 2026 event celebrated women who have embraced change, challenged convention and created meaningful impact.
The WomenCan Awards honour remarkable women across industries and communities. More than recognition, the platform celebrates the stories behind their success. Stories of courage. Reinvention. Leadership. And women creating space for others to rise.
Women Must Do More Than Enter the Room
FASSET CEO Ayanda Mafuleka CA(SA) delivered a powerful keynote on women, leadership and institutional change.
She challenged organisations to move beyond representation and give women real influence.
“We do not need women who will merely just be present in the room when decisions are made. We need women who shape the agenda, make decisions, direct capital, govern ethically and build pipelines for those not yet in the room.”
Her message captured the spirit of the evening: getting women into positions of leadership matters, but empowering them to shape what happens once they arrive matters even more.
Celebrating Women Who Lead With Impact
The 2025 WomenCan Awards recipients welcomed a new group of honourees, each recognised for her leadership, purpose and contribution.
The Powerhouse Award — Sandi Mazibuko, Founder of House of Fabrosanz
The Beacon of Hope Award — Prof Puleng LenkaBula, Vice-Chancellor at Unisa
The Mind Builder Award — Palisa Jobela, Founder of ME 2 (YOU)TH
The Voice Award — Mbali Ntuli, Founder of Ground Work Collective
The Butterfly Award — Babalwa Mbuku, Founder of Ntombam Sanitary Towels
The Heart & Soul Award — Dr Lethabo Machaba, Founder of Business Side of Medicine
The Cornerstone Award — Relebohile Msiza, Founder of Lethabo Foundation
The SheCan Award — Marlene Coetzee-George, CEO of Laureus Sport for Good Foundation SA
The Sky Award — Ayanda Mhlongo, Entrepreneur
The Founder Award — Charlotte Du Plessis, Founder of Woman of Stature
“Together, these remarkable women represent different dimensions of leadership, purpose, innovation and impact,” said WomenCan founder Tumi Mthemb.
“Each demonstrates, through her own journey, what women can do, believe and achieve.”
Rebirth, Reinvention and the Power of Community
The evening went beyond awards.
WomenCan created a space for women to meet, connect and celebrate one another. Influential women, leaders, partners and allies gathered to build meaningful relationships while enjoying an evening of entertainment and empowerment.
At its heart, A Night of Mystery carried a simple but powerful message: women do not have to remain who they once were.
They can begin again.
They can reinvent.
They can lead differently.
And when women create spaces that allow others to rise with them, individual success becomes collective progress.
The 2026 WomenCan Awards did more than celebrate achievement. They celebrated possibility — and the women bold enough to create it.