Three rounds of adjudication determine the finalists and winners.
A prestigious judging panel sifts through the nominations and engage in comprehensive panel discussions to identify three finalists in each of the five Award categories – Health Care-Givers, Socio-economic Business Developers, Educators, Good Neighbours Against Crime and Youth Movers. The criteria for the Award focus on the character of the individual, her ability and achievements and how her work impacts on the problems of South African society. The work of these women must be significant in terms of creating a better future for South Africans. It must show a desire to do something about the problems South African society faces as these difficulties all have the potential to damper our future.
The finalists undergo individual interviews by the panel of judges to determine the 5 women who they think should become the Women of the Year - one winner per category.
The decision on who would be the Women of the Year is however not only up to the judging panel as the public is also able to vote for the women they deemed most deserving of this accolade. Finalist profiles are be published in Huisgenoot, YOU and Drum magazines, and also featured on M-Net. Members of the public can able to vote for their favourites through SMS voting lines as well as online on the Women of the Year web site. The public vote will accounts for 30% of the final score although the judges’ decision will be final.
A select panel of judges, from nominations received, makes the final decision on who should receive The Life Time Achiever Award .
After an extensive nationwide search, the judging processes culminate in a spectacular gala ceremony where the five Women of The Year winners and Lifetime Achiever is announced.
The 2011 Women of the Year were announced at on 23 July 2011. The dazzling gala event will be broadcast at 21h30 on M-Net on Monday 8 August 2011, with a repeat broadcast on Women’s Day, Tuesday, 09 August 2011. More information about the winners will also be published in You, Huisgenoot and Drum Magazines.