Bulelwa Basse

What does your company do?

Sisters in Solidarity South Africa, is a transformative organisation (NPO), founded in 2012, which holds public benefit status with an 18A Tax Certificate, and prides itself in empowering women across the nation. Through comprehensive Skills Development, Capacity Building Workshops, Career Development, and Financial Education Workshops, the organization equips women to navigate various aspects of life successfully. Sisters in Solidarity SA, actively engages South Africans in the art of managing finances effectively. Collaborating with financial experts, the organisation imparts strategic budgeting and saving techniques, promoting self-empowerment and encourages investments within families and communities.Passionately dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by youth and women, Sisters In Solidarity South Africa endeavours to disseminate relevant information within rural areas, townships, and peri-urban communities, fostering community development.

What is your biggest success?

BULELWA BASSE’S CAREER HIGHLIGHTS •In the year 2010 - Became South Africa’s Arts & Cultural Ambassador in India (Coimbatore and Kerala) through the Rotary Club Group Study Exchange Programme. •In the year 2010 – Collaborated with the British Council South Africa, on the Verbalized project, which saw UK and South African based Poets perform in 6 cities in England and 3 cities in South Africa. An anthology called Verbalized, was published as a result of the collaboration. •In the year 2013 - Was identified by the Department of Arts & Culture as South Africa’s Arts & Cultural Ambassador to honour the national celebration of 20 years of democracy, by being sent to be in solidarity with the Western Saharans, who’ve been refugees in Algerian deserts for more than 40 years, because their land is currently occupied by the Moroccans. •In 2015 - Became Brand South Africa’s Play Your Part Initiative Ambassador – which entails being a positively active South African citizen, driving the philosophy of doing what you can, with what you have, wherever you are. •In 2015/2016 – Recipient of the Western Cape Government Cultural Affairs Award for Best Literary & Performing Arts Contribution through her initiative: Lyrical Base Project, now in existence for 18 years. •In 2016/2017 - Was recognised by the L’Oreal Paris Women of Worth Campaign and Destiny Magazine, as one of South Africa’s top ten most positively impactful women, who’s made a great contribution through community development with her organisation: Sisters In Solidarity South Africa. •In 2017 - Was recognised by Elle Magazine as the January and February Woman of the Month, for her contribution in developing South African women in business through her organisation: Sisters in Solidarity South Africa. •In 2020 - Received a Miss South Africa and Brand South Africa Play Your Part Ambassador Award for best community development work and nation-building contribution. •In 2021 - Basse's attitude of servitude has been nominated by the 7th Vita Basadi Awards 2021 in the categories of Community Builder of the Year and Woman of Honour. •In 2022 - Through the multi-disciplinary arts organisation – Beyond Talent South Africa – received Most Innovative Arts Entity Award, for promoting different arts disciplines. •In 2024 - Pan South African Language Board recognised Basse’s promotion of multi-lingualism with the PanSALB Multi-lingualism Award.

What has been your biggest hurdle?

I believe that one of the biggest hurdles for me has been to introduce the notion that we need more women in leadership positions. Often times, women's level of confidence has been challenged by the idea that their (our) skills-set is never enough to fulfill the mandate: The reality is that the responsibility lies with all women to continue to affirm their (our) position in society. Also, the misconception that women cannot lead with the same efficiency in the boardroom with which we nurture in our homes, communities and society at large, has created a culture of women's leadership being taken for granted. In as much as we are taught to know when to gracefully step down from leadership positions - in order to create space for fellow women, we also need to know when to step up to rise to the occasion toward making a difference in decision-making arenas. Also: Women-owned businesses have been expected to operate at no cost in many instances. Throughout the years of my career, I've had to advocate understanding the difference between rendering a service and running a charity organisation. Women’s businesses require relevant access to market and we can only achieve this by creating trade opportunities through the correct procurement channels, where there are no corrupt gate-keepers, whose sole mandate is to favour their own personal interests. Women need to be proactive in confronting these social and moral challenges. It begins with a concerted effort made by us, in collaboration with the men with whom we co-exist within society, because women who know themselves, well, are not in competition with men, but seek authentic collaboration in addressing realities which undermine women's work and worth.