Minister of Arts and Culture, Dr. Z. Pallo Jordan congratulates Ms. Janet Buckland on being awarded the Shoprite Checkers / SABC 2 Woman of the Year 2008 Award.

It is the first time that a woman who receives an award for Arts Culture and Communication category is actually awarded the overall winner in this annual national competition.

Ms Buckland utilized her love and understanding of the arts, particularly theatre to enrich the lives of South Africans. She is a highly skilled performer and director. She combined these with her skills of fund raising and administration and has been the driving force of a number of projects over many years in the Eastern Cape.

In honouring Ms Janet Buckland or Mama J as she is fondly known as, Shoprite Checkers and SABC2 have recognized the powerful impact of the arts. Her sterling work has provided thirty-six actors full time contracts and has allowed for an audience number of 178,000. This is a positive achievement.

I wish Mama J continued strength in her work and may many women be inspired by her outstanding example.