Siphumelele Fortune Madlala Has bagged Women Authentic Leader Award

Siphumelele Fortune Madlala Has bagged Women Authentic Leader Award

• October 30, 2023

Women Icon Powered by Times Women

It is with great pride, honour and excitement being a recipient of an Authentic leader award, awarded under the category of “Women Inspiration Awards” is the greatest achievement of all time. The feeling is inexpressible.

Name:  Siphumelele Fortune Madlala

Designation: CEO and Founder of Forch Communications and projects (PTY) LTD

 Country: South Africa

The company was founded in 2013. The idea of forming the company came after she was motivated by the desire to create something new as well as the desire for autonomy and achievement of personal objectives and the propensity of action also to make a difference in providing a broad continuum of comprehensive social and human development services to all South Africans at national, provincial, and local level.

Her selflessness, leadership and respect have touched many lives and are positively influencing the current generation of interpreters, as people become more aware of sign language as a means of communication. Forch communications is taking part in Poverty alleviation and contributing to the economy by giving young people employment opportunity.

Forch Communications & Projects (PTY) LTD offer the following Services & Projects

• Capacity building to sign language interpreters
• Siphumelele Fortune Madlala is currently rendering Sign language services on the South African Broadcasting Corporation services on Daily Thetha on SABC1 and Soweto TV news. Forch communications also provides services at (SABC) during the Special broadcast, minister’s and president address during live broadcastings of the State of the Nation address, Political centenary events.
• Forch Communications also provides interpretation services in parliament, conferences, court cases, police stations, social events, and music festivals including in the private sector.
• Spoken Languages interpretation.
• Forch Communications provides diversified community-based projects in social and health issues through motivational speaking.
• Forch conducts and supports initiatives on crime alleviation in school and community outreach projects through sports, arts and culture including Deaf culture sensitization and creating awareness in different platforms, communities, television and radio.
• The main purpose of these projects is to create a change of attitude to the youth and to motivate the youth and people with disabilities to excel in what they do and strive to do better.

• She is indeed a pacesetter, Madlala's involvement in the first sign language lyric music video in South Africa, released by Afro pop artist Sjava "Umcebo" and” Peace be with you.", showcased her unique talent and commitment to inclusivity. She has also collaborated with Venda Boy 'Avhanandavha " as a sign language interpreter for his music video, the first of its kind in Tshivenda language. Not just music but also poetry with Kwazi Ntsele

She utilizes her platform and resources to collaborate with radio stations such as radio Kwezi, along with SIP (Isicathamiya infotainment projects). She advocates for the inclusion of Sign language in music, fostering a willingness among the groups to embrace accessibility and communication for all.

Her work had also given her an opportunity as she was invited In China Guangzhou in 2015 and in 2019 to South America, Chile and in Brazil to share her experiences and learn best practices also in countries such as France, Paris in 2019. Fortune's selflessness and dedication to making a difference have not gone unnoticed. She has been nominated for various awards, including the following:

•  Nominee at the 2^nd Vita Basadi Awards, in the year 2017, hosted by the Gauteng Provincial legislature for her contributions as a community heroine, outstanding youth philanthropist, and community builder.

• Finalist at the Standard Bank raising star awards (Year 2018) under the Entrepreneurship category.
• Won an entrepreneurship award at the South African youth awards (Year 2018) from the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA).
• Nominee at the 9^th Vita Basadi Awards hosted by the Gauteng Provincial legislature, in the year 2023 for Outstanding Creative Award
• Forch Communications received recognition as a 2023 finalist South African business awards under the SMME category and Disability inclusion category.
• South Africa's Forty under 40, Siphumelele Fortune Madlala won an Honorary award 2023, Honoured by the Department of Women, Youth and persons with disabilities.
• We applaud Women Icon Powered by Times Women and (WWC) World Women council for recognising Miss Madlala (Forch Communications and projects) on a global level
  

Today, she stands before you as a sign language interpreter and business owner who has defied odds and overcome numerous challenges. Starting her own sign language business as a woman was not easy, but it has been incredibly rewarding.
Her journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and the refusal to be defined by societal expectations. It is a reminder that as women, we have the strength to overcome any challenge. We can shatter glass ceilings and pave the way for future generations.

Women Icon Powered by Times Women and (WWC) World Women Council have given Forch Communications and Projects and Miss Madlala an opportunity to embrace her unique journey, celebrate her accomplishments, and let her voice be heard. This achievement proves that as women we can continue to break barriers and create a world where everyone can thrive and succeed.