The club was established in 1985 by a brave consortium of women who challenged the status quo: A world ruled by men and in which women did not have equal rights.

As other cities started to follow Johannesburg’s suit, it became necessary to create a home where all these business clubs’ efforts could be united. Hence the founding of the National Council.

Mover and shaker Rika Venter, who became the National Council’s very first President back in 1988, is still involved today, as an Honorary Life Member.

Proving that women empowerment needed a go-to place in business, five Business Women’s Clubs were established across the country, by 1992.

In 2003, the National Council for Business Women took over the renowned Business Women of the Year Competition from the Johannesburg Business Women’s Club. Ever since, this competition has literally become life-altering for the nominees and winners involved, who i.e., doubled their turnover due to the public recognition and exposure.

On an annual basis, the Council hosted illustrious gala evenings during which the winners of the Business Women of the Year Competition were announced. Originally, these events took place at the famous Johannesburg Sun Hotel.

In 1992, our then President Kotie Botha, held a function at RAU, which attracted top speakers from nationwide. One of the female speakers voiced her opinion about the fact that high riser buildings did not provide female restrooms on top floors, as the belief was that women would never make it to leadership positions anyway.

Winner of the 1988 Entrepreneurial Business Woman of the Year award, Matty Reid, publically tackled a controversial women empowerment topic: That women were not allowed to do anything on their own, without the permission of their husbands. This includes owning a business, taking out a loan and even having their own tax number.

In 1990, the Johannesburg Business Women’s Club seceded from the Johannesburg Business Chamber. To do so, the women first had to explain to the male management in charge of the Chamber, what the purpose was of this “women thing” they were busy doing.

In 1993, George Huysamer from the “Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut (AHI),” which is now the Small Business Institute (SBI), approached the National Council of Business Women to lead one of the four talking points at one of their congresses. Theresa van der Merwe was selected by the Council and she made us proud by delivering an outstanding speech on the topic of entrepreneurship.

In 1991, Pat Gorvalla from Cape Town won the Entrepreneurial Business Woman of the Year Award. She was originally a teacher who needed to supplement her salary, so she came up with the idea to offer a weekend taxi service. Her ‘weekend business’ soon earned more than her fulltime job and within a record time, she owned 22 taxis and four S Class Mercedes Benz vehicles. This inspired her to become a serial entrepreneur who started up several other businesses, including a petroleum- and panel beating enterprise, as well as a hair salon and florist, to name but a few.

In support of our country’s Constitution, the Council actively made work of involving women of all ethnicities and belief systems. In 2010, Thelma Mathamelo became the first black President. Since then, a multitude of black business women has seen the value of joining the Council and currently, Erikka Motang from Liel Consulting also serves as a Member of the Board.

Considering the rapidly-changing business landscape, the Honourary Life Members realised that it is time for the Council to evolve too, to effectively lead our women into future business. As a result, a National Leader, Elise Coetser, was appointed to lead the Council into a re-engineering process which ultimately places the reason for our existence; our “Why,” right at the heart of all activities.