Women paving the way forward
The South African Women in Construction (SAWIC) Association is serious about cementing the role of women in the wider business sector
POLOKWANE – The Annual General Meeting of the South African Women in Construction (SAWIC) took place recently at the Royal Hotel in Polokwane.
MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA), Makoma Makhurupetje, was the keynote speaker. She said the first female chairperson of the African Union, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, launched Agenda 2063 in 2015, which is a 50-year vision aimed at creating the Africa we want.
“Agenda 2063 envisages a non-sexist Africa, an Africa where girls and boys can reach their full potential, an Africa where men and women can contribute equally to the development of their societies. We in South Africa, as in all other African countries, are equally challenged to make sure that this call becomes a reality and not just a passing slogan”
She added that in the last 23 years the ANC government has done a lot to improve the status of women in society, but unfortunately not much has been done to increase women’s participation in the economy and there can’t be true emancipation of women without economic transformation.
“People will not be sharing in the country’s wealth if women continue to be marginalised in construction and other areas of the economy.”
Makhurupetje said she was proud to be associated with SAWIC which exists because it wants to promote the advancement of women in the construction sector throughout the country.
“Your vision is to be an association of excellence with global networks enhancing the role of women in the construction industry through members running profitable and sustainable business enterprises. This is a vision we share as the department,” she said, adding that it remains the ideal to improve the status of women in non-traditional sectors of the economy of which the construction sector is but one.
“We must challenge the current situation where women dominate the services sector more than they dominate engineering and the sciences. The challenge facing women today is to crack the proverbial glass ceiling, and to penetrate those sectors that were previously reserved for men. If the economy of South Africa revolves around mining, construction, property and financial services, it cannot be acceptable that we have fewer and fewer women in these sectors.”
She said CoGHSTA has already taken a conscious decision to increase the allocation of houses for women contractors to 30%, and to 20% for youth-owned companies.
“This, I believe, is a step in the right direction if we want to build a lasting momentum towards an empowered generation.
“As a province we are very pleased to have won the Govan Mbeki award for the Best Rural Housing Programme in South Africa, through the contribution made by Zorha Khan, of Zorha Khan Developers, a company wholly owned by a woman and a SAWIC member. Congratulations once more to Zohra Khan for making the province proud.”
The new committee chosen comprise the Chairperson, Mapula Maupye, Deputy Chairperson Regina Shai, Secretary Maria Galane, Deputy Secretary Nancy Letsoalo and reasurer Makgowe Manaka.
