Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC, Ismail Vadi has reiterated government’s commitment to continue empowering women.
Vadi was speaking at a networking session where he hosted women of the minibus taxi industry as part of Women’s Month celebrations.
He recognised the contribution of women in 1956 and said, “We should bear in mind that it was through principled unity and sheer determination that they were able to raise their voices against the degradation of African women, in particular.”
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The MEC highlighted that it was because of those women’s heroic achievements that government today continued to work at improving the living conditions of woman-headed households.
According to Vadi, the aim of the session was to recognise the contribution and celebrate the achievements of women in building the country, particularly women in the minibus taxi industry. “We are encouraged to see women making strides in what is traditionally a male dominated sector, with some owning and operating their [own] minibus taxis.”
Vadi added that there was a lot more which still needed to be done to improve the conditions of women in the taxi industry, highlighting that full participation of women in the taxi industry was needed.
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He said his department was calling for more representation by women in top management positions within the taxi industry. “The industry should create an enabling environment for women to actively participate in and provide leadership for its growth and inclusion into the integrated public transport system.”
Vadi said more opportunities were being made available for women and highlighted that the Gauteng Provincial Government had made strides in providing opportunities for the economic emancipation of women.
According to Vadi, women have been supported to start up and grow their own businesses and the provincial government provides services that include the registration, incubation and growth of women-led organisations.
“We believe that more can be achieved through the provision of support for co-operatives, facilitation of trade and investment as well as increased participation of women in strategic economic and transport infrastructure projects,” Vadi concluded.
Most women who attended the session said it was informative and were happy that they were told about other business opportunities that they could pursue outside the taxi industry.
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