Huge gains for SA if our women drive the economy

By Minister Susan Shabangu

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"415017","attributes":{"class":"media-image","id":"1","style":"margin: 3px; float: left;","typeof":"foaf:Image"}}]]The time for women to take their rightful place in all sectors of society, especially the economy, is now. Their active participation and empowerment will help in the fight against the triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment, and will facilitate the achievement of the National Development Plan, Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda on Susutainable Development.

Moreover, the empowerment of women to become economic drivers in our country can help transform the economy. Research demonstrates that gender diversity helps businesses perform better. Women make up a significant percentage of the poor, particularly in our rural areas.

These brave rural women are often isolated from economic opportunities. In their role as mothers, providers and home-makers they face the onslaught of abject poverty daily.

Their counterparts in the formal workplace continue to be marginalised by the slow pace of transformation. Despite our best efforts there is a relatively low representation of women on corporate boards and as chairswomen and Chief Executives.

Gender equality and women’s empowerment has been made central to our transformation agenda. Access to formal employment for women is facilitated through the Employment Equity Act and Sector Charter where employers are legally required to work towards more equitable representation based on gender, race and disability.

 While the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Act deals with economic empowerment of Black women and men and persons with disabilities, it gives priority to issues such as employment equity and equalizing opportunities through human resource development and preferential procurement.

We know that when women are meaningfully involved in the economy through entrepreneurial activities and employment in decision-making roles they become a powerful economic force. The important role of women is further highlighted in the country’s strategic vision, the National Development Plan.

Government has therefore prioritised the advancement of women, particularly their participation in the economy, so that they can take their rightful place in our society. We are investing in women through an array of social and economic programmes because we see them as one of our most effective development tools of our time.

Government has expanded the participation of women in agriculture as a catalyst for radical socio-economic transformation in our rural areas. Our AgriBEE Fund assists previously marginalised groups such as black women and youth, with entry and participation in the entire value chains of agriculture, forestry and fisheries.

We also support women smallholder farmers and those in the agribusinesses sector through the Micro Agricultural Financial Institutions of South Africa scheme. It awards loans of up to R500 000 per person so that women can enhance their agricultural activities through the purchase of fertiliser, seeds, pesticides, animal feed and small agriculture equipment.

Government is confident that these initiatives will assist rural women, who despite their many hardships have always risen in the fight against poverty. When women are empowered, families thrive, communities are safer, and economies grow.

Through the inclusion of more women in the economy we can also stop generational poverty and in the process stimulate economic growth. Empowering women to participate fully in economic life across all sectors is essential to build stronger economies, achieve internationally agreed goals for development and sustainability, and improve the quality of life for women, men, families and communities.

Government has made  inroads into drawing more women into the economy. Our Cooperatives Incentive Scheme, administered by the Department of Small Business Development, creates opportunities for women to open small businesses. The scheme has invested R35.9 million in 117 such enterprises.

Young women who would like to become entrepreneurs can receive assistance through the Business Support Development Programme. It funded 325 women-owned enterprises last year to the value of R45.2 million.

Government is also empowering young women through skills training in the creative and craft markets to allow them to start  home businesses through our Bavumile Skills Development Programme. The economic empowerment of women has an important knock-on effect for our wider society. Women entrepreneurs are known to use profits from their business to improve their families’ living conditions and lifestyle. They invest in their children's education to help ease  poverty.

Susan Shabangu is the Minister in The Presidency responsible for Women

img

Share this page