It will take South Africa almost 40 years to achieve gender equality at leadership level if the current rate of gender transformation is not hastened, says the Minister for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya.
Minister Mayende-Sibiya made the statement during the presentation of the first budget vote speech for the Department for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities in Parliament today.
Minister Mayende-Sibiya said economic empowerment of women including representation of women in decision making positions remains the greatest area of concern where less progress has been made globally and in South Africa.
She said it was disappointing to note from the latest census conducted by Business Women Association of South Africa that by September 2009, there were still 73 companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) that did not have a woman in their boards of directors.
"At least 26 of these companies do not have even a single woman at an executive management level as well. These are disturbing statistics we have to deal with more than 16 years into our democracy," said Minister Mayende-Sibiya.
She said while women constitute 52 percent of the general population, they only make up 45 percent of working South Africans and this inequity worsens at decision making level, with women constituting 19 percent of executive managers and about 17 percent of directors in various boards.
"Prediction is that if we continue at the current rate, we will only achieve 50/50 gender parity at board level in 20 years. For the executive management level, it will take us another 40 years. Irrespective of our political background, I am sure we will all agree that this situation is unacceptable," said Minister Mayende-Sibiya.
She said the main focus her department for this year will be on the development of the Gender Equality Bill which should hasten the pace towards gender equality in all sectors of our society.
"We will also be working within the existing frameworks such as Employment Equity and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) and Employment Equity Act to ensure that at least the current equity targets for women and persons with disabilities are met," said
Minister Mayende-Sibiya.
She said her department will hold consultations with the organised labour, private sector organisations and other stakeholders as part of the campaign to advocate for the 50/50 gender parity in leadership positions in all sectors.
She said government has led all sectors with regard to the appointment of women.
"The current government in particular has made significant appointments including the appointment of the first woman governor of the Reserve Bank Gill Marcus and the first woman Chief Executive Officer of South African Airways, Siza Mzimela," said Minister Mayende-Sibiya.
The department will also champion the attainment of two percent employment equity for people with disabilities within government and encourage the private sector to achieve the same target.
Minister Mayende-Sibiya said the hosting of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup has raised sharply the issue of access to facilities for people with disabilities.
"It is very disturbing that some of the newly built or reconstructed stadiums have failed to make adequate disability provisions in their plans. We have to urgently find a solution that will ensure that people with disabilities equally celebrate this historic event," said
Minister Mayende-Sibiya.
She said her department was engaging with the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and South African Disability Alliance with regard to transportation and efforts to improve space available for persons with disabilities in stadiums.
Contact"
Sibani Mngadi
Cell: 082 7720 161
Issued by: Department of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities
16 April 2010
