An interim National Advisory Council has been set up to replace the Board of Directors and Provincial Chairpersons of the South African Women Entrepreneurs’ Network (SAWEN). This was the outcome of a special meeting that was chaired by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Maria Ntuli at Department of Trade and Industry (dti) campus in Pretoria yesterday.
The meeting ratified resolutions that were taken at the annual general meeting of SAWEN held in Durban in February this year. These include the refocusing SAWEN back to its initial mandate to serve as an umbrella body that advances the aspirations and enhances the participation of women associations in the economy.
Deputy Minister Ntuli said it was imperative to reposition SAWEN and reinstitute it as a fully fledged programme of the Department of Trade and Industry as per the original mandate of the gender empowerment unit of the department.
“The gender and women empowerment unit of the dti was established to provide gender-sensitive programmes to facilitate broad facilitation of women entrepreneurs in the mainstream economy of South Africa and promote and provide support to the competitiveness of women-owned business enterprises, amongst others, in line with the department’s strategic objectives and government’s priorities. But in its present form, SAWEN has not been able to do much. There are many business women and aspirant women entrepreneurs out there who are looking for assistance in various elements of small business including accessing finance and capacity development, particularly in rural areas,” said Ntuli
Ntuli announced that the current members of the SAWEN Board of Directors and Provincial Chairpersons would form an interim advisory council which will work with the dti as it begins to implement an association based model. The first steps include a strategic planning session and the building of provincial chapters. The council, which will work for a year, will be chaired by Deputy Minister Ntuli.
“As part of the way forward, SAWEN membership fee is cancelled and membership will be open to provincial business association and non-governmental organisations while a new strategic direction is crafted for the organisation. Khula will manage the programme on behalf of the dti and will train their employees in its regional and provincial offices to carry out the key activities of SAWEN,” said Ntuli
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 073 522 6801
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Trade and Industry
20 April 2010
