Thank you, Programme Director Let me acknowledge:
Minister for Human Settlements – Hon. Mmamoloko Kubayi Northern Cape Premier – Hon. Dr Zamani Saul
Northern Cape MEC for Corporative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs - Hon. Bentley Vass
Northern Cape MEC for Youth, Women, Disability, Communications and E-Government – Hon Lorato Blennies
Executive Mayor of Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality – Cllr Princess Faku
Executive Mayor of Francis Baard District – Cllr Unondumisa Buda
Executive Mayor of Sol Plaatjie Local Municipality - Cllr Kagisho Sonyoni
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee for Human Settlements - Hon. Rosena Semenya
Chairperson of the Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Water and Sanitation and Human Settlements - Hon. China Dodovu
The Royal House of Griqua Nation led by High Commissioner – Ms Rosemary Rodriquez
Northern Cape Public Service Commission – Commissioner Mr Anele Gxoyiya
Chairpersons and board members from all our entities SAWIC President – Mrs Clara Sodlulashe-Mwenze
All our stakeholders from the Human Settlements Value Chain Representatives from the Private Sector
Acting Director General, Mr Siyabonga Zama
Senior officials and officials from all spheres of government Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is indeed an honour to be standing before all of you today, especially as we are still in the month of celebrating iimbokodo, which is an official women’s month. This is a period where we commemorate the stallions that marched in thousands to the Union Buildings in 1956, to protest against the apartheid pass- laws.
Almost two weeks ago from today, the whole nation witnessed as we celebrated the women’s day at the Union Buildings where President Cyril Ramaphosa re-emphasized the importance of inclusion of women in the South African economy.
When the Minister joined the department, one of the delegations given to me was to monitor and oversee the empowerment of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities. I took it upon myself to embark on provincial roadshows thereby ensuring that we monitor the 40 percent set-aside target. This we did with the tremendous support from the Premiers and MECs of Human Settlements. These efforts resulted in the evident improvement on the expenditure by some provinces that have even exceeded the allocation of the 40 percent set-aside for women.
It was on the 9th of August 2020, when His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the 40 percent set-aside on public procurement for women-owned businesses. Subsequently, during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on the 11th of February 2021, His Excellency further announced that Cabinet approved a policy that 40 percent of public procurement should go to women-owned businesses.
Indeed Programme Director, the provincial roadshows have produced positive results, with the evident consistent improvement on some of the provincial performances. For instance, In the past financial year 2022/23:
- Kwa-Zulu Natal spent ±R1,1 billion, the highest rand value for the designated groups of which the majority were women owned enterprises.
- Mpumalanga spent ±R 782million exceeding the 40% set- aside target by a huge margin. This made the women contractors to be at the fore front in creating and giving jobs. Mpumalanga was by far the best province that awarded opportunities to women owned construction companies.
- Limpopo spent ±R459million exceeding the set aside target as well
- Northern Cape spent ±R105million out of ±R109million earmarked to designated groups owned entities
- North West spent ±R352million out of ±R511million earmarked for designated groups owned entities
More work needs to be done by the Metros on the expenditure of the Urban Settlements Development Grant (USDG) allocated to designated groups. In the past financial year, they managed to spend approximately R1billion of the ±R3billion allocation which equates to 34%. We will not get tired, until All provinces and Metros comply.
We have come a long way with the women empowerment programme and collaboration with sector stakeholders. When I joined the department in 2019, the expenditure on the HSDG allocation to designated groups was at a mere 18% and today we can boast that we are sitting at approximately 59 %. In total on both grants, ±R4,3billion was awarded to women in the past financial year alone. The women fought hard for work opportunities especially in construction, due to continuous engagements, they are now working in harmony.
Minister has made significant strides since joining the Department, she introduced many changes, including huge increases in the subsidy quantums effective from 1 April 2023. For example, Breaking New Ground (BNG) formerly known as (RDP Houses) from R196 887 to R255 364, houses for persons with disabilities from R209 071 to R271 166, and Military Veterans Houses from R240 607 to R312 069.
The Minister further pronounced the prioritization of unblocking the blocked and incomplete projects. If we can do an audit, we will find that the majority of those unfinished projects were built by men. Women have proven to be able to stick to the contractual time frames with a much better quality of housing.
In preparation for this Human Settlements Women Indaba, I convened provincial Women in Construction Roundtable sessions in collaboration with the MEC’s and women across the sector value chain. I was amazed by the response and commitment we received from sector stakeholders in particular the women formations, together with their members and state- owned entities. Women across provinces attended the Roundtable sessions in numbers.
These sessions were robust and an eye-opener to many women including myself. I even got to know that we have women that specialize in roofing. This is an indication that women are unstoppable and capable of executing those jobs deemed to be for men. The women were also appreciative of the efforts that we are doing in ensuring that they are finally being recognized as valuable participants.
The women formations and stakeholders that attended were:
- South African Women in Construction (SAWIC)
- Black Business Council for the Built Environment (BBCBE)
- The Women in Water, Infrastructure and Construction South Africa (TWWICSA)
- Roof Repairs and Waterproofing Association (PRAWA)
- SHE – Trade Platforms (on-line)
- Federation of the Urban and rural Poor (FEDUP)
- Khoi-San Griqua Community
- Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)
- SEDA – Entity of the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD)
During the sessions, the challenges raised by women were common across provinces in nature. The following were challenges highlighted:
- Late and non-payment of women contractors which results in disempowering of the emerging and small businesses, some of which closed down
- Access to finance and business support
- Lack of taking women serious by some provinces and Metros and thus denying them job opportunities
- Delays in procurement processes
- Exploitation of women sub-contractors by main contractors, where they are paid below the current quantum
- The appointment of foreign nationals by contractors, of which local labourers could have been used for general labour which does not require certification, here we are referring to skilled and unskilled labour
- Inadequate information on value chain opportunities to rural areas
- Implementation of projects in difficult terrains.
- Incorporating of Innovative Building Technologies (IBT)
- Lack of recognition of the 40 percent set aside by the Western Cape
Programme Director allow me to relate the high-level resolutions of the Roundtables:
- “We the women of South Africa assembled through virtual platforms and held Roundtables with women in construction to chart a way for our socio-economic transformation in the construction industry.
- Minister, we will be guided by you, but we would like to have a Women’s Transformation Charter which will represent the voices of women from various areas of work and specialization in the construction industry. Clear action items that require urgent and immediate actions have been articulated and outlined to assist the sector in responding to the plight of women owned entities. Periodic reviews will be embarked upon to ensure that we leave no one behind.
- Guided by the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the human settlements breaking new ground (BNG) plan for the creation of sustainable human settlements; the Gender responsive budgeting, planning, monitoring and evaluation & auditing (GRBPMEA) policy framework that endorsed the principles of mainstreaming gender and women’s economic empowerment as critical to effect societal transformation”.
The key areas for urgent actions are as follows Minister: Under administration, we resolve that:
- National Department will communicate the set aside message regularly and effectively to the provinces and metros emphasizing that the directive needs to be complied with
- Each Province and Metro will develop, share and publish its pledge regarding value chain opportunities for women owned entities on an annual basis
- Payment of service providers within the stipulated 30day period should be applied by all Provinces, Metros and Entities.
- The Western Cape issue, we are referring to Minister and the Portfolio Committee for intervention
Under Communication we resolved that:
- All role players and stakeholders (public and private) are encouraged to communicate opportunities for women effectively using various platforms to ensure a wider reach of the messages
- Human Settlements value chain opportunities and performance should be widely marketed especially in rural areas
Under Contractual Arrangements we resolve that:
- Turnkey projects are recommended for women contractors to ensure sustained growth
- Packaging work and targeting procurement accordingly regarding CIDB levels to increase participation
- Formalising subcontracting arrangements to minimise exploitation of women contractors
- Employment of South African Citizens to be prioritized
- Women working in difficult terrains, to be provided with efficient support
Under Skills Development and Education we resolve that:
- Implementing Incubation and mentorship linked to housing projects by provinces and Metros to cater for different grades
- Contractors must provide training for the employees for the locals to benefit
- NHBRC to provide training linked to active projects
Under viable partnerships and collaboration, we resolve to:
- Structuring and formalising Memorandum of Understandings with sector stakeholders to sustain participation by women and their entities and support offered
- Establishing a Transformation Committee (Forum) that will meet quarterly (in order to serve as a body that will house information, advocacy and monitor implementation of the set aside and related value chain opportunities)
Indeed, Ladies and Gentlemen, despite the challenges raised by women in the human settlements value chain, there are various good practice models implemented by provinces, metros as well as entities, namely;
- The KZN approach amongst others include the Vula framework and material supply. The recognition of the constitutional obligation to implement for designated groups.
- North West model of payment to service providers within 30 days or less should be replicated across all provinces.
- Northern Cape practice of offering allocations of work to women-owned entities in the areas of bulk infrastructure, Geo tech and land surveying, has opened up the scope of work.
In conclusion, I would like to thank Minister Kubayi for trusting me with this task, not forgetting to thank the Deputy Minister for Health, Hon. Dr. Sibongiseni Dhlomo, MECs, Acting Deputy Director General Ms. Nonhlanhla Buthelezi, Deputy Director General Ms Nana Mhlongo, Office of the CFO led by Lucy Mbele, the King of the Griqua Nation Dr V Kok, Bakoena ba Mopeli, Nama Royal House King Como and Queen Como, Provincial HOD’s, the CEOs of our entities, SEDA, women in the Human Settlements space, and last but not least, my soldiers - the officials who worked tirelessly to ensure that we held progressive roundtable sessions – enkosi kakhulu.
(Phambili with Women Empowerment, indeed you empower the women, you empower the nation)
I WISH YOU FRUITFUL AND PRODUCTIVE DELIBERATIONS OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS AT THIS INDABA.
I thank you, I LOVE YOU ALL
