25 July 2007
The Gauteng Provincial Government has planned a range of activities to
celebrate Women's Month in August, under the banner of the theme "Making
Gauteng a better place for women." The annual Women's Month programme provides
an opportunity to evaluate the progress we have made in improving the lives of
women and to intensify our efforts to promote women's empowerment.
We also pay tribute to the many women whose selfless dedication made our
freedom possible and who are today at the forefront of building our democracy,
our economy and our communities.
Thirteen years after our country's liberation, women have many achievements
to celebrate:
* Women's equality is enshrined in our constitution and women's rights are
entrenched in many of our laws and programmes.
* Women occupy key positions in decision-making structures of government and
civil society.
* Women's social needs are being addressed through expanded access to housing,
education, healthcare, jobs, social grants and other social services.
* Women's economic empowerment is being addressed including through broad-based
black economic empowerment (BBBEE), giving women preferential access to
government tenders, job opportunities, small business promotion and skills
development.
* Special attention is being given to girl learners and teachers, including in
areas such as maths, science and technology.
* A range of healthcare initiatives are targeted at improving women's health
and at preventing and treating HIV and AIDS.
* Women now have the protection of the law in dealing with women and child
abuse.
* Progress has been made in mainstreaming women's needs in a number of
government programmes, policies and plans.
While women have made important gains, there is a lot more work to do before
we can say that we have truly achieved gender equality in our province and in
our country. We are well aware that too many women, particularly black women,
still live in poverty and suffer the consequences of underdevelopment and
deprivation. Too many women remain jobless and have little access to skills and
economic activity. Too many women are still victims of violence and abuse.
Delivering his state of the province address in February this year, Premier
Mbhazima Shilowa said that "the economic empowerment of women and lifting the
poverty load from their shoulders are important areas of focus for our
government. In the year ahead, all government departments will have to further
develop programmes to promote women's empowerment." He emphasised the
importance of creating and strengthening platforms where government listened to
women and also stressed the importance of continuing to address violence
against women, which he described as "a blight that undermines all efforts at
women's emancipation and empowerment."
A wide range of Gauteng government programmes pay special attention to the
needs of women, especially black women. Priority has been given to promoting
women's access to economic opportunities, including the Expanded Public Works
Programme (EPWP), small business promotion through the Gauteng Enterprise
Propeller (GEP), the GPG broad-based black economic empowerment strategy and
preferential procurement policies, learnership and internship programmes, as
well as employing women in senior management in the provincial government.
The Premier has made a commitment to ensure that by 2009, 50% of women in
senior management positions are women. Of the 20 000 jobs that will be created
through the EPWP this year, 40% will be for women and as announced by the
Premier in February this year, in the 2009/10 financial year 50% of small,
medium and micro enterprises (SMME) funding will be allocated to women led job
creation activities through the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller. Our Women's Month
programme this year includes a variety of events that will be undertaken by
various departments in the provincial government.
Gauteng Women's Dialogue
A highlight of this year's Women's Month programme is the Gauteng Women's
Dialogue. The Women's Dialogues were initiated in 2003 to bring together women
from a variety civil society sectors to review the political, economic and
social status of women in the province and set women's empowerment priorities
in making Gauteng a better place for women. Provincial women's dialogues and
regional women's dialogues have been held in alternate years.
This year the Gauteng Women's Dialogues will be held on 1 and 2 August, with
about 400 women from various civil society sectors expected to attend. Together
we will identify the priorities for the future and draft a Dialogue Declaration
that reflects our deliberations over the two days and commitments ahead. The
Dialogues will be addressed by, among others, Premier Shilowa and Tshwane
executive mayor Gwen Ramokgopa in her capacity as the Gauteng head of the newly
formed Progressive Women's Movement. Several Gauteng MECs and women leaders
from various sectors of society will participate and look at progress and
challenges in making Gauteng a better place for women.
Women's status and priorities in the context of three provincial priorities
will be discussed. These are:
* building Gauteng as a globally competitive city region
* implementing the Gauteng Social Development Strategy
* building the capacity and organisation of the state.
In addition to setting government priorities in empowering women, the
Dialogue will also discuss the role of civil society sectors in advancing
women's status.
National Women's Day
The Gauteng Provincial Government in partnership with the City of Tshwane
Metropolitan Municipality will host the provincial celebrations for national
Women's Day at the grounds of the Union Buildings in Tshwane on 9 August 2007.
Preparations for this year's event are at an advanced stage.
On this day, we will be remembering the unsung heroines of our nation, who
marched 51 years ago to protest against the apartheid laws. A key focus will be
women's struggle for equality, emancipation and economic empowerment today.
Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa, Gauteng MECs, Tshwane executive mayor Gwen
Ramokgopa, councillors and other dignitaries are expected to attend, with the
Premier delivering a keynote address.
The programme will start at 09h00 and the entertainment line-up includes
prominent South African artists including Lira, Ladies in Jazz and Nothembi
Mkhwebane. There will also be a craft fair of high quality, locally produced
goods and various government departments will exhibit information about
government services.
Other activities
As part of our continuing commitment to build Gauteng as a globally
competitive city region where women benefit from opportunities in the Gauteng
economy, the GPG and other stakeholders will conduct an economic opportunities
roadshow focusing on women on 23 and 24 August.
Women who have made a difference in their areas, be it as councillors,
Community Development Workers, or other public servants, will be honoured at
the annual Women in Local Government Awards. The awards ceremony will be
attended by members of metropolitan, district and local municipalities and will
be addressed by MEC for Local Government, Qedani Mahlangu.
The Gauteng Department of Social Development will pay homage to women who
have made an outstanding contribution in our communities. An awards ceremony to
be held on 31 August, will honour unsung heroines who have, behind the scenes,
contributed to poverty eradication, development, sustainable growth and the
betterment of the lives of the people of Gauteng.
The protection of our women and children continues to be a priority for the
GPG. Premier Shilowa said in February this year that "we can not fully rejoice
in our freedom when our mothers, sisters, wives, daughters and partners
continue to be violated by senseless thugs with no respect for human
dignity."
In this regard, the Department of Community Safety will host an open day on
14 August at a Victim Empowerment Centre (VEC) to showcase the work done and
services provided by VECs. A sector summit on gender and an awards ceremony on
22 August will also be held with non-government organisations (NGOs) that have
been working with the department in fighting violence against women and
children. Later this month, the department will also honour women who have
participated in and contributed to Community Policing Forums (CPFs).
Through August, the Department of Health will be driving a campaign on
cancer awareness on cancers that affect women in various parts of Gauteng. This
month we rededicate ourselves, together with the women of Gauteng, towards
improving the lives of women in our province and to building a globally
competitive city region which is safe for women and where women play a leading
role in all spheres of our political, economic and social life.
Thank you.
For more information contact:
Annette Griessel
Tel: 011 355 6859
Cell: 082 563 3614
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
25 July 2007
