1 August 2007
"The Gauteng Provincial Government is succeeding in opening economic
empowerment opportunities for more women in the province but needs to do more
to reduce poverty, unemployment and HIV and AIDS infection," Gauteng Premier
Mbhazima Shilowa said today.
Speaking at the opening of the provincial Women's Dialogue in Boksburg, the
Premier said 1 433 women owned enterprises had benefited from the province's
broad based empowerment initiatives last year. The total value for business
conducted with women-owned enterprises was more than R1,049 billion.
"The empowerment of women in the delivery of housing continues to grow.
Since 2004, the government has awarded tenders worth over R359 million to women
companies for the construction of thousands of houses throughout Gauteng," said
Shilowa.
The Women's Dialogue was initiated in 2003 to provide women with an
opportunity to influence government policy and programme of action. This year
it forms part of events planned to commemorate Women's Month.
The Premier said the province's Agricultural Development Strategy was
succeeding in bringing previously disadvantaged sections of the population,
including women and the unemployed, into the value chain of mainstream
agriculture in the province.
An amount of R10 million in agricultural project funding has been made
available to further women empowerment in the agricultural sector in
Gauteng.
The construction of the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link had so far benefited 366
women, 11% of whom are employed in management positions. The Gautrain Project
had enrolled 79 young women in learnership programmes in scarce skills
including mining and blasting, fitting and turning, mill wrighting and business
administration.
The Premier however expressed concern that too many women were still
shackled in poverty and were victims of violence and diseases including HIV and
AIDS.
From the inception of comprehensive HIV and AIDS treatment care programme in
2004, a total of 78 102 people have received anti-retroviral treatment,
including 7 990 children.
Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
1 August 2007
Source: SAPA
