1 August 2006
The Gauteng Provincial Government together with other stakeholders will
launch its programme for Women's Month at the Regina Mundi Church in Soweto on
Thursday the 3 August 2006.
The launch will be attended by women from a variety of different sectors and
will be addressed by Gauteng MEC for Local Government Qedani Mahlangu.
Every year, August is devoted to Women's Month and we commemorate National
Women's Day on 9 August, to pay tribute to the heroic women who marched to the
Union Buildings on that day in 1956 to protest against passes. This year South
Africa celebrates the 50th anniversary of the women's march under the theme
"Age of Hope: Through struggle to freedom".
The Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) is co-ordinating a series of
activities in August 2006 to highlight government programmes aimed at improving
women's lives and promoting women's empowerment. These will include regional
women's dialogues, women's izimbizo and departmental events highlighting
projects and programmes for women. Through the women's dialogues and izimbizo,
the GPG aims to be responsive to the needs of women through encouraging and
engaging in public participation.
The GPG is firmly committed to and actively engaged in addressing women's
social needs, especially women living in poorest communities. Women's access to
education, housing, healthcare, transport, land, jobs, social grants and other
social services has been significantly enhanced.
The economic empowerment of women remains a key priority for the GPG. In his
opening of legislature address in February this year, the Premier committed the
province to make "every effort to ensure that women are prioritised as we
deliver services, fight poverty, build infrastructure and transform government
and the economy. As part of our commitment to improve the lives of women and
ensure easy access to capital, entrepreneurship and overall participation in
economic activity, we will accelerate women's empowerment in construction,
project management, the co-operative sector and Small and Medium Micro
Enterprise (SMME) management".
This year, as we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic women's
march, the GPG rededicates itself to making Gauteng an even better place for
women.
The details of the Provincial Women's Month launch are as follows:
Time: 10h00
Venue: Regina Mundi Church, Soweto
Enquires:
Annette Griessel
Cell: 082 563 3614
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
1 August 2006
