7 August 2006
North West MEC for Public Works, Honourable Howard Yawa says women
contractors are asserting themselves very well in the male-dominated
construction industry. MEC Yawa said this in his closing remarks at the
Dialogue with Women in Construction held at the Mafikeng Hotel School last
Friday.
The objective of the dialogue organised by the Department of Public Works in
partnership with the North West Chapter of the South African Women in
Construction (SAWIC) and the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce
(NAFCOC) was that the Womenâs Chamber was to strengthen partnership with women
in construction. Its purpose was to also evaluate women involvement and
participation in the construction sector and highlight opportunities available
for women in the sector.
MEC Yawa said that the ANC government believes that women are an
indispensable part of any transformation process; therefore it is imperative to
bring them to the centre of all developments. He said that to give meaning to
fundamental principles of equality, representativity, participation, and
inclusivity enshrined in the constitution, his department has in the last
financial year awarded contracts to the value of R95,149 million to thirty-four
women contractors.
âThe current boom in the property and building sector signals the beginning
of sustained growth, underscoring the centrality of the construction sector to
the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA). Driven
by increasing public and private sector investment in infrastructure, the
construction sector will need to more than double its output over the next ten
years. Investment growth provides immense opportunities to increase the
participation of women within the industry,â said MEC Yawa.
The National Project Co-ordinator for National Black Contractors and Allied
Trades (NABCAT), Ms Vuyokasi Losi told women contractors that economic
participation remains a challenge for women. She said forging a successful
strategic partnership with government departments, private sectors, and other
development agencies in the industry was critical in achieving a balance
between the interests of each sector partner.
In her presentation, Chairperson of SAWIC North West, Ms Thembi Matabela,
said that although women are faced with challenges in doing their business, the
Department of Public Works should be applauded for the support it has shown to
women. Matabela pleaded with the women to uplift each other and to employ
unemployed youth and women in their companies.
Representing Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC) as a sponsor for the historic
dialogue, Mr Wayne Milligan (Technical Support Manager for PPC) committed his
company to train emerging women contractors in basic business skills, cement
products, cement techniques, plastering and basic concrete technology as they
have done with members of the Women in Housing Initiative in Gauteng.
For clarity and further information contact: Lesiba Moses Kgwele
(Departmental spokesperson)
Tel: (018) 387 2447
Cell: 083 629 1987
Issued by: Department of Public Works, North West Provincial
Government
7 August 2006
