at Women in Construction Summit, Elangeni Hotel, Durban
31 August 2007
Program Director
Head of Department Dr FB Madlopha
General managers
Invited guests
Ladies and gentlemen
The Construction Summit is a first step towards engagement with government
and building relationships between government, the construction industry, and
women in particular, and as such our gathering here today steers us to that
direction. Out of this Summit we hope to have provided a platform to share
knowledge, experience, strategies and recommendations on how effectively the
department can assist women with interest in the construction industry, whilst
at the same time, looking after those that are facing challenges within the
industry.
We are thrilled to be working hand-in-hand with key stakeholders to extend
opportunities to women in the construction industry. We do acknowledge however,
that the construction industry is not yet of benefit, or accessible to the
majority of women in the manner that we would wish. Although the Employment
Equity Act and the Procurement Procedures require that women be employed and
advanced in all sectors of the economy, women entrepreneurs in construction
still find it problematic to optimise the benefits of such legislations.
Concerns around economic inequalities, gender representativity in this sector
remain a challenge.
There is a need therefore, for interventions to remedy this situation.
Summits such as these are platforms to share information and best practices
amongst ourselves in order for all us to become "winners". Ironically, as early
as in the days of Old Testament, we hear of women in construction. Nehemia
3:12, says King Artaxerxes sent Nehemia granting him permission to rebuild the
walls of Jerusalem. Then Shallum king of half of Jerusalem repaired his "with
the help of his daughters".
It is also a known fact that black women in South Africa, when their men
left for work in the mines, built their dwellings, clayed floors, thatched
roofs, cultivated land and supported their families. The perception that
construction is for men and that women are not entrepreneurial, has untraceable
origins, I do not know where it comes from. I think that there is a need that
the background of where women come from, the challenges they face, and why they
are in construction industry need to be understood.
We are living in an era of the construction boom in the province. The local
construction industry is expected to grow at an average rate of 6,41% between
2007 and 2010. The demand for facilities management is increasing as the
Federation International Football Association (Fifa) 2010 World Cup draws
nearer. With new stadiums being built and existing ones being upgraded, there
are great opportunities for South African companies.
The question remains however, as to how many women owned businesses will
benefit from these large projects? The other question similar to this is
whether women owned businesses are adequately equipped to compete with the male
counterparts for such business opportunities?
Ladies and gentlemen our industry is the most important industry on the face
of the earth, because everything is dependent upon the built environment. It is
up to all of us as women to fight against that which deprives us in any way, of
our inherent right to the advantages, responsibilities and opportunities that
society offers to any one section of our population. As a provincial
department, led by the woman HOD, together with the woman MEC have always
displayed our support for women empowerment programmes. Our programme of action
has always been to engage women, and steer them towards fulfilment of the
provincial theme of Emancipation, Empowerment, Equality and Poverty
Eradication.
The department is engaged in the process of developing emerging contractors
and companies with the aim of improving the performance level and
sustainability. The process will be conducted through the Emerging Contractor
Development Programme (ECDP) announced in April. Women are a priority in all
our programmes.
In order to comply and demonstrate our commitment to the principles of Broad
Based Black Economic Empowerment Strategy, we have set the highest targets ever
for the current and next financial year, of which 40% worth of work is to
benefit women owned businesses. The Expanded Public Works Programme which is
one of South African Government's short-to-medium term programme aimed at the
provision of additional work opportunities, and training is well implemented
for the benefit of our target market.
Our strong links with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB),
had resulted to the establishment of a Contract Contact Center located next to
our Mayville offices here in Durban. All enquiries related to grading,
registration, business opportunities, joint ventures etc are now located in our
door step.
Yesterday, we held Women in Property Summit in Ladysmith. We are excited
about the enthusiasm that the women of this province are displaying in their
search for opportunities that government presents to them.
In conclusion, I believe that it is through summits like these, based on
constructive engagement that we can make the industry grow stronger. I believe
that out of such gatherings, the department will be able to consider views,
suggestions and recommendations to perform and introduce better systems in line
with the needs of our people, you the women of today, building a solid
foundation for the next generation of contractors to benefit the entire
construction industry.
Building communities through construction
Sithuthukisa imiphakathi ngokwakha
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Public Works, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial
Government
31 August 2007
Source: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government (http://www.kwazulunatal.gov.za)
