P Mlambo-Ngcuka: International Women's Forum South Africa

27 September 2007

Honouring South African women leaders

Programme Director
International Women's Forum South Africa President, Anna Mokgokong
Members of the International Women's Forum South Africa
Cabinet Ministers
Businesswomen leaders
Senior government officials
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

I am honoured to be attending this annual women's banquet of the
International Women's Forum South Africa, which tonight is honouring South
African women leaders.

After 13 years of democracy, we have much to celebrate as government, as a
people and as South African women. We, however, cannot forget that we have a
lot to do, as our progress is empty when so many still lack basics.

The International Women's Forum South Africa (IWFSA) is the local chapter of
a progressive body of women leaders, comprising of women leaders from both
business and government, whose mission is the development of women leaders in
all sectors. In many ways, it has shared values and vision with the Progressive
Women's Movement, the South African Women In Dialogue (Sawid), African National
Congress (ANC) Women's League and many other organisations in our society that
women need to fulfil their potential.

The role of women in leadership positions in South Africa has been
transformed in the past decade, because of a decisive leadership in government
that has made it a priority to acknowledge and promote women to leadership
positions. However, women can and will only experience full emancipation when
they liberate themselves.

Management experts tell us that government leaders set the tone for change,
and in South Africa's case both former President Nelson Mandela and President
Thabo Mbeki have set a clear tone and agenda for women's equality and
empowerment. Corporations have had no option but to follow suit, albeit very,
very and very slowly. Without economic empowerment of large numbers of women
the whole agenda of women is a non-starter and a prosperous South Africa is not
attainable. So we should be worried and weary that so many women are so
poor.

It is important that we keep focus and emphasis on the promotion of women
leaders, such that the numbers, in quality and quantity, have impact and
relevance lest we become - just like men - that is where it used to say man it
is us and where it used to say women it is the rest of women.

Women leaders still have to confront serious challenges to succeed. As
Carlie Fiorino, the first woman Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hewlett
Packard International noted, women have to deal with the challenge of being
different in a male dominated environment. It is also encouraging to see how
women turn that challenge of difference, into a platform to turn their
organisations around. In our case, we have to turn society around and we need a
convincing agenda to do so. However, that agenda is taking too long to shape
up.

Tonight, nevertheless, we have an opportunity to reflect on women leaders,
who are special lights in our lives, and who have illuminated their
environments, and the people they serve, and we gather new strength from their
victories. It is in the inspiration that these women give us, that we must look
at the bigger picture.

The International Women's Forum exists to create a platform of leadership
support and stimulation through a network of international women leaders. We,
here in South Africa are a part of the network, as it provides ongoing renewal
for us in the various environments in which we operate. It is also a special
place, where we share experiences and create a learning platform for future
leaders.

South African women have shown their mettle recently at the International
Leading Women Entrepreneurs South Africa. They put a very good show thanks to
women like Anna Mokgokong, Louisa Mojela, and Deputy Minister Thabethe who gave
it their all.

The International Women's Forum South Africa continues to provide learning
opportunities for women with programmes that enhance the importance of senior
leadership in partnership with the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)
since 2002. Learning and education of women coupled with economic empowerment
is the single most critical event that will truly liberate humanity from hunger
and pain. We must make it happen.

We have learnt from the leading icons that have brought democracy to us,
that changing one's world and creating new paths is the true essence of
leadership. The IWFSA, by holding hands with emerging women leaders, is
contributing to the creation of a pool of women leaders for our world. But I
have news, sisters, we need more and we need to reach out to poor women, we
need a better game plan with clearer outcomes.

We congratulate the courageous women of our land, who have shaped our
country and our world, who continue to define it in an empowering way. We are
here today because they dared to take up the challenges, open new doors and
create opportunities for themselves and us.

Ours is to take the baton and run further and further with even more
women.

We are also here because those who came before us taught us to lift as we
climb. The IWFSA is the articulation of the essence of leadership we got from
our past leaders. May the IWFSA go from strength to strength and doing so
empower many more women, thus the entire nation.

Issued by: The Presidency
27 September 2007
Source: The Presidency (http://www.thepresidency.gov.za)