Mpumalanga Culture Sports and Recreation MEC Shongwe outlines Provincial Government initiatives aimed as women empowerment
09 August 2023Mpumalanga Culture Sports and Recreation MEC Thandi Shongwe has outlined the Provincial Government's initiatives aimed at empowering women.
Speaking on behalf of Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane at the Women's Day Provincial Celebrations in Boschfontein, Nkomazi Municipality, MEC Shongwe said in the labour market, barriers for women included structural and cultural factors, ranging from occupational and sectoral sex segregation to workplace discrimination and gender stereotyping.
"This is why we have placed a premium on ensuring that employment opportunities we create are directed towards women. Through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), we continue to create the much-needed work and training opportunities for the poor and unemployed," said MEC Shongwe.
She explained that in the current financial year, EPWP has created 24 205 work opportunities through the use of labour-intensive methods. The majority of beneficiaries are women.
"We reiterate our commitment, as the Mpumalanga Provincial Government, to use public procurement to promote economic participation in order to transform ownership of the means of production. In this regard, 30% of the provincial procurement spend shall be set aside for enterprises owned by women.
"We, as the Mpumalanga Provincial Government, together with our social partners, have launched the Mpumalanga Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (MERRP), which has taken the issue of gender parity quite seriously," she said.
She added that a number of bursaries and internships made available to young women, the Provincial Government in collaboration with the municipalities, was also working with the Mining Qualifications Authority to ensure that training programs within the Province targets women.
"These training programs will empower small scale miners and provide them with basic tools of trade. Indeed, our provincial government has continued to support women through a number of initiatives such as incubation programmes, youth development centres, artisan development training, and youth empowerment programmes.
"We also have the Furniture Technology Incubator which was established to train people in furniture manufacturing as well as upholstery and assists SMMEs to participate in the furniture manufacturing sector.
"Young women, are trained in small scale furniture manufacturing and upholstery to increase the skills in this sector to support the planned Forestry Industrial Technology Park," she said.
She further said through the Employment Stimulus pillar of the Mpumalanga Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (MERRP), the Provincial Government would further intensify public employment programmes, such as the EPWP in order to create a large number of jobs in the shorter term and support increased procurement spend for women and youth.
"We have in place the Siyatentela Roads Maintenance Programme which has created thousands of work opportunities for poor local households. We also have in place the Women in construction programme (Sakhabakhi) which is aimed at ensuring better inclusion of women in this economic mainstream.
"Agriculture and Tourism are other sectors where we have programmes that target women for involvement through incubation, such as the Fortune 40. I wish to emphasise that all of these initiatives are already being rolled out and have been budgeted for by the government," she said.
The Women's Day is an annual commemoration which seeks to pay tribute to the more than 20 000 women of all races who marched to the Union Buildings on 09 August 1956 in protest against the extension of Pass laws.
The law required all South Africans defined as “black” to carry an internal passport that served to maintain segregation, control urbanisation, and manage migrant labour during the former regime.
The women conducted a peaceful protest and left petitions whilst singing a song titled: “Wathint’ Abafazi, Wathint’ imbokodo” which translates “Now you have touched the women, you have touched the rock”.
The commemorations bring to attention contemporary issues which are faced by women. This year’s Women’s Day was being celebrated under the theme: “Accelerating Socio-Economic Opportunities for Women Empowerment at a packed Mbimbiso Community Hall.
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Issued by the Mpumalanga Provincial Government
Enquiries:
Provincial Government’s Spokesperson:George Mthethwa
Tel: (013) 766 2242
Mobile: 083 302 2774
E-mail: gpmthethwa@mpg.gov.za