By Kopano Dibakwane
Structural and cultural factors, ranging from occupational and sectoral sex segregation, workplace discrimination and gender stereotyping, are some of the barriers experienced by women in the labour market.
This was revealed by Mpumalanga MEC for culture, sports and recreation, Thandi Shongwe, speaking on behalf of premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, during Women’s day provincial celebrations held at a fully packed Mbambiso community hall in Boschfontein, under the Nkomazi local municipality, on Wednesday. This year’s celebrations were held under the theme;” accelerating socio-economic opportunities for women empowerment”.
Shongwe said that the provincial government is focused on creating employment and training opportunities for unemployed women, which include the expanded public works programme(EPWP), which has reportedly created 24 205 work opportunities and the majority of beneficiaries are women. This is in addition to incubation programmes, youth development centres, artisan development training and youth empowerment programmes.
She mentioned that 30% of the provincial procurement spend was set aside for enterprises owned by women, in order to transform ownership of the means of production.
” Together with our social partners, we have launched the Mpumalanga economic reconstruction and recovery plan(MERRP), which has taken the issue of gender parity quite seriously. We will empower small scale miners and provide them with basic tools of trade,” said Shongwe.
She furthermore said that other women empowerment initiatives which are already rolled out and have been budgeted for include; furniture technology incubator to assist small businesses to participate in the furniture manufacturing sector, Siyatentela roads maintenance programme, women in construction programme(Sakhabakhi), the fortune 40 which targets women in agriculture and tourism, to name but a few.
According to the provincial government, Women’s day commemoration brings attention to contemporary issues which are faced by women.
Other dignitaries who were present at the event were, MEC Speed Mashilo(the department of human settlements), MEC Mandla Ndlovu(public works, roads and transport), MEC Lindiwe Ntshalintshali(social development), MEC Sasekani Manzini(department of health), Ehlanzeni district mayor-Jesta Sidell, executive mayor of Nkomazi local municipality-Phindile Magagula, senior managers of the provincial government led by director general Makhukhu Mampuru, traditional leadership led by Kgoshi Lameck Mokoena( chairperson for house of traditional leaders), to name but a few.
