14 August 2007, Park Hyatt Hotel, Rosebank
Programme Director;
CEO of the GSSC, Mr. Mike Maile;
CEO of the GEP, Mr. David Morobe;
Senior managers from government institutions;
Distinguished guests;
Women of Gauteng:
The 9th of August 1956 marked one of the most significant milestones in the history of our country.
This day represents the heroism displayed by the martyr generation of Sophie de Bruyn, Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Amina Cachalia and many other heroines of our country in the quest to build a just society.
Over the nine decades of its existence my organisation, the African National Congress, has committed itself to building a society that is rooted in the noble principles of democracy, non - racialism and non - sexism. As the ANC government we continue to be guided by these principles in our ongoing endeavour to build a better life for all.
In this regard, we will continue to act in a manner that ensures the creation of a conducive environment for the social, political and economic upliftment of women.
We are therefore proud to say our decisions and actions are consistent with the vision so clearly articulated by the 1956 generation of women that marched on the Union Building.
Going forward, we will continue to work in partnership with the women of Gauteng to ensure that we respond comprehensively to the challenges that lie ahead.
Malibongwe: igama lama Makhosikazi!
Programme Director; the Gauteng Provincial Government has taken a decision to celebrate this year's Women's Month under the theme "Making Gauteng a better place for Women".
We did this cognisant of the challenges posed by our past, but also committed to ensuring that we radically transform gender relations in society to meet our objective of building a non - sexist society.
As we assemble in this symposium today, as government and as women in business, we are demonstrating that ours is an enduring partnership, steeped in the firm belief that the vision of building a better Gauteng remains a dream unless we lift the majority of our women out of the indignity of poverty, joblessness and underdevelopment.
The presence of so many women entrepreneurs here today is an indication of the bold step you have taken to also play your part in ensuring that women become active participants in determining their future.
We applaud you for this and encourage you to remain a loyal and dedicated partner in our collective effort to advance the economic empowerment of women.
For our part as government, we remain committed to ensuring that we create an environment where women and women-owned enterprises are able to flourish and play a significant role in the economic mainstream.
We will continue to make targeted interventions aimed at expanding access to economic opportunities by the women of Gauteng.
I encourage you to take the time today to engage with the leadership of the various institutions of government represented here and make sure that they give you all the information that you require to take your business ventures to new heights.
I am told that today the GSSC will share information and identify high value tenders where women owned companies can play a meaningful role. Please listen carefully and take advantage of these opportunities.
Within the public sector we are on course with the elevation of women to positions of responsibility and leadership within the decision making structures of Government.
This is in line with the firm commitment we have made that by 2009, 50% of those who occupy senior management positions in the public sector should be women.
Ours is a commitment to build social cohesion where all sectors of society, particularly women are able to realise their full potential in a just, supportive and equitable system. This includes ensuring that:
One of the strategic interventions we have made as part of our effort to expand participation, including that of women, in the mainstream economy is the launch and implementation of the provincial broad based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) Strategy.
In terms of this Strategy we seek to substantially increase the number of black people, youth, women and people with disabilities that contribute to and benefit from the provincial economy.
In line with the targets we have set for ourselves in the BBBEE Strategy, we are pleased to report that we are making good progress in ensuring that b y 2009:
Acting in partnership with the provincial government agencies we will facilitate access by women to opportunities arising from the hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
These include opportunities in the tourism, transport and hospitality sectors. Women-owned enterprises are especially encouraged to identify and take up opportunities that will arise from our hosting for the next three years of the world's largest soccer exhibition, SOCCEREX. Through the Gauteng Economic Development Agency, we will ensure that goods produced by local women or women owned companies gain greater access to the domestic and international markets The Gauteng Enterprise Propeller, which we have given a budget of R300 million over three years, will target more women owned companies to ensure that they access to both financial and non - financial support. Furthermore, we encourage women and women owned businesses to take advantage of current and future Public, Private, Partnerships (PPP) projects within Gauteng.
These include work done to develop a Game Reserve in Dinokeng in the Mestweding Region, further expansions at the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, the Automotive Supplier Park and the OR Tambo International Industrial Development Zone.
Over the next three years we will spend together with local government more than R 50 billion to improve infrastructure across the province.
This major injection into the provincial economy will create numerous opportunities for businesses in the construction and related industries, with a particular bias to women owned enterprises.
We will soon be announcing details of the Gauteng Infrastructure Development Fund. This Fund will assist us to leverage private sector capital in the building of infrastructure across Gauteng.
Through this Fund we will form partnerships with the private sector in order to undertake major infrastructure projects in Gauteng. We encourage the private sector to partner with us in this Fund.
We assure the private sector that the projects that will be financed through this Fund will be commercially viable, offering them a satisfactory return on investment.
As part of building Gauteng as a globally competitive City Region we will proceed with our e - Government initiative which includes the improvement of Broadband technology infrastructure through the Blue Umbrella project.
The implementation of this project also holds numerous opportunities for women owned businesses.
In conclusion I wish to urge the current generation of women to emulate that heroic generation of 1956 by seizing the many opportunities presented to them.
Like the generation of 1956, the women of today have a responsibility to build a lasting legacy for future generations.
Let us all join hands and continue building a better Gauteng for women. Victory is within reach.
Thank you.