Speech by the Gauteng MEC of Housing, N Mokonyane , at the Women's Build Launch 2006 14 August 2006 Honourable Minister of Housing, Dr Lindiwe Sisulu Last Wednesday South Africans celebrated 50 years of the heroic Women's March of 1956 when our women put their struggle on the map. The Women's March of 1956 did not only highlight the resolve by women to free them but also it took the liberation struggle to new heights. Since then women's rights and liberties have occupied the centre stage in global political discourse. As a result there has been visible conscious push by all progressive states of the world to affirm women. In South Africa , the victory by popular progressive forces over the repressive apartheid regime was a resounding victory in that it did not only usher in the democratic order but also turned the tide against women oppression and discrimination. The current democratically elected government has taken visible strides to transform and improve the lot of our women in South Africa . This transformative effort by the government is reflected in the establishment of various democratic institutions such as Gender Commission of South Africa. It is also true that our freedom brought many economic opportunities for the previously disadvantaged including women, but the reality is that the struggle for gender equity is far from over. Moreover, if one considers that the majority of our people who bear the brunt of poverty are women and therefore the need to intensify the woman emancipation fight cannot be overemphasised. Today, it has transpired that most of the shack dwellings are owned by single women and carry the responsibility of fending for their families. It is also common knowledge that property rights in this country for centuries were skewed in favour of men. No woman was allowed to own land and even in terms of our own traditional inheritance norms women were not entitled to the family heirloom which was always the loot for male folks. Therefore it is not surprising that many women especially the aged are either renting or living in shacks. Today, therefore, is the most important day in the struggle for women liberation. It is fitting that we are gathered here to once again witness our women taking the bull by the horns as they enter a sector which for years has been the preserve of men. Twelve years since the advent of democracy, sadly the women of our country are still not yet totally liberated from domestic and economic oppression. As government, in Gauteng , we are committed to addressing these imbalances so that women can enjoy the same rights as any other citizen of this country. Owing to this situation, the Gauteng Department of Housing has resolved to allocate most of our housing development projects to women contractors as part of the broader empowerment strategy. In his address to thousands of women who were gathered in Pretoria last week, President Thabo Mbeki reiterated the need to work towards the total emancipation of women in this country when he said "Together as a nation we must uphold the perspective that none of us is free unless the women of our country are free - free from the race and gender discrimination, free from poverty and loss of human dignity, and free from fear and violence". It is against this background that government has put in place various legislative frameworks to empower women. In collaboration with various communities based organisations and other interest groups we have put in place programmes such as Women's Build to advance the cause of women. Women's Build seeks to not only give women shelter but to make sure that women play a vital role within the construction industry which is a male dominated industry. A construction Charter which will also give women a central role in this industry is being formulated. Therefore, Women's Build aims to position our women in this male dominated industry at the same time ensuring that they compete equally with established construction companies. It is also interesting that the build is led by women. This is a continuation of our efforts in ensuring that our women are not only tenants but property owners. I am pleased to announce that all the work towards the building of 50 houses will be done mostly by women, and the construction companies involved here are owned and led by women. In Gauteng the targets are as follows 70% Black small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs), 30% for women, 5% youth and disabled respectively. To underscore this point next week we will be launching the Women Contractors Empowerment Programme, where the women owned companies will be given work to the value of R200 million per annum and support systems will be provided for mentoring and coaching through our professional teams. I believe therefore that this programme and others aimed at advancing our women will go a long way towards the realisation of the broader vision of the provincial government. It is very imperative that everyone involved in advancement of the women struggle should ensure that every woman is free because if our women are not free then the nation is not free. Malibongwe igama lamakhosikazi!! Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
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