Women's Build 2006, a programme that seeks to give women shelter as well as ensure that women play a vital role within the construction industry, was officially launched in Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg ,where 50 houses are being build.

The 50 houses that are being built are in commemoration of the 1956 Women's March, when women put their struggle on the map. Beneficiaries of this project are elderly women over the age of fifty.

Addressing the people on the day the National Minister of Housing Dr. Lindiwe Sisulu said they believe that the effort that they will put in the area of Orange Farm will address the housing backlog in the area.

Sisulu said that they would like to propose that the main beneficiaries' of government subsidized houses are women. "We want to make sure that women are given priorities as we work on our waiting list."

She emphasized that upon dissolution of a marriage between couples they would like to ensure that the women stand to inherit the house. The minister also launched the gender guidelines developed to assist the department of housing and role players in the housing and human settlement sector in mainstreaming gender in day to day activities.

Minister Sisulu says government will never achieve its aim of providing shelter to its people and called on the private sector to help in the provision of houses.

Her counterpart the MEC for Housing in Gauteng Ms Nomvula Mokonyane said the department has resolved to allocate most of its housing development projects to women contractors as part of broader empowerment strategy.

"We are committed to addressing the imbalances so that women can enjoy the same rights as any other citizen. A construction Charter which is being formulated will give women a central role within the male dominated industry," said Mokonyane.

She pleaded with everyone involved in the advancement of women struggle should ensure that every woman is free because if women are not free then the nation is not free.

The Women's Build Project seeks to give women shelter and to make sure that they play a pivotal role within the construction industry. This project aims to position women in the male dominated industry at the same time ensuring that they compete equally with established companies.

Two women contractors Basadi Together and Vukuzibambe are building the houses and are assisted by women volunteers from different organizations. o