Date: 23/08/2004
Source: Ministry of Communications
Title: I Matsepe-Casaburri: Launch of WICT Portal & breakfast in celebration of women achievements in ICT
SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS, DR. IVY MATSEPE-CASABURRI, AT THE LAUNCH OF THE WICT PORTAL AND BREAKFAST IN CELEBRATION OF WOMEN ACHIEVEMENTS IN ICT, Sandton, Johannesburg, 23 August 2004
IT is a tremendous pleasure and honour for me to have this opportunity to address you today. You, the women who are pioneers in the Information and Communication Technology Sector have laid a remarkable foundation for this generation. I know that the legacy you will leave will be as rich and as daring.
August is the month when we celebrate and become inspired anew by the lives and experiences of the women who dared to believe in their right to freedom; the extraordinary women who challenged the limiting social and cultural dictates of the time.
When the women marched onto the Union Buildings - then, a symbol and bastion for the oppression of our people, the African majority, they were in fact, opening the door for all women to know that it was right to be involved in the struggle and support the national effort towards liberty and freedom. This year we celebrate 10 years of democracy.
It is fitting that we thank the many named and unnamed shoulders that we were able to stand upon in our quest for freedom. We salute the significant contributions of varying kinds that our women and indeed our men made and are still making today, in the monumental task of rebuilding our society.
The WICT Portal that we are launching today, represents yet another milestone in the effort to improve the lives of women. What the portal attempts to do is to marshal the loads of information that is available on the Internet. It acts as a "postman" to collect and organise the material in a manner that will serve the needs of the various categories of women. Students, career women, women employees and employers will find the portal very useful in satisfying their information needs. Of particular significance is the fact that the portal will broaden the resource and knowledge base of SMMEs.
We are looking forward to the time when you will be implementing your second and third phases. The important thing about the portal is that it should be able to meet the critical needs of women in the essential areas of knowledge dissemination. The portal should serve as a nucleus of support and nurturing of women in ICT.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to you.
We are also gathered here today to reminisce upon and recall with honour and pride the contribution that our women achievers have made to the sector. The actual ceremony to recognise them, I believe will be held later in the year. We know that the road to success has not been an easy one; but it is through your extreme focus, tenacity, passion and dedication that you have achieved success and lived your vision in ICT.
I say well done to everyone. Everyone in this room is an achiever, purely by virtue of being a player and by engaging in this hi-tech sector. I say well done to all the women in the industry. Having said that, allow me the prerogative to make a special mention of people like Lyndall Shope-Mafole, who was the first African, never mind African, she was the first woman, to chair the International Telecommunications Union and she is also a Commissioner of the eAfrica NEPAD Commission. We have other ICT stars like Xolisa Kakane, Sebiletso Mokone-Matabane, CEO of Sentech, Thobeka Mirriam Zwane, co-owner and director of Praxis Computing and many others.
Yes, much has happened to improve our lives. And yes, much still needs to be done. The face of women's oppression has not completely disappeared. We still have problems with access, with opportunities and with availability of knowledge and expertise.
But there is a new story beginning to be told; there is a new paradigm shift in progress. "Paradigm" simply means pattern from the Greek word paradeigma. The pattern is used to cut the cloth from which the garment is to be made. It dictates how to assemble the various parts that will go in to make up the garment. It constitutes the rules and regulations for sewing the garment. In order to change the garment or to accommodate changes in the wearer such as size, weight and height, in new pattern must be made.
It follows that when the pattern of attitudes, thoughts and behaviours change, we talk of a paradigm shift. The paradigm in our societal and cultural sense has shifted and it is now up to us to adapt to the new reality that we must sew into the leadership fabric of our life as a nation and as women, women in information and communication technology.
I am proud, I congratulate you that you are redesigning the pattern of women's participation in the ICT industry.
Turning now to the ICT sector itself, there is a lilting tune that is growing louder and louder; that says, "where are the women? Where are the women?" Let me address this question from a wider perspective.
In the wake of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) whose first phase was held last December in Geneva, the Economic Commission for Africa's (ECA) African Information Society Initiative demonstrated the results of efforts carried out in over thirty countries to formulate or implement National Information and Communication Initiatives (NICI) also known as E-strategies.
These strategies constitute a country's policy and vision for transforming itself into an information society where the information and communication technologies (ICT's) are integrated across sectors and contribute to better governance and poverty alleviation. A powerful message that emanated from this initiative was that, "even from the highest political levels in all participating countries, citizen participation was found to be a key to building a foundation for ushering in a country into the information age. Yet, in spite of better connectivity, deregulation and liberalisation of telecom monopolies, the question of women's' inclusion remains either marginal or invisible".
The countries participating in the project did not always have gender equity as an objective and as a result it was difficult to come up with meaningful data collection and analysis of gender and ICT's. The assumption being made was that the benefits of the information age would somehow trickle down to women. We are then left with no doubt that the objectives of ICT projects and research should increase women's access to the use of ICT's, promote women's rights to expression and communication through ICT's and monitor progress towards gender equality in the area of ICT's.
E-strategies need to go beyond the good intention of "recognising the importance of increasing women's access". Allocation of resources is key. It is also crucial to focus on removing institutionalised systemic barriers that inhibit women from participating in the information society. "Cultural practices that turn women into second class citizens and that inhibit women from taking their rightful and equal place in society, thus preventing them from attaining educational opportunities or science and technology based opportunities are just as critical today as they were a decade ago". These are the conclusions made by the study.
Our response, as Government, to the issue of making possible a more equitable participation of the greater majority of the people, including women, in the wider economy, is to say that we recognise the importance of ICT's in enabling us to reach our developmental goals and objectives and also to enhance our participation in the global information society. As Government we believe in creating equitable access to information and in empowering communities through access to communication infrastructure and skills development.
As you well know and are informed the process of formulating Charters for each of the sectors in the economy is very much a part of the spirit to achieve meaningful Black Economic Empowerment. And so likewise we in the ICT Sector, have made excellent progress in the formulation of a Charter for the industry. It is my very great expectation that we shall soon have a finalised document.
It is no secret that the participation in this sector, of the greater majority of the people is extremely negligible. We must therefore, see to it that we increase the participation levels of the majority, as well as that of women and the disabled. The Charter has several indicators for transformation, which can translate into a number of things that women can do in answer to the question "where are the women?"
Opportunities exist in the sphere of equity ownership. Women themselves must make strenuous efforts to increase their ownership and control of ICT entities. I know we can, and I know we have the ability and the zeal to play a significant part as owners and entrepreneurs.
Challenge and opportunity can be found in taking advantage and vigorously pursuing management development programmes which will help to overcome the scarcity of women and senior managers in the sector. The industry SETA Learnerships provide an excellent opportunity for training, especially for those young women who are interested in entering and working in the sector. Those of you are already working in ICT must seek out mentorship and nurturing professional relationships within the sector. We grow strong when we have someone who holds our hands.
Procurement has been identified as a perfect window of opportunity for women, especially. Women must determine to explore all possibilities and opportunities here.
I want to encourage you to prepare and position yourselves timeously so that you that you take the opportunities that will arise from the Charter process. Allow me, in closing, to express the view that the commonality of women's struggles throughout the world must not be allowed to overwhelm us. Instead, we must look upon this broad canvass of women's experiences, as a picture that becomes our source of strength and hope every time we contemplate upon it. As women engaged in this hi-tech area you are not accidents, or freaks or flukes. You did not just stumble into the sector. Remain confident. You as WICT are an exciting part of the historical legacy that we the people of this country are crafting not only for ourselves, but most importantly for our children, for the future.
Let me also say that your response to the President's Call to women "to get out of the kitchen, take off their aprons and get involved in national development issues" is a brave and courageous one. Well done, Women in Information and Communication Technology.
Thank You
Issued by: Department of Communications
23 August 2004
Source: Ministry of Communications
Title: I Matsepe-Casaburri: Launch of WICT Portal & breakfast in celebration of women achievements in ICT
SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS, DR. IVY MATSEPE-CASABURRI, AT THE LAUNCH OF THE WICT PORTAL AND BREAKFAST IN CELEBRATION OF WOMEN ACHIEVEMENTS IN ICT, Sandton, Johannesburg, 23 August 2004
IT is a tremendous pleasure and honour for me to have this opportunity to address you today. You, the women who are pioneers in the Information and Communication Technology Sector have laid a remarkable foundation for this generation. I know that the legacy you will leave will be as rich and as daring.
August is the month when we celebrate and become inspired anew by the lives and experiences of the women who dared to believe in their right to freedom; the extraordinary women who challenged the limiting social and cultural dictates of the time.
When the women marched onto the Union Buildings - then, a symbol and bastion for the oppression of our people, the African majority, they were in fact, opening the door for all women to know that it was right to be involved in the struggle and support the national effort towards liberty and freedom. This year we celebrate 10 years of democracy.
It is fitting that we thank the many named and unnamed shoulders that we were able to stand upon in our quest for freedom. We salute the significant contributions of varying kinds that our women and indeed our men made and are still making today, in the monumental task of rebuilding our society.
The WICT Portal that we are launching today, represents yet another milestone in the effort to improve the lives of women. What the portal attempts to do is to marshal the loads of information that is available on the Internet. It acts as a "postman" to collect and organise the material in a manner that will serve the needs of the various categories of women. Students, career women, women employees and employers will find the portal very useful in satisfying their information needs. Of particular significance is the fact that the portal will broaden the resource and knowledge base of SMMEs.
We are looking forward to the time when you will be implementing your second and third phases. The important thing about the portal is that it should be able to meet the critical needs of women in the essential areas of knowledge dissemination. The portal should serve as a nucleus of support and nurturing of women in ICT.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to you.
We are also gathered here today to reminisce upon and recall with honour and pride the contribution that our women achievers have made to the sector. The actual ceremony to recognise them, I believe will be held later in the year. We know that the road to success has not been an easy one; but it is through your extreme focus, tenacity, passion and dedication that you have achieved success and lived your vision in ICT.
I say well done to everyone. Everyone in this room is an achiever, purely by virtue of being a player and by engaging in this hi-tech sector. I say well done to all the women in the industry. Having said that, allow me the prerogative to make a special mention of people like Lyndall Shope-Mafole, who was the first African, never mind African, she was the first woman, to chair the International Telecommunications Union and she is also a Commissioner of the eAfrica NEPAD Commission. We have other ICT stars like Xolisa Kakane, Sebiletso Mokone-Matabane, CEO of Sentech, Thobeka Mirriam Zwane, co-owner and director of Praxis Computing and many others.
Yes, much has happened to improve our lives. And yes, much still needs to be done. The face of women's oppression has not completely disappeared. We still have problems with access, with opportunities and with availability of knowledge and expertise.
But there is a new story beginning to be told; there is a new paradigm shift in progress. "Paradigm" simply means pattern from the Greek word paradeigma. The pattern is used to cut the cloth from which the garment is to be made. It dictates how to assemble the various parts that will go in to make up the garment. It constitutes the rules and regulations for sewing the garment. In order to change the garment or to accommodate changes in the wearer such as size, weight and height, in new pattern must be made.
It follows that when the pattern of attitudes, thoughts and behaviours change, we talk of a paradigm shift. The paradigm in our societal and cultural sense has shifted and it is now up to us to adapt to the new reality that we must sew into the leadership fabric of our life as a nation and as women, women in information and communication technology.
I am proud, I congratulate you that you are redesigning the pattern of women's participation in the ICT industry.
Turning now to the ICT sector itself, there is a lilting tune that is growing louder and louder; that says, "where are the women? Where are the women?" Let me address this question from a wider perspective.
In the wake of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) whose first phase was held last December in Geneva, the Economic Commission for Africa's (ECA) African Information Society Initiative demonstrated the results of efforts carried out in over thirty countries to formulate or implement National Information and Communication Initiatives (NICI) also known as E-strategies.
These strategies constitute a country's policy and vision for transforming itself into an information society where the information and communication technologies (ICT's) are integrated across sectors and contribute to better governance and poverty alleviation. A powerful message that emanated from this initiative was that, "even from the highest political levels in all participating countries, citizen participation was found to be a key to building a foundation for ushering in a country into the information age. Yet, in spite of better connectivity, deregulation and liberalisation of telecom monopolies, the question of women's' inclusion remains either marginal or invisible".
The countries participating in the project did not always have gender equity as an objective and as a result it was difficult to come up with meaningful data collection and analysis of gender and ICT's. The assumption being made was that the benefits of the information age would somehow trickle down to women. We are then left with no doubt that the objectives of ICT projects and research should increase women's access to the use of ICT's, promote women's rights to expression and communication through ICT's and monitor progress towards gender equality in the area of ICT's.
E-strategies need to go beyond the good intention of "recognising the importance of increasing women's access". Allocation of resources is key. It is also crucial to focus on removing institutionalised systemic barriers that inhibit women from participating in the information society. "Cultural practices that turn women into second class citizens and that inhibit women from taking their rightful and equal place in society, thus preventing them from attaining educational opportunities or science and technology based opportunities are just as critical today as they were a decade ago". These are the conclusions made by the study.
Our response, as Government, to the issue of making possible a more equitable participation of the greater majority of the people, including women, in the wider economy, is to say that we recognise the importance of ICT's in enabling us to reach our developmental goals and objectives and also to enhance our participation in the global information society. As Government we believe in creating equitable access to information and in empowering communities through access to communication infrastructure and skills development.
As you well know and are informed the process of formulating Charters for each of the sectors in the economy is very much a part of the spirit to achieve meaningful Black Economic Empowerment. And so likewise we in the ICT Sector, have made excellent progress in the formulation of a Charter for the industry. It is my very great expectation that we shall soon have a finalised document.
It is no secret that the participation in this sector, of the greater majority of the people is extremely negligible. We must therefore, see to it that we increase the participation levels of the majority, as well as that of women and the disabled. The Charter has several indicators for transformation, which can translate into a number of things that women can do in answer to the question "where are the women?"
Opportunities exist in the sphere of equity ownership. Women themselves must make strenuous efforts to increase their ownership and control of ICT entities. I know we can, and I know we have the ability and the zeal to play a significant part as owners and entrepreneurs.
Challenge and opportunity can be found in taking advantage and vigorously pursuing management development programmes which will help to overcome the scarcity of women and senior managers in the sector. The industry SETA Learnerships provide an excellent opportunity for training, especially for those young women who are interested in entering and working in the sector. Those of you are already working in ICT must seek out mentorship and nurturing professional relationships within the sector. We grow strong when we have someone who holds our hands.
Procurement has been identified as a perfect window of opportunity for women, especially. Women must determine to explore all possibilities and opportunities here.
I want to encourage you to prepare and position yourselves timeously so that you that you take the opportunities that will arise from the Charter process. Allow me, in closing, to express the view that the commonality of women's struggles throughout the world must not be allowed to overwhelm us. Instead, we must look upon this broad canvass of women's experiences, as a picture that becomes our source of strength and hope every time we contemplate upon it. As women engaged in this hi-tech area you are not accidents, or freaks or flukes. You did not just stumble into the sector. Remain confident. You as WICT are an exciting part of the historical legacy that we the people of this country are crafting not only for ourselves, but most importantly for our children, for the future.
Let me also say that your response to the President's Call to women "to get out of the kitchen, take off their aprons and get involved in national development issues" is a brave and courageous one. Well done, Women in Information and Communication Technology.
Thank You
Issued by: Department of Communications
23 August 2004
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