Speaker's notes for Limpopo Premier Sello Moloto during the Black Management Forum (BMF) Women of Excellence Awards function, held at the Ranch Hotel, Polokwane

Programme director,
Executive Mayor of Capricorn and Mayor of Polokwane,
Leadership of Black Management Forum (BMF),
Business leaders,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen

It is always a pleasure to take part in events such as these, which aims to celebrate women excellence in society. An occasion like this, presents an opportunity for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, but more importantly, for looking ahead to untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women. In celebrating women's month, it is important that we take a moment to recognise the particular contributions which women have made, in the evolution of our country. All too often, we remember only the horrors and tribulations which women face and forget the many success stories attributed to women. The age in which we live in, is undoubtedly, one characterised by greater ascendance of women to every sphere of human influence. This is what we are here to celebrate.

Gathered here are diverse women of various talents and capabilities, who represent not only individual prowess, but equally, the rich tapestry of our country's landscape. We have in our midst businesswomen, women in the public and private sectors, women in politics, in agriculture, women in academia, and the arts, women in sport as well as women in traditional authorities.

There is obviously a change in circumstances between today's women and those who took part in the 1956 march. For instance, while the women of 1956 had the strong will and passion to fight, today's women have access to opportunities and the instruments which the women of the fifties did not have.

Many of today's women are beneficiaries of government initiated charters, codes of good practice, enabling policies and legislations such the Preferential Procurement Act, Skills Development Act, Employment Equity Act and Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) Act. Of course these pieces of legislation and policy themselves, are a result of women's hard toil and struggle.

Whilst we take pride at the growing number of women and black business people in the province who are succeeding beyond limits, we believe that, a lot more still needs to be done to transform the gender and the racial structure of the South African economy in particular. The fact that our economy is not yet fully representative of the majority of the people of our country, thirteen years after freedom, points to the enormous challenges that still lie ahead of us. In seeking to address these challenges, we obviously, have to take into consideration dimensions such as gender, race, class, geographic location and age group. These have a bearing on whether we succeed or not in making a dent on the well being of women and men in our society.

Obviously, one of the challenges facing us as a nation is the fact that, there are no enough women and black executive managers and directors in management echelons of most companies.

The Businesswomen Association (BWA), 2007 census, (South African Women in Corporate Leadership), paints a dim picture but also an optimistic outlook of women representation in the corporate ladders of our country. It notes for instance, an increase from 11,5% in women directorships, in 2006, to 13,1% this year. More spectacular in performance, has been the representative of State Owned Enterprises (SOEs), which increased their women directorships from 31,3% in 2006 to 35,2 % in 2007. We cannot be surprised at the performance of SOEs in women representation, as these mirrors on the successes already achieved in the public service in this regard.

However, while women make up 51% of the country's adult population and 42,9% of the working population, they constitute just over 19,2% of all executive managers and only 13,1% of directorships in the country. What is even more worrisome is the lack of movement within JSE listed companies where women representatively on the boards of these companies have remained constant since 2006.

Programme director

The potential for women and black people to succeed in the economy has always been there. Needless to mention that, the economic boom that our country is experiencing at the moment is to a large part, due to the expanding black middle class and a surge in consumer demand. This increasing rise in demand is a major attraction for investors, both domestic and international. It suggests that black professionals and managers have become such a critical success factor in maintaining the economic growth that we have, and also in transforming industries.

In order to harness our strength and to sustain this growth, one of the things that this rising black middle class need to do, is to invest long term, i.e. in fixed and human capital as opposed to portfolio investment that can be withdrawn easily when better opportunities arise elsewhere.

However, some of you may not know that, contrary to widely held beliefs, it is often the small-survivalist business sectors that hold a huge potential for creating jobs and fighting poverty. All over the world, there is ample evidence to show that the labour absorptive capacity of the small business sector is growing and higher than that of the formal industrial sectors. We know that it is usually the rural and uneducated women who constitute the backbone of this sector through informal trade. Many of these women are established in small enterprises like catering, arts and craft, fruit and vegetable vending businesses, which are mostly found in outlying areas and taxi ranks. These are the kinds of women we must uplift and empower, so that they can create the jobs that we need and contribute to growth of the economy.

We implore on all corporate citizens, who ever they may be, to play a role in uplifting women, by ensuring significant black ownership and representation in all relevant sectors of the economy. In this regard, we must congratulate those of you who are already succeeding in doing this.

You should be aware of concerted efforts that are being made by our government, to impress upon learners to take up mathematics and physical science subjects in schools. Our primary aim has always been to try and help out these learners to enter the technical, managerial and commercial professions in their numbers, so that we gradually transform the racial and gender skewedness of our economy.

At the same time, it will still be important for those of you who are established in various business ventures to expose the magnitude of these young people and girls, in mentorship's, internships and learnership programmes. Already the provincial government has begun partnering with organisations such as the Girls Education Movement (GEM) to see to it that more girls are exposed to the world of work. Our belief is that these programmes can go a long way in facilitating the intensive acquisition and transference of hands-on skills in the labour market.

BMF and government must remain partners, so that, women and black people can be empowered to play their deserved role in the economy. We have come this far working together, and together we can make a difference.

Congratulations to all women winners who have been nominated for tonight's awards. You're our true heroines. May God bless you to continue achieving greatness wherever you go.

I thank you

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Limpopo Provincial Government
26 August 2007