Date: 04/03/2003
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Van Schalkwyk: Western Cape SA Council for Businesswomen
EXTRACT FROM SPEECH BY THE WESTERN CAPE PREMIER, MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK, ADDRESSING THE WESTERN CAPE SA COUNCIL FOR BUSINESSWOMEN, Cape Town, 4 March 2003
IKAPA ELIHLUMAYO: FEEDING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL FLAME
One of the foundations of iKapa eliHlumayo is expanding the ownership of our growing economy and ensuring that more people profit from the success of the Western Cape. It is clear that one of the most important aspects of our provincial economy, which needs support and development, is the extent to which the women of the Western Cape participate in and benefit from our trade, commerce and industry.
The pattern in almost every developing country is that women bear the worst of unemployment. South Africa is no exception with 32,5% of women who could be economically active, currently without work - compared to 26,5% of men. In the Western Cape, 20,9% of women are unemployed compared to 16,6% of men.
Entrepreneurial drive has often been identified as the key to turning the tide of unemployment. South Africa though, trails in this regard, and South African women particularly have poor entrepreneurial prospects. According to the 2002 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), South Africa ranks below the average of entrepreneurial activity when compared to 36 other nations - lowest of all developing countries in the survey. South African women are also only half as likely to start a business, as are their male counterparts.
One of the biggest obstacles to closing the employment gap between men and women in South Africa and in the Western Cape is the need for equal access to educational opportunities. Our Provincial Government is determined to end the gender stereotyping which often occurs in schools - with young girls regularly steered to non-business related training and careers like education, nursing, and social work. Important as these services are, every child in the Western Cape, male or female, must be offered the chance to make the most of their potential. We are particularly determined to improve the maths, science and technology skills of our learners and will therefore be launching, on 10 March, our new Maths, Science, and Technology Academy. We are also pleased that by the end of March almost every school in the province will be linked to the Internet.
Another important barrier to more meaningful and wider-spread business success for women has been the limited access for women to management experience, training and opportunities. This is an area in which Government has a more limited ability to address the problem and where the private sector has the most important role. Clearly it is not sufficient for business to employ more women, but then effectively confine them to the least skilled or lowest paying jobs. It is in this regard which organisations like the SA Council for Businesswomen, and other women's networking organisations have such an important role to play. Pressure must be applied to have companies make more opportunities available for women, and successful role models need to be marketed to young girls as representing their own potential success. Our Provincial Government will also need to lead by example - although women represent more than 63% of our 68 000 pubic servants, they remain concentrated at the lower salary levels, and this is an issue we are determined to rectify.
Perhaps the single most important barrier to expanding the participation and success of women in business is the attitude and approach of society. Stereotypes must be challenged, prospects for raising capital for women to start businesses must be increased, and more must be done to channel new business opportunities to women and companies owned by women. Our Provincial Government has set a target of 40% of provincial contracts to be awarded to Historically Disadvantaged Individuals (HDIs), which also includes women. Last year, we achieved 38% (contracts to the value of R328 million) compared to 26% in 2001. Our Department of Transport and Public Works awarded 255 out of 429 building contracts (above R30 000) to women or companies owned by women, and in the first half of this year Minister Tasneem Essop and her Department will also be hosting a summit for the construction industry at which the issue of the empowerment of women will feature.
IKapa eliHlumayo means growing and developing the Cape, and it is the vehicle through which we will build our World Class Province, which Cares. A critical part of that plan is the increased empowerment of the women of the Western Cape.
Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp on 083-778-9923
Issued by Western Cape Provincial Government
4 March 2003
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Van Schalkwyk: Western Cape SA Council for Businesswomen
EXTRACT FROM SPEECH BY THE WESTERN CAPE PREMIER, MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK, ADDRESSING THE WESTERN CAPE SA COUNCIL FOR BUSINESSWOMEN, Cape Town, 4 March 2003
IKAPA ELIHLUMAYO: FEEDING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL FLAME
One of the foundations of iKapa eliHlumayo is expanding the ownership of our growing economy and ensuring that more people profit from the success of the Western Cape. It is clear that one of the most important aspects of our provincial economy, which needs support and development, is the extent to which the women of the Western Cape participate in and benefit from our trade, commerce and industry.
The pattern in almost every developing country is that women bear the worst of unemployment. South Africa is no exception with 32,5% of women who could be economically active, currently without work - compared to 26,5% of men. In the Western Cape, 20,9% of women are unemployed compared to 16,6% of men.
Entrepreneurial drive has often been identified as the key to turning the tide of unemployment. South Africa though, trails in this regard, and South African women particularly have poor entrepreneurial prospects. According to the 2002 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), South Africa ranks below the average of entrepreneurial activity when compared to 36 other nations - lowest of all developing countries in the survey. South African women are also only half as likely to start a business, as are their male counterparts.
One of the biggest obstacles to closing the employment gap between men and women in South Africa and in the Western Cape is the need for equal access to educational opportunities. Our Provincial Government is determined to end the gender stereotyping which often occurs in schools - with young girls regularly steered to non-business related training and careers like education, nursing, and social work. Important as these services are, every child in the Western Cape, male or female, must be offered the chance to make the most of their potential. We are particularly determined to improve the maths, science and technology skills of our learners and will therefore be launching, on 10 March, our new Maths, Science, and Technology Academy. We are also pleased that by the end of March almost every school in the province will be linked to the Internet.
Another important barrier to more meaningful and wider-spread business success for women has been the limited access for women to management experience, training and opportunities. This is an area in which Government has a more limited ability to address the problem and where the private sector has the most important role. Clearly it is not sufficient for business to employ more women, but then effectively confine them to the least skilled or lowest paying jobs. It is in this regard which organisations like the SA Council for Businesswomen, and other women's networking organisations have such an important role to play. Pressure must be applied to have companies make more opportunities available for women, and successful role models need to be marketed to young girls as representing their own potential success. Our Provincial Government will also need to lead by example - although women represent more than 63% of our 68 000 pubic servants, they remain concentrated at the lower salary levels, and this is an issue we are determined to rectify.
Perhaps the single most important barrier to expanding the participation and success of women in business is the attitude and approach of society. Stereotypes must be challenged, prospects for raising capital for women to start businesses must be increased, and more must be done to channel new business opportunities to women and companies owned by women. Our Provincial Government has set a target of 40% of provincial contracts to be awarded to Historically Disadvantaged Individuals (HDIs), which also includes women. Last year, we achieved 38% (contracts to the value of R328 million) compared to 26% in 2001. Our Department of Transport and Public Works awarded 255 out of 429 building contracts (above R30 000) to women or companies owned by women, and in the first half of this year Minister Tasneem Essop and her Department will also be hosting a summit for the construction industry at which the issue of the empowerment of women will feature.
IKapa eliHlumayo means growing and developing the Cape, and it is the vehicle through which we will build our World Class Province, which Cares. A critical part of that plan is the increased empowerment of the women of the Western Cape.
Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp on 083-778-9923
Issued by Western Cape Provincial Government
4 March 2003
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