Dept celebrates business women

Friday, August 28, 2015

Pretoria – Women empowerment is at the top of the Department of Small Business Development’s agenda.

“We are convinced that the economic empowerment of women will help us win the war against poverty, inequality, unemployment and abuse,” Minister of Small Business Development Lindiwe Zulu said in Pretoria on Friday.

Minister Zulu said women and youth-owned enterprises had been allocated R30 million each in the current financial year. The funding for women will assist enterprises in acquiring critical assets and equipment required to grow and expand their business operations.

The department on Friday celebrated business women who had succeeded against all odds over the last 21 years. Women in key leadership positions in business, government, civil society and academia attended the celebration for women.

Business woman, Lungile Shandu attributed the success of her business to vigorously seeking business opportunities.

Shandu owns Exhibit Training and Development which conducts Information and Communications Technology (ICT) training, networking and business compliance.

Her company has trained about 3000 learners in ICTs, 60 percent of which have found employment.

Director General in the Department of Women Jenny Schreiner encouraged women to think big.

“We need to step up to the plate as women. In the oceans economy what is the space for women to be able to take our place in aquaculture, in ship building, let’s not think small, let’s think big.

“We need to become increasingly organised as women to utilise the opportunities that are available for women,” Schreiner said.

Ougoing Shanduka Group CEO Phuti Mahanyele called on women to utilise opportunities that are available to them.

“There are over 300 organisations in South Africa that offer bursaries … please let’s use those opportunities to get educated,” Mahanyele said.

Minister Zulu said government remained concerned at the continued exclusion and under-representation of women at executive level in the private sector.

“Those who are committed to building a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa must be outraged at the continued exclusion of women and the slow pace at which transformation is taking place in corporate South Africa,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za