PRESENTATION TO PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON WOMEN IN THE PRESIDENCY SONA 2017

Introduction The President’s State of the Nation Address had a significant number of areas of significance to be welcome from a gender mainstreaming perspective. Also, a number of areas of concern, from the CGE’s point of view, which include the following:

Introduction Revitalisation of agriculture and agro-processing value-adding Advancing beneficiation value-adding to our mineral wealth: The potential of SMMES and cooperatives, township and rural enterprises Addressing wage disparities between white households and black households Addressing the pace of transformation in the work place (especially affirmative action) and in the home,

Areas Significant for Gender Mainstreaming Revitalisation of agriculture and agro-processing value-adding: this is of critical importance in supporting women’s economic empowerment in the agricultural sector. Women are already highly involved in this area as far workers or through farm worker households Advancing beneficiation value-adding to our mineral wealth: another area of prospective benefits for women in the mining sector as per stated government policy and through the revisions in the Mining Charter Unlocking the potential of SMMES and cooperatives, township and rural enterprises: this is a welcome area of the government’s 9-Point Plan as it prioritises an area of economic activity (i.e. small enterprises) which could benefit women-headed enterprises through strong government support (through the Ministry of Small Business Development)

National Minimum Wage Crucial for low-paid, unskilled workers, among whom are large numbers of women who tend to be poorly paid compared to male workers doing the same types of jobs.

Independent Power producer Programme Focus will be on coal, gas and renewable energy This initiative seeks to promote and encourage the emergency/growth of independent power producers in the country’s energy sector, and this is an important area full of prospects for women entrepreneurs. The Commission encourages the government to pursue this programme, and ensure that potential women entrepreneurs are identified, targeted and supported through clear incentives. The Commission also encourages government to set specific quotas to encourage the emergence of women entrepreneurs it his sector which is currently largely dominated by males.

Water Management While the President did not specify how women are to be targeted through this programme, we hope that the municipalities will be encouraged to ensure that at least 50% of this number will be allocated to young women beneficiaries. Programmes such as Working for Water, Working for Fire and Working for Ecosystems, through which 60% unemployed youth will be targeted to benefit through employment, we hope that young women will also be targeted through these programme initiatives.

New Priorities 2017 Government intention to Radically transform the Economy Addressing wage disparities between white households and black households (–such disparities also exist between men and women, including between male-headed and female-headed households in the country) Addressing the pace of transformation in the work place (especially affirmative action) and in the home (The Commission welcomes the acknowledgement by Government to deal with inequality)

Legislation The Commission welcomes the commitments of the state, using various levers and instruments such as legislation, Economic Empowerment Charters, the Budget, BBBEE regulations, etc., will push for transformation at the top managerial echelons of the economy, especially the private sector, to encourage not only greater racial, but also gender, representation. For instance, the President referred to the new regulations that will make it compulsory for Big Contractors for government projects to sub-contract 30% of the business to small black-owned enterprises. While the President did not specify quotas as an option to ensure that female-headed enterprises are also targeted, we hope that women entrepreneurs will be targeted and prioritised in this regard.

Land Reform and Land Restitution The Commission welcomes government’s intention to accelerate its programme of transferring land to blacks. The Commission hopes that government will put in place checks and balances to ensure that women are targeted, unlike in previous land reform initiatives where women tended to lose out due to gender–blind land reform approaches.

Women Ownership in ICT Sector Government will support SMEs owned by women and the youth, especially in the ICT sector The Commission welcomes this initiative.

Commercialisation Programme Government support a commercialisation programme that seeks to support 450 black smallholder farmers. Women are encouraged to become farmers and take advantage of this programme. The Commission welcomes the initiative, and encourages government to ensure that women are targeted through appropriate incentive schemes and support programmes.

Conclusion The Commission welcomes the commitment that government will continue to prioritise the empowerment of women in all government programmes, including promoting women’s access to greater economic opportunities, business financing and credit.

HAVE A GENDER RELATED COMPLAINT ???? Thank You HAVE A GENDER RELATED COMPLAINT ???? REPORT IT TO 0800 007 709 Twitter Handle @CGEinfo Facebook: Gender Commission of South Africa