Empower women, transform the nation

18 August 2015

 

The City of Johannesburg’s inaugural five-day Women’s Entrepreneurship Week currently under way at the Joburg Theatre in Braamfontein is meant to “give women in the city wings to fly”.

 

Addressing the first day of the event – which forms part of the City’s National Women’s Month activities – on Monday August 17, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development Councillor Nonceba Molwele said it was only through getting women to be in control of their destiny that true empowerment could be achieved.

 

“Hundreds of women have registered for the City’s Young Women’s Programme in six regions. I want to see that number double by August next year so the City can reach out to as many women as possible.

 

“It’s only through empowering women that we can accelerate economic transformation in the city, province and country,” MMC Molwele said.

 

In a first for the City, budding women entrepreneurs will throughout the week debate against each other on five entrepreneurship-related issues – creative arts, construction, energy, health and professional services. Winners of each category will be announced at a prize-giving ceremony on Friday August 21.

 

Pilisiwe Twala-Tau, the wife of Executive Mayor Councillor Parks Tau, will deliver the keynote address ahead of the prize-giving.

On Monday she fielded questions from participants such as how to register a non-governmental organisation and how to access funding from the Department of Social Development. In her speech, MMC Molwele said the City had come up with a two-pronged approach to gender-mainstreaming and women empowerment.

 

One of the participants was Suraya Patel of Lenasia, who runs Jabulani Bafazi, an organisation that seeks to empower women and offer counselling to victims of abuse and rape. Patel also offers HIV-Aids counselling.

 

“We also offer courses on cooking, baking and health spa treatment as part of our skills development programme,” said Patel.