The Broad Based Economic Empowerment Commission (B-BBEE Commission) will be hosting its annual event to commemorate Women’s Month through a webinar on Women’s Economic Empowerment on 25 August 2021 at 13:00. Ms Nomalungelo Gina, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition will deliver the keynote address.
2021 marks the 65th anniversary of the 1956 Women’s March as the country pays tribute to the efforts of women who took part in the protest against unjust and exclusionary laws. This year also marks 18th anniversary since the enactment of the B-BBEE Act. The webinar will thus have a sharp focus on accountability mechanisms for holding the public and private sector organisations accountable for the stagnant pace of economic empowerment of women as legislation on B-BBEE and policy dictates.
The 2020 National Status and Trends Report of the B-BBEE Commission shows that black women make up 15% (2019:12%, 2018:10%, 2017:9%) in ownership, a very low state of representation given demographics of South Africa although a slight increase is noted. Representation on boards of JSE listed entities for black women is at 11% (2019:21%, 2018:22%, 2017:18%). The country has regressed in regard to board representation on JSE which continues to be dominated by white people and foreign nationals.
“The statistics are worrisome when one considers the strides made over the past 27 years to put in place mechanisms for the economic empowerment of women in South Africa, in particular black women. In this year of Charlotte Maxeke, we must use this time to assess the causes of this systemic failure to ensure that we not only identify solutions to correct; but to also build on effective foundational prescripts and measures”, said Ms. Nomalungelo Gina, Deputy Minister of the dtic.
The webinar will have varied voices of women leaders and practitioners who will expand on solutions for strengthening accountability systems for women’s economic empowerment to unlock the constraints towards real economic empowerment of black women. Guest speakers include Ms. Polo Leteka, President of Association of Black Securities and Investment Professionals, Dr. Nthabiseng Moleko, Deputy Chairperson of Commission for Gender Equality, and Ms. Namhla Mniki, Deputy Director General in The Presidency.
Issued by Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Commission
Media enquiries:
Mofihli Teleki
Telephone: +27 (12) 394 3515
Mobile: +27 (82) 092 0079
Email: MTeleki@beecommission.gov.za
Website: https://www.bbbeecommission.co.za
The B-BBEE Commission was established in terms of Section 13B of the amended B-BBEE Act No 46 of 2013 and its mandate, amongst others, is to supervise and encourage adherence to the B-BBEE Act in the interest of the public, to promote good governance and accountability by creating an effective and efficient environment for the promotion and implementation of the objectives of broad-based black economic empowerment and to conduct investigations on fronting and other violations of the B-BBEE Act in response to a complaint or on its own initiative.
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