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PRETORIA - The National Department of Public Works has set aside R45 million worth of building/construction projects specifically targeting women-owned businesses in Mpumalanga as part of its initiative to economically empower women in construction industry.

Called the Strategic Empowerment Programme for Women in Construction, the R142 million programme was launched to the nation by the Minister of Public Works, Ms Stella Sigcau on 9 August 2001 at Uitenhage during Women's day Celebrations.

Tenders valued at more than R45 million were at various stages of finalisation for 9 government contracts at Jepee's Reef Boarder Post, Witbank, Mahamba, Komatipoort, Standerton, Wakkerstroom, Morgenzon, Hendrina and Malelane.

Even before the announcement of the women empowerment programme, the Public Works Regional Office in Nelspruit had started awarding other service contracts to women.

This financial year alone, projects in excess of R3 million had already been awarded to service companies owned by women in Mpumalanga notably SJ Enterprises and Mufhi Construction for maintenance of kitchen equipment and boilers respectively.

Announcing about 40 projects nation-wide, worth R142 million and targeting Women Business Enterprises, Minister Sigcau said, "the R34 billion a year construction industry is a national asset, playing a vital role in the realisation of reconstruction and development targets.

"Government through its procurement muscle, is the largest consumer (more than 40%) of the industry's annual output", concluded the Minister.

Strategic Empowerment Programme is an extension of the Strategic Projects Initiative (SPI) launched by the Department of Public Works in May 1998 as part of the Department's Affirmative Procurement Policy.

SPI aimed to accelerate the graduation of blacks from a sub-contractor to a prime contractor level on government construction contracts above R5 million. Projects with a combined contract value of R600 million were identified under the SPI.

To date SPI has delivered some of the successful multi-million rand projects using blacks as prime contractors, including:

* R84 million Kokstad Medium Security Prison, KwaZulu Natal
* R24 million St Albans Prison Production Workshop, Eastern Cape
* R11 million Botshabelo Magistrate Court, Free State
* R8 million Butterworth Police Station, Eastern Cape

On the other hand, the Strategic Economic Empowerment Programme will accelerate the development and capacity of women-owned businesses to execute large-scale government contracts.

Since becoming the Minister of Public Works, Ms Sigcau has championed tirelessly for the advancement of women in construction as part of an overall strategy of construction industry development - to grow, develop and transform the industry.

Contact: Lucky Mochalibane at 012 337 2057, 082 899 9775 or Mr. R Maselesele at 013 755 1466, 082 887 1281

Issued by Department of Public Works

13 September 2001