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31 August 2007

Programme Director
Honourable Deputy President
Honourable ministers
Distinguished guests
Captains of the Energy and Minerals Industries
Ladies and gentlemen

Malibongwe! Igama lamakhosikazi! Our sectoral march today is indeed historic. It marks the first centenary of the women's official participation in the mining industry. It is not an accident of history that it also takes in August, the national women's month. This month also marks the 51st anniversary of the great Women's March of 1956. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all on an occasion that coincides with these significant milestones for women in our beloved country.

Programme Director; allow me to take this opportunity to also welcome in our midst, the Women's Progressive Dialogue, an organisation created to promote dialogue amongst women. As a department we commit to form strategic partnership with you in shaping and developing the women agenda going forward.

Today's event would be incomplete without acknowledging those who pioneered women empowerment in the energy and minerals sectors. My predecessors with the able assistance of the Director-General gave meaning to the ideals enshrined in the Freedom Charter which culminated in the elaboration of the Mining Charter. Their leadership and management of these two crucial sectors of our economy has silenced the doomsayers and earned our country kudos as a safe and preferred investment destination.

The Deputy President was instrumental in the formation of the South African Women in Mining Association (Sawima) and the Women in Oil and Energy South Africa (Woesa). These organisations that strive to champion the participation of women in the energy and mining sectors have since grown from strength to strength despite some setbacks that were experienced in the past.

We need to build on the firm foundation created by our progressive policies and accelerate not only the transformation of the energy and minerals sectors but also fast track the participation of women in the mainstream of all sectors of our economy. We still have a challenge to realise the Freedom Charter's injunction that, "the people shall share in the country's wealth".

When the liquid fuels charter was agreed to by parties, there was great enthusiasm that a standard bearer had been created for women to be able to participate in the liquid fuels sector. To develop skills and prepare women for participation, we even created in partnership with the oil industry institutions such as Sadsa. I must say however that progress with regards to women participation is seriously worrying. I am not at all impressed with progress that has been made in this sector. I do hope however that the issue will be raised sharply at the upcoming Energy Summit that will take place next month.

With the advent of the Mining Charter, specific provisions were made for the inclusion of women and the youth in core mining activities. Since compliance with the mining charter is part of the licence condition, opportunities for women participation were opened for a sprinkling of women pioneers in the mining industry. Women are the backbone of families and communities. Their contribution to our economy is very significant. Women are central to our second economy. Poverty eradication and a shared and equitable growth of our economy cannot be attained outside of women participation and empowerment.

The mining and liquid fuels charters are very specific that procurement is one of the key pillars of our economic transformation trajectory. The poor record of procurement in affirming the previously disadvantaged in general and leveraging women empowerment in particular, leaves much to be desired.

According to a study that was commissioned to consider the progress made by women in the past ten years, the following salient points deserve mentioning:

1. Women in mining as a percentage of the workforce

Whilst generally mining companies are having plans and strategies to attract women in compliance with their mining licences, there is a broader challenge of attracting and retaining of skills. The question we would need to ask ourselves is whether the targets set in the charters would be achieved.

2. Beneficiation

During the past 10 years, we have witnessed a rise in the number of women projects, as well as broader participation in beneficiation related projects. The growth in Kgabane in a way attests to that. However there is a lot of room for improvement in the arena of our minerals beneficiation, given the massive potential for job creation and skills development.

3. Quality of deals

Many of the deals involving women also left much to be desired. We still see deals which are lopsided in favour of men and this is seriously problematic. Moreover, the Employment Equity Report of 2006 that was released recently clearly indicates that "despite some inroads being made on women participation, African women still lag behind. This matter needs to be sorted out as a matter of urgency. My other worry is fronting that is taking place. This virus is eating at the heart or moral fibre of society and has to stop."

4. Safety record of the mining industry

As I have said on many occasions, I am not happy at all with the safety performance of the mining industry. I wish to state for the record that the lives of mineworkers are priceless and we should all commit to turn the tide in the war against indifference to mineworkers who die or get injured on the mines which produce billions, and in the process make millions for a limited few. I reiterate that Chief Executive Officers of mining houses must and shall remain responsible for the welfare, safety and health of their workers as demanded by law, because it is the right thing to do. Our safety campaign is going to intensify until we have ridden the industry of certain tolerances, especially when technology and research opportunities and possibilities present themselves.

5. Access to capital

Access to finance presents probably one of major challenges facing women in particular and Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) companies in general, in both the mining and energy sectors. More often, I meet a number of companies who have identified opportunities but are unable to take advantage of them owing to lack of funds due to lack of funds. Much as this a government wide problem, I wish to also indicate that established players in these sectors have a role to play. As players in the sector, you have committed when the charters were signed to provide or facilitate capital, so as to leapfrog the previously marginalised players into the mainstream of the economy.

Within the mining industry, finance facilities such as Anglo Zimela, and many others are appreciated and we urge other mining companies to create many more such facilities. There is a role for BEE companies that are today empowered must to do their bit to help others.

Next month, the department will convene the Energy Summit with a view to lifting up lessons learnt with the implementation of energy policies in the past years. The Energy Summit would serve as an input, on areas in our Energy White Paper that require review. Power outages, petrol shortages and infrastructure constraints will also come under sharp focus. The extent to which women have benefited from the energy policy interventions that were implemented in the past years, will also feature at the Energy Summit. I want to urge all of you, to contribute to this process in a constructive manner and help shape the outcomes of the summit.

The commitments enshrined in the pledges that we make must seriously translate into action plans. I expect the existing tripartite structures will develop action plans to give effect to these, lest we be judged for having engaged in some talk shops.

Last but not least, I have a simple message to all women in our second decade of freedom. Now more than ever before, women must unite. Let us take strength and derive hope from the adage that a candle does not lose its light when it lights another. The shared light of the two candles or more of them shed a brighter glow. Our families, our communities, our country, our continent and the world look forward to the glow of women for economic development, prosperity and peace. Let us continue to march together in unity for a better life.

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Minerals and Energy
31 August 2007
Source: Department of Minerals and Energy (http://www.dme.gov.za)