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15 August 2008

South Africa's acute skills shortage is hampering women's upward mobility into senior management positions in the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG). "This is a great concern for us and this is not good enough in terms of our targets," Premier Mbhazima Shilowa told guests at this year's Business Woman of the Year Awards held in Kempton Park.

"But, we will make sure that this issue is addressed and we call upon the Businesswomen's Association of South Africa (BWASA) to assist government to reach their targets," he said. "It is good that we have women (successful) entrepreneurs but more effort is needed from your organisation BWASA to engage with government on a variety of issues," he said.

A Public Service Commission report on the state of the public service released earlier this year says only 33% of all senior management positions in the GPG are filled by women. The target was to have 50% of all senior management vacancies occupied by women by the end of 2008. However, it was not all doom and gloom.

"Out of a total of fourteen mayors, Gauteng has employed a total of eight female mayors," he said. The 28th edition of the Business Women of the Year annual awards, which recognise top businesswomen achievers, took place on Thursday 14 August at the Emperor's Palace.

Shilowa added that the emancipation of women had come a long way and this could be furthered if women intensified the fight against challenges such as sexual abuse, poverty and skills shortages.

"For far too long men have been standing on the shoulders of women," he added, "it is about time that women get more involved in changing legislation and government policies to be more sensitive to gender issues," said the Gauteng Premier.

He also urged successful female entrepreneurs to mentor aspirant business women so that all sectors of society could succeed in business.

The challenge therefore, he explained, still remains for the BWASA to empower women living in the rural areas and those on the periphery of poverty.

The Business Woman of the Year award in the entrepreneurship category went to Chichi Maponya, the current Director and Personal Assistant (PA) to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the Maponya Group, Richard Maponya.

She is responsible for all business activities of Maponya Group and its subsidiaries, management, growth and diversification strategy. She is also the founder and Managing Director (MD) of Mathari Resources, a women owned company focusing on mining, procurement and commodities trading.

The Business Woman of the Year award in the corporate category went to Mardia van der Walt Korsten, the CEO of T Systems SA. In 2006 Mardia was appointed as CEO for T Systems SA, the first woman to ever hold this position within the T Systems International Group.

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
15 August 2008
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.gpg.gov.za)