A soon to be signed Memorandum of Understanding set to empower women contractors across the country.

The Department of Human Settlements will sign an MoU with South African Women in Construction (SAWIC), department minister Lindiwe Sisulu has announced. “The MoU will be necessary for accreditation of SAWIC as a housing institution, and therefore, it should be given the necessary attention and support,” she said.

The Department of Human Settlements and the SAWIC executive team will establish a programme mainly dedicated to empowerment of women, SAnews.go.za reported. The project is in place and fully funded, and will soon become fully functional.

Mpumalanga, Nomhle Tshaba Nyumba, chairperson of SAWIC in Mpumalanga, told SAnews.gov.za, “I think skills and funding are key to the challenges facing women who pursued career in construction.”

According to Sisulu, the new programme will be implemented in all provinces and municipalities. “All the provinces have a commitment from the head [minister] to address women needs,” she stressed.

“If you want the best man for the job, you get a woman,” said Sisulu.

 

Women and water

In addition, the Minister said she has introduced SAWIC to Water Affairs and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane.

SAWIC has built approximately 5 000 toilets for citizens and Sisulu believes Mokonyane can help empower the organisation to tackle sanitation issues.