Addressing the South African Women in Construction (SAWIC) policy conference, Minister of Human Settlements Lindiwe Sisulu announced that 30% of all human settlements projects with a rand value of over R35 billion of the R150 billion projected budget over five years will be awarded to companies and cooperatives owned by women.
To assist women cooperatives and companies in accessing this allocation, the National Department of Human Settlements has set up a Women in Construction Support Branch, headed a Deputy Director General dedicated to coordinating capacity development and general support to women in community infrastructure construction. “We are committed to supporting women and youth, our provinces and municipalities will also set up offices to support women and youth in construction. I call on women at this policy conference to support and encourage other women to join construction,” said Sisulu. The minister called on all partners in the construction sector: “All big companies and our partners are invited to join us in empowering women, l challenge them to award 30% of their work to women cooperatives and companies, particularly small medium companies in order for them to grow. We as government we will hold their hands and support them just give us a chance, we will show you what women can do.” She called on Parliament, Provincial Legislatures, Councils and women organisations like SAWIC to monitor that women are empowered and given opportunities.Women Construction Bank Sisulu also announced that she is considering the formation of a Women Construction Bank to focus on financing women cooperatives and construction companies that are involved in community infrastructure and human settlements projects. “My dream is of a Women Construction Bank to assist you with bridging finance and loans for building material and vehicles for work. l think National Urban Reconstruction & Housing Agency, one of our development finance institutions, when it finally merges with Rural Housing Loan Fund and National Housing Finance Cooperation, can assist us with this national task, to have dedicated financial teams and advisors for women, we will insist they must be women as well,” she said.
