Commission for Gender Equality to host a webinar with finance institutions on challenges women in business face with regard to access to finance

The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) will on Tuesday – 03 August 2021 – host a webinar to discuss challenges experienced by women-owned businesses in accessing financial support from funding institutions. Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ms. Nombulelo Gina, will be a keynote speaker. The webinar, themed “Removing Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment” will start at 10:00am.

This webinar is informed by Goals 5 & 8 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which target economic empowerment of women. South Africa has committed to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals in line with its own developmental aspirations. National Development Plan (NDP) recognises the need to transform the economy to encourage the full participation of women. The GCE is monitoring and assessing progress made in the implementation of gender-based policies by government, and the compliance and implementation of gender equality programmes by the private sector. The CGE also seeks to understand the level of support female entrepreneurs receive from private finance institutions and development finance institutions.

Sustainable Development Goals 5 and 8 call for countries to introduce reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, and financial services. The webinar will host a panel of executives representing various stakeholders in the finance sector, including the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), the Competition Tribunal, and Mastercard South Africa.

Panellists are:

1. Ms. Nomalungelo Gina – Deputy Minister, Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTI&C)

2. Mr. Waseem Carrim – CEO, National Youth Development Agency (NYDA)

3. Ms. Tintswalo Cassandra Makhubele – President, SANCONO

4. Ms. Mondo Mazwai – Chairperson, Competition Tribunal

5. Ms. Lizelle Maurice – CEO BKCO

6. Ms. Suzanne Morel – Manager, Mastercard South Africa

7. Lucretia Khumalo – Executive, IDC

Moderator

Dr. Nthabiseng Moleko, –Deputy Chairperson, Commission for Gender Equality

The Commission is convinced that the deliberations from the Webinar will bring workable solutions to female entrepreneurs in the country, and help policymakers develop appropriate policy and interventions to overcome some of the key challenges facing women’s economic empowerment in South Africa.

Source: Government of South Africa