South africa: The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure, Ms Carol Phiri, has congratulated the winners of the Empowerment and Recognition of Women in Construction (ERWIC) Awards, held in Johannesburg on 18 August 2026. The annual awards, hosted by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), recognise and celebrate female contractors and built-environment professionals in what remains a largely male-dominated industry. Ms Phiri said the seventh edition of the ERWIC Awards demonstrate that recognising and supporting women in construction must be more than a once-off campaign.
According to African Press Organization, Ms Phiri emphasized the importance of supporting women in the industry, stating, "We congratulate all the women who have been recognised tonight. Your achievements show that women have the skills, determination and ability to succeed in the construction industry. We must ensure that these opportunities are not limited to a few, but that more women are supported to enter the industry, grow their businesses and compete for major projects." She noted the discrepancy in gender representation within the sector, with women comprising over 51% of the national population but only about 10 to 11 percent of the roughly 1.259 million workers in South Africa's construction sector.
Ms Phiri also expressed concern over the concentration of women-owned businesses in the lower CIDB registration grades, specifically Grades 1 to 4, while higher-value commercial and civil construction work in Grades 7 to 9 remains predominantly male-driven. She remarked, "We must change this empowerment pattern by giving women real opportunities to move up the value chain, access bigger projects and build sustainable businesses. The construction industry cannot transform while women remain concentrated at the lower end of the sector."
The winners of the 16 categories at the 2026 ERWIC Awards were announced, highlighting the remarkable achievements of female professionals and entities across various sectors. Some notable winners include Galo Maarohanye from GVM Civils for the Renovations to Kgodisong Flea Market in the Project Delivery Excellence of the Year - Women-owned Construction Entity (Grade 1) category, and Thoko Tshabalala-Shandu from VEA Road Maintenance and Civils for the Emergency Reconstruction of Evaton Municipal Access Road in the Grade 7-9 category.
Other distinguished winners are Matlakala Radebe from Qualicon Construction for the Borwa Primary Healthcare Clinic Design and Construction in the Rural Project of the Year category and Rene Bengu from Rene Forbay Designs for TLS Centurion Design and Project Management in the Interior Design and Build Project of the Year category.
Ms Phiri further called for greater recognition of the women actively shaping South Africa's physical and economic landscape. She affirmed that the committee would continue to support efforts to remove barriers limiting women's meaningful participation in the construction and built environment.