Middelburg – Mpumalanga’s women are making significant strides in leadership, entrepreneurship and community development, even as they continue to face systemic challenges such as unemployment, gender based violence, and limited economic access.
Speaking on behalf of Premier Mandla Ndlovu on Women’s Day at Sydney Choma Banquet Hall in Steve Tshwete Local Municipality, Mpumalanga Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation MEC Leah Mabuza emphasised that women remain at the forefront of the province’s transformation. She noted that government initiatives are yielding measurable results, particularly in job creation.
She highlighted the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) which has created 177,188 job opportunities in the province 2019 and 2024. At least 65% of the beneficiaries were women.
This achievement has pushed Mpumalanga to second place nationally as a province steadfast in job creation, up from seventh in 2019/2020. Over the next five years, MEC Mabuza said the province aims to create 191,733 additional work opportunities and 60% of those jobs will be allocated to women.
“Women are most affected by crime, service delivery gaps and economic exclusion, but we have made significant progress since 1994,” Mabuza said. “Women’s Month is not just symbolic; it’s a time to amplify these issues and highlight solutions already being implemented.”
In the event, two entrepreneurs demonstrated that challenges can be overcome. Monica Ngwenya, Managing Director of Enhle Arulo Trading, transitioned from being the first trained female underground miner at Bank Colliery to owning her own mining company.
“It’s not easy for women to enter this space, but my experience and skills help me compete in a male-dominated industry. Women should not be discouraged,” Ngwenya said.
Gladness Mkhonto, owner of Khulani Quality Construction, has challenged long-held gender biases in the construction sector. She has succeeded in partnering and helping ‘construction mafias’ to become legitimate business partners instead of being disruptors.
For attendees like Pearl Ndlovu, the progress and resilience of these women is inspiring. “I hope the government hosts such platforms more often, not just on Women’s Day.”
