Source: All Africa

Women economic empowerment cannot be delayed anymore with women having an important role to play in the development of economies, says Public Enterprises Minister (DPE) Lynne Brown.

"Women economic empowerment cannot be delayed anymore, especially in countries such as South Africa that find themselves faced with high levels of poverty and income gaps with inequalities reaching unacceptable levels," said Minister Brown.

Speaking at the UN Women workshop, in Cape Town, the Minister said this situation defeats the basis of the struggles of many, especially women.

"Women are of critical importance in contributing to development of economies, thus are no longer closed down into 'match-boxes' in the roles they are supposed to play both in their homes, and in society at large. Mobilisation for social upliftment and progress continue to be a critical tool to defend the gains of struggles of women across the globe," said the Minister on Tuesday.

She said that the country is currently supporting efforts to roll out broadband infrastructure so as to increase access to information technology for small business and the overall competitiveness of the economy.

"It is therefore important to ensure women's economic empowerment to benefit through government's initiatives in the information and communication technology space," she said.

The Minister said that she remains set on ensuring that state owned companies that fall within the portfolio of public enterprises (Transnet, SA Express, Denel, Alexkor, Safcol and Eskom) actively promote small business.

Last week, the Minister launched Transnet's fourth Business Development Hub in Saldanha Bay, in the Western Cape, to benefit more women owned companies.

This, she said, is an intervention by the state through its state owned company, to amongst others boost local businesses especially empowerment to women owned businesses.

• South Africa