The Minister of Human Settlements, Thembi Simelane, strongly urged women in South Africa's construction sector to collaborate and unite their efforts to counter male dominance in this economic field.
This inspiring address was delivered during the second annual conference organized by the Housing Development Agency (HDA) at the Maslow Hotel in Sandton on Thursday. The event was dedicated to recognizing the significant contributions that women make to this sector.
The conference was held under the theme 'Women at the heart of development, growth, and nation-building.' Notable leaders attended, including Dr Samke Ngcobo, Tamlyn Buwer, Tony Gumede, Nicolette Mashile, and Nomfundu Phakudze. Their presence underscored the growing influence and leadership of women in shaping South Africa's development agenda.
In her keynote speech, Simelane emphasized the urgent need not only to attract investment but also to stimulate innovation, creating conditions where women can thrive in the human housing sector. She acknowledged that 'the challenges of housing and human settlements in South Africa are multi-contextual, multifaceted, and significantly complex,' yet noted that within these difficulties lie substantial opportunities capable of turning the sector into a catalyst for economic growth.
Simelane stressed the importance of unity among women, stating that collective action would lead to increased investment prospects, whereas divided efforts could leave them vulnerable.
The conference served not merely as a celebration but as a gathering point to strengthen collaboration, address pressing issues, funding concerns, cultural barriers, and other obstacles in the field. Discussions throughout the day covered critical topics such as accelerated land allocation, financing mechanisms, and historical barriers that have slowed women's progress in the industry.
Nomfundu Phakudze from the National Empowerment Fund (NEF) stated the necessity of improving access to finance for women in the construction sector. She asserted: 'We should not be shy about demanding funding. There is a gap in providing concessional finance for women.' She added that many women face challenges, often being financially dependent on their husbands, which complicates their access to financial resources.
Vinolia Mashiane, HDA's Director of Investments, supported this view, noting that financial institutions have largely excluded women from the real estate industry. She advocated for the development of an individualized financing model tailored to women's specific needs and suggested that savings through stokvels could serve as an alternative means of their economic empowerment, stating: 'Financing remains a huge barrier for women. Financial institutions have excluded women when it comes to this industry. However, we need a financing model that meets our needs.'