Government reaches out to Lejweleputswa businesswomen to empower, mitigate backlogs

Women in businesses face a myriad of challenges across the business landscape, this ranges from inequality, lack of access to mentorship programmes and other key aspects that hinder them from bettering their lives. 

Office of the Presidency, Free State provincial government and other government agencies reached out to women in business across Lejweleputswa district, in a hybrid event hosted in Welkom, Free State to empower entrepreneurs.

Women from different business sectors and those intending to start new businesses to a capacity building initiative in response to Pillar 5 of the National Strategic Plan of Gender Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) took part in this workshop.

Office of the Presidency provided the background, history and rationale behind the project.

The expected impact on Women Owned Businesses (WOB’s) and the alignment to Pillar 5 of the NSP on GBVF were at the centre of the discourse.

Women seeking funding opportunities continues to grow wider, said the Sipiwo Matshoba from the national department of women, youth and persons with disabilities.

He further unpacked list of chain of opportunities for women.

Simon Fenyane from the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), gave an insight into measures to be followed with the process of registering a business under the CIPC website.

Furthermore, the Department of Women, Youth and Persons (DWYPD) representative, Mr Sipiwo Matshoba detailed the available value chain opportunities for women.

Matshoba said, although there are various opportunities for women, the country is still battling the effects of gender inequality and insufficient support for women in businesses.

Fenyane stressed that these factors cause further challenges in the labour market and block women from becoming active participants in socio-economic development and growth.

From the office of the Free State provincial treasury, was chief director for supply chain management Linda Riddles, who highlighted critical opportunities for businesswomen.

She said women economic empowerment is a cornerstone of channeling resilient women to the business sector within the province.

In light of key issues raised during QnA session, attendees raised frustrations that has to do with backlogs of registering for businesses and process of uploading details on the national treasury’s website.