Sowetan

Women urged to help grow economy

Open more spaces for females to be owners and operators, says Mkhize

- By Neo Goba

ANC treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize has urged women in South Africa to participat­e in the growth of the economy as they have the necessary skills.

“Part of what needs to be done for this economy is to open up more space for more women to be owners‚ to be operators‚ to be managers‚ to be able to run the various institutio­ns that regulate the controls that operate various aspects of our economy‚” said Mkhize.

Speaking at the fourth consecutiv­e Progressiv­e Business Forum Women in Business luncheon at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand yesterday, Mkhize said women needed to take the helm and fight any obstacles they encountere­d along the way.

“It’s important to say that, to succeed‚ you need to be ready to challenge the system to make sure that it opens the way for all of you who want to participat­e. From now going into the future‚ the process is going to be on another level of struggle.

“The major issue that South African society needs to see happening is this economy changing and resting in the hands of the large majority of its people‚ largely black people and its women who must be allowed to participat­e without hindrance‚” Mkhize said.

Mkhize‚ whose name was

People must take part without any hindrance Zweli Mkhize ANC TREASURER-GENERAL

put forward as a presidenti­al candidate in the ANC succession battle by the Alfred Nzo region in the Eastern Cape‚ urged women to take decisive steps to overcome their challenges in being part of the economy.

He further said women had the capacity to lead and to take control of the economy. Also present at the forum was Minister of Small Business Developmen­t Lindiwe Zulu, who echoed Mkhize’s sentiments.

“We don’t own the means of production as black people in general‚ I don’t want to talk about women. We are not yet in the management and complete control of the economy of South Africa‚” said Zulu.

 ?? /PETER MOGAKI ?? Zweli Mkhize says women must challenge the system.
/PETER MOGAKI Zweli Mkhize says women must challenge the system.

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