1. EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN IN THE TRANSPORT SECTOR VALUE CHAIN: LESSONS FOR POLICY AND PRACTICE
South African Transport Conference 2018
PRESENTATION BY: M.X Mhlanga-Mochadibane
09 July 2018

2. WHERE WE COME FROM
A LOT OF HOT WATER HAS BEEN THROWN ON US IN THE PAST AND WE HAVE SHOWN OUR STRENGTH
WE NOW NEED THE EMPOWERMENT HEAT BUT SOCIETY AND GOVERNMENT ARE STILL LUKE-WARM
HOW DO WE RAISE THE TEMPERATURE?
Women in South Africa, Black women in particular, were considered second class citizens (Andrews, 2001).
The patriarchal culture in South Africa has also been aggravated by the previous laws of the country such as various Bantu Acts.
Women are known to multitask and good in creating something out of nothing e.g. mini fruit and veg. market in taxi ranks.

3. LOOKS FAMILIAR

4. INTRODUCTION
TSHWANE WOMEN IN TRANSPORT (TWIT) is the regional organisation of the South African Women in Transport (SANWIT) organisation aimed to facilitate, encourage and support the women business empowerment in the transport sector of the economy. With great support received from CSIR, SANWIT organisation established a FOCUS GROUP of women-led enterprises in the transport sector to discuss and initiate the women empowerment cycle at a grand scale in South Africa. The paper uses outcomes of the FOCUS GROUP to point out at some of the key issues hindering women in their drive to establish their business footprint in the transport sector at a meaningful level.

5. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
To identify impediments against increased participation of women in South Africa’s transport value chain
To probe the nature of these impediments.
To stimulate research through the identification of relevant research questions.
To enhance the empowerment of women in the value chain within the broader context of gender mainstreaming.

6. TRANSPORT SECTOR UNDERSTANDING
TRANSPORT SECTOR VALUE CHAIN STAGES
Policy and legislation
Planning
Design
Construction
Operation
Maintenance
Rehabilitation
Decommissioning

7. DISCUSSION
Latest empowerment policies and legislation have created the basis to intensify women engagement in economic and business activities and as
great expectations created as well
implementation instruments not clear and effective at this stage
In absence of implementation know-how, government provides lip service to women
All transport sector value chain stages / sub-sections lack meaningful engagement of women and there is a long way to move towards gender equality in the business activities
Lack of systematic documentation of women-based success stories in the business world across all econiomic sectors (transport not exception)
Better and more detailed definition of the transport sector value chain necessary to assist in the actual identification and unlocking of opportunities

8. OTHER ISSUES AND CHALLENGES:
Networking: Women should apply their natural communication skills and abilities for the business networking (clear gender advantage) Personal drive to succeed: Self drive from individual entrepreneurs certianly a key to business success. Empowerment approach: Provision of training important but short of providing actual skills implementation guidelines from an enteprnurial persepctive. Capital and Guarantees Access to initial capital to kick off a business activity has always been a challenge and relvant stakeholders would need to be approached to provide conducive and easier access for women-led business entities

9. OUTCOME
Solid reflection on the status quo relating to the empowerment of women in the transport sector value chain.
Serious attention should be given to implementation instruments and mechanisms to effect legislative and policy decisions
Efforts still required to truly empower women to participate in the transport sector value chain.
More work undertaken must be informed by real-life experiences.
Self-drive and leadership are key components to assist and support aspiring women entreprenuers in their business establishments and growth efforts .

10. WAY FORWARD BE READY – YOU KNOW YOU WILL NOT RESIST US.
In Tshwane we are serious to step up and shake up transport sector with our self-drive and dedication to establish our economic independence
Tshwane woman in transport (TWIT) has been established as non- governmental and non-profit organisation to create supporting and facilitating environment for women interested to engage in and grow their business interests in the transport sector.
We aim to approach public and private sector organisations, create relationships and strategic partnerships to enable our meaningful involvement in the business opportunities.
BE READY – YOU KNOW YOU WILL NOT RESIST US.

11. END OF PRESENTATION Mavis . X. Mhlanga-Mochadibane
Chairperson of Tshwane Women in Transport (TWIT), Members of SANWIT
Cell 1:
Cell 2: (MTN No)
OR 
South Africa -Pretoria