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Programme Director,

Distinguished Guests,

Representatives from Huawei,

Colleagues from government, business, academia, and civil society,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning.

It is truly an honour to join you at this Women's Month event, hosted by Huawei. This occasion is not only a celebration of women's resilience, leadership, and creativity, but also a moment to confront the stark reality that women in South Africa—and across the globe—are still not enjoying full equality in the workplace or the economy.

Women and Employment Equity: Progress and Gaps

South Africa has long placed employment equity at the heart of our democratic project. Since the Employment Equity Act came into force more than two decades ago, we have sought to break down the legacy of exclusion and ensure fair representation across workplaces.

And yet, despite this commitment, the pace of transformation is still too slow. According to the 2023 Employment Equity Report:

• Women make up 43% of the workforce but still hold less than 36% of top management positions.
• At senior management level, women account for about 43%, but when you disaggregate further, African women remain the most underrepresented group, often occupying less than 15% of these senior roles.
• In the ICT sector specifically, women are underrepresented in technical and leadership roles, despite being increasingly present as consumers and end-users of digital technologies.

These figures are not just numbers; they represent missed opportunities. Every qualified woman denied a place at the table is a loss to our economy, our innovation capacity, and our society.

We must remember that women are not asking for favours. Women are demanding fairness—access to the same opportunities, recognition of their skills, and the removal of structural barriers that perpetuate inequality.

The Challenge of the Future of Work

Colleagues,

The world of work is undergoing a transformation unlike any in human history. We are living through the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where technologies like artificial intelligence, cloud computing, robotics, and 5G are reshaping industries, supply chains, and communities.

The World Economic Forum tells us that by 2030, an estimated 85 million jobs may be displaced by automation, while 97 million new roles will emerge—roles that are more digitally driven, more knowledge-intensive, and more globally connected.

This is both a risk and an opportunity. The risk is that without deliberate action, women will once again be crowded out of the jobs of the future, just as they were excluded from the jobs of the past. Already, studies show that women are more likely to be employed in routine, clerical, or service roles that are highly vulnerable to automation.

But the opportunity—the prize we must claim—is to ensure that women are equipped, empowered, and positioned to lead in the digital economy. If women gain equal access to digital skills and digital work, the global economy could add an estimated $13 trillion to GDP by 2030. That is the scale of what is at stake.

Digital Inclusion as Economic Inclusion

That is why government places such emphasis on digital inclusion as economic inclusion. For us, ensuring that every South African has access to digital infrastructure and skills is not a luxury; it is a necessity.

We have invested in broadband connectivity and spectrum allocation, we are driving the Presidential Digital and Future Skills Strategy, and through the Labour Activation Programme we are actively supporting young people—including women—to access training in coding, data analytics, cyber-security, and renewable energy technologies.

But government cannot and should not do this alone.

The Role of Partnerships

This is why partnerships like the one we celebrate today with Huawei are so critical.

Huawei has demonstrated that transformation is possible when companies move beyond compliance and take ownership of building South Africa's skills base. The Huawei Women in Tech Programme is not a slogan; it is a tangible investment in women's futures. By equipping women with ICT skills, providing mentorship, and opening pathways into employment, this programme is helping to chip away at the digital gender divide.

But let me say this clearly: one company alone cannot transform the landscape. We need an ecosystem approach, where many more companies in ICT and across other sectors step up, invest, and partner with government and academia.

We need our universities and TVET colleges to integrate digital skills into every field of study. We need corporates to offer internships, mentorships, and enterprise supplier development opportunities specifically targeted at women. And we need government to provide the enabling policy environment that makes such partnerships scalable and sustainable.

Women, Entrepreneurship, and National Priorities

Equally important is the role of women entrepreneurs in driving inclusive growth. Small, medium, and micro-enterprises are the backbone of our economy, and increasingly, digital platforms are the bridge that connects these businesses to markets, finance, and customers.

When women entrepreneurs are given access to digital tools, they are not only able to grow their own businesses, but also create jobs in their communities. We have seen inspiring examples of women using e-commerce platforms to sell locally made goods, of women building apps that solve social challenges, and of women using mobile money to unlock financial inclusion in rural areas.

This is how women's innovation contributes to our national priorities of job creation, poverty reduction, and industrialisation.

A Call to Action

As we celebrate Women's Month, I want to leave you with three calls to action.

1. Equity with Accountability

Employment equity is not optional—it is the law, and it is a moral imperative. Companies must move from slow progress to measurable outcomes, ensuring that women, and particularly African women, are equitably represented at all levels of decision-making.

2. Skills with Scale

We must go beyond pilot projects and reach scale. Every young girl in South Africa, whether in a rural village or an urban township, must believe that coding, data science, and AI are within her grasp. We must demystify technology and bring it into classrooms, community centres, and homes.

3. Partnerships with Purpose

Government will continue to play its part, but we call on the private sector—Huawei and beyond—to deepen your investment in women. This is not charity; it is a sound economic strategy. A South Africa that fully harnesses the talent of its women is a South Africa that is globally competitive and socially just.

Conclusion

Ladies,

Women's Month is not about flowers, speeches, or photo opportunities. It is about action. It is about removing the barriers that still prevent women from realising their full potential. It is about ensuring that when we speak of the “future of work," women are not standing on the sidelines—they are at the centre, leading, innovating, and shaping that future.

As Mama Albertina Sisulu reminded us: “We must unite, regardless of race or creed, and build a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic South Africa."

In our generation, that unity must extend to the digital space. A truly non-sexist society will be one where women are creators of technology, leaders in boardrooms, and beneficiaries of a thriving digital economy.

So to all the women in this room—especially the young women: claim your space. The jobs of the future are your jobs. The innovations of tomorrow are in your hands. And to Huawei and our partners: continue to invest in women, because in doing so, you are investing in South Africa's inclusive and sustainable future.

Together, let us build a digital economy in which no woman is left behind.

I thank you.

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