South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has said the government will set aside 40% of public procurement for women-owned businesses.
The move will boost women financially and reduce gender inequality, he said.
The president spoke during Women’s Day on Sunday which marked 64 years since thousands of South African women marched to the Union Buildings in the capital, Pretoria, on 9 August 1956 to protest against the extension of the pass laws to women.
President Ramaphosa said financial independence was key to achieving gender equality.
“The first action is to expand the access of women to economic opportunities… We now expect national departments in government to monitor and report on how many women have participated in each public procurement process. They will have to develop clear plans about how they will broaden women’s participation over the next 12 months,” he said.
Here is part of the president’s address shared by SABC
