Pretoria - Small Business Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu will today host an imbizo in Bela Bela, Limpopo, that will focus on the economic empowerment of women.
About 250 women, representing women’s organisations and people with disabilities, will participate in dialogue with the Minister.
“Minister Zulu will engage women around the plight, opportunities and challenges facing women in co-operatives and small businesses.
“More importantly, the imbizo will seek to communicate available opportunities and support for women co-operatives and businesses,” spokesperson Cornelius Monama said.
The women imbizo forms part of National Imbizo Focus Week, which ends on Sunday, under government’s five year theme ‘Together we move South Africa forward’.
Monama said the Minister remains concerned that small businesses have an exceedingly high failure rate and that the majority of casualties are black and women-owned enterprises.
“It is through the imbizo programme, among others, that government hopes that practical ideas will emerge on how to reverse this trend,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Susan Shabangu, will on Saturday visit Mmakau village in Madibeng Local Municipality in the North West to engage with communities.
Minister Shabangu, accompanied by provincial and local government leaders, will pay a visit to families affected by violence against women and children.
She will also conduct a walkabout at a White Door Project for victims of violence before proceeding to interact with the community at a public meeting.
National Imbizo Focus Week has seen several Cabinet Ministers and their deputies going to various communities to explain government’s programme of action, promote social partnerships and receive feedback from citizens. - SAnews.gov.za
