FOR TRIAL BROCHURE

Program Directors : Tozi Mthetwa & Sindi Mabe
The eThekwini Municipality
Minara Chamber of Commerce
Minara Chamber of Professional Women
Esteemed Participants and Panellists
Patrons & Media Present
Ladies and Gentleman
Good morning. I welcome you to today’s programme titled, “Lead the Way in
Womenomics .”
I wish to express my gratitude to the eThekwini Municipality and the Minara
Business Professional Women for acceding to my request to co-organize this
conference. I am deeply indebted to Program Director Tozi Mthetwa, Head of
Communications at eThekwini and to the team from Minara Business Professional
women for their time and effort to put his program together.
My sincere appreciation to television personality, the charismatic and vivacious Sindi
Mabe for accepting our invitation and for her support to direct and moderate our
discussion panels.
I wish to thank all panellists and speakers who were diligently and judiciously chosen
to participate due to your specialized knowledge in the areas of gender, workplace
dynamics, entrepreneurial, domestic and social culture. Our diverse and dynamic
group of individuals come from locations near and far to contribute to today’s spirited

discussions offering a myriad of profound insights, expert knowledge and
comparative perspectives.
August month, like the month in 1956 that we celebrate each year, has become a
hype of women’s mobilization and a festival of ideas on how to advance the
struggles against patriarchy and create a better life for all.
It is therefore befitting that as we celebrate these 61 years we pause not only to reflect
on the progress made since the dawn of democracy and assess our achievements in
the realisation of a truly non-sexist South Africa, but also as women to keep
collaborating on issues of gender based violence and crime - domestic violence and
psychological abuse, the challenges of women in entrepreneurship and the workplace,
cyber harassment and issues of gender bias and stereotyping.
Program Directors, speaking about stereotyping, I find it appropriate to mention an
incident that occurred just a few days ago.
Google! Google found itself at the centre of controversy this very Sunday that past
after an employee in a leaked internal document claimed "biological causes"
explained the lack of women in technology leadership roles.
The screed -- dubbed "sexist" by US media -- went viral, reviving the simmering
debate over a culture of sexism and the lack of diversity in technology sectors.
The anonymous male software engineer in a 3000 word fulmination had this to say
about women , and I quote, "I'm simply stating that the distribution of preferences
and abilities of men and women differ in part due to biological causes and that these
differences may explain why we don't see equal representation of women in
technology and leadership," Unquote.
According to the author, natural aptitudes of men allow them to become better
computer programmers. Women, he said, have more "openness directed towards
feelings and aesthetics rather than ideas" -- meaning they "prefer jobs in social or
artistic areas."

Now this particular gentleman happens to be an engineer. This genius uses a
misnomer yet does not realise that he is a biological prototype of the most
sophisticated engineer that ever existed, that even the science of engineering
marvels at! …..His mother- a Women!
Program Directors, it is evident that there is a propensity for stereotyping and gender
bias towards women which manifests in a plethora of ways and that there is a
recurring need for women empowerment programs.
I have therefore decided to convene a program on women empowerment measures
that resonates with practical issues women face on a day to day basis be it at home,
in a diverse multi-cultural society or in the corridors of power.
Today’s program is intended to succinctly encapsulate the prevailing reality of
gender inequality and to empower women with a skills set to overcome these
challenges.
I wish to once again welcome and thank all participants for your contributions and
dedication. I hope that networks you forge continue beyond today’s discourse and
this unity becomes a valuable asset to lead the way in the pursuit to achieve gender
equality and prosperity for all , through Womenomics-the Empowerment of women!
Enjoy the conference.
Thank You.