South Africa’s human settlements sector is opening its doors wider to women, not just as beneficiaries of housing programmes, but as owners, professionals, decision-makers and leaders across the entire value chain.
That was the rallying message from Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane at the Women in Human Settlements Sector Dialogue in Johannesburg on Monday evening, where she was joined by Deputy Minister Tandi Mahambehlala and female Members of Executive Councils responsible for human settlements from across the country.
From celebration to real economic power
Held under the theme “Value Chain Opportunities for Women in the Human Settlements Sector, Empowered Women – Empower the Nation,” the dialogue brought together government, sector entities, industry stakeholders and women beneficiaries. It marked the closing of the 2026 Women’s Month programme and followed the recent launch of the Women of Human Settlements platform at Freedom Park.
Simelane said the gathering was designed to be more than a celebration: a sector-wide space in which women shape policy, influence institutions and expand their economic power.
“Today’s engagement carries that work forward. It has moved from policy direction to implementation; from targets to opportunity; from institutional programmes to the experiences of women whose businesses, careers and professional journeys have been affected by those programmes,” she said.
The 40% set-aside: a practical tool for change
At the heart of the plan is the approved 40% set-aside target for women, which Simelane said must become a practical instrument for expanding women’s participation throughout the delivery value chain, reflected in procurement planning, sourcing, awards, contract values, payments and performance reporting.
“It should not be treated as a slogan or an end-of-year calculation. It is one practical instrument through which public expenditure can widen participation in the economy,” she said.
The Minister set out an ambitious vision that goes beyond ticking boxes: women-owned businesses entering procurement pipelines, competing effectively, being paid on time and progressing to larger opportunities, and professional women moving into technical authority, executive leadership and boardrooms, with ownership and influence across land, finance, construction, property management, regulation, research and innovation.
Empowerment that enlarges choices
Simelane also underlined why economic power matters so deeply for women’s wellbeing. “Economic dependence can narrow a woman’s choices. Secure tenure, a professional pathway, access to finance, a contract and a sustainable enterprise can enlarge them,” she said.
With government, industry and women builders now pulling in the same direction, the sector that puts roofs over South African heads is on course to put more women at its helm. Source: SAnews.gov.za
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
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