The Western Cape Department of Human Settlements plans to launch a contractors’ framework that is geared towards attracting construction companies that have women ownership of 51% and above before the end of this year.
Western Cape Human Settlements Minister Tertuis Simmers says the new framework will serve as an invitation to female-owned built environment professionals, suppliers and service providers to register with the department for projects and work that will be allocated during the 2022/23 financial year and beyond.
“Generally, our frameworks include services such as unblocking of houses; daily emergency and non-emergency work on properties; cleaning and clearing of vacant land owned by the department; maintenance, electrical works, plumbing, painting and civil engineering; and the construction of housing units," he notes.
Simmers says the framework is aimed at encouraging private sector developers to engage and support women-owned subcontractors.
He says the provincial department has already engaged South African Women in Construction and other stakeholders about the initiative, where positive responses were received.
“I’d like to encourage all women, and not only those who are interested in this industry, to use the opportunity to apply once the framework opens.
"Our goal is to have a minimum of 30% women contractors represented on our projects, but this can only be achieved if the female-owned entities have all their administrative processes and gradings in place," Simmers notes.