At this year's Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women in Beijing, South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, spelled out a simple yet powerful formula for female empowerment: equal access to education, technology and economic opportunities.
Chikunga noted that gender equality is more than a constitutional guarantee, stressing the need for policies that turn rights into real-world results.
To turn ambition into action, South Africa’s new Public Procurement Act will reserve 40% of government contracts for women-owned businesses. This quota marks a significant shift towards inclusive and sustainable growth, ensuring that women entrepreneurs have a direct stake in the country’s economic future.
Reflecting on the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the minister lauded China’s leadership in driving gender equality and innovation. Under the China–South Africa Strategic Cooperation Framework (2020–2029), both nations are poised to deepen collaboration in digital transformation, vocational training and women-led entrepreneurship.
For a generation of young global citizens, Chikunga’s vision offers a blueprint: when governments commit to equal opportunity, they unlock the full potential of half the population. And with stronger international partnerships, the impact can ripple far beyond national borders.
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S African minister: Equal opportunities a pillar of female empowerment
cgtn.com
