‘More power to women in transport sector!’

WITH WOMEN commanding a mere 1.2% share of the employment pie in the transport sector, last week’s Women in Transport seminar held in Gauteng highlighted the need to overcome the barriers to entry for women in the sector. Mpumi Mpofu, directorgeneral in the Department of Transport, called for an end to the marginalisation of women in an industry that employs mainly men. She also pointed out that the department was disappointed with the progress of transformation in the maritime sector. “This sector has not transformed and allowed black participation. Very soon we’ll be shifting our focus to it,” she said. Women are more marginalised in the technical areas of the sector, according to Mpofu, leading to the undermining of the transformational role that women could play at senior management level in transport corporations. “We must turn the situation around and monitor our progress yearly,” she said. Empowerment programmes will be championed through the South African Network of Women in Transport launched by Mpofu at the seminar. It is hoped it will boost opportunities for women in the public road transport, aviation, maritime, freight and logistic support services.