Vryheid — KwaZulu-Natal province has put more women into positions of power as part of the national drive to give them the opportunity to play a role in decision making processes.

Speaking during Women's Day celebrations in Vryheid, Premier Sbu Ndebele said there were seven Heads of Department leading the provincial government's 14 departments.

The number of women MECs in the KwaZulu-Natal government accounts for close to 50 percent gender representation in the provincial cabinet,

"Out of the provincial budget of R49.9 billion these women are managing 59 percent of the budget which translates to R29.6 billion.

In the business sector, Mr Ndebele said women in the country constituted 83 percent of the informal economy, of which 61 percent are women.

In this regard, he said it was important to note that small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) comprised about 95 percent of all enterprises in the country.

According to the Premier, SMMEs currently absorb between 50 percent and 60 percent of the formally employed labour force and contributes 30 percent to the Gross Domestic Product.

"One of the lessons we learn from this is that women represent a growth area as business people and leaders in the community and various sectors of our lives.

"This, therefore, means we need to double our efforts at providing for the advancement of our womenfolk, going forward," he said.

Mr Ndebele also noted the following achievement relating to women empowerment as pronounced by Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka in a recent function on women empowerment.

•  South Africa prides itself with having a Cabinet consisting of 43percent representation. Four of the nine provinces are led by women Premiers.

•  Our parliament has more than 30 percent women representation. This is also translating to local government level as well where women representation stands at 40 percent

•  South Africa is rated number 10 out of the 130 parliaments in the world in terms of women's advancement in governance.

On August 9 1956, 20 000 women form all sections of the population took part in a protest march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to petition against unjust apartheid pass laws.

The march was part of the broader defiance campaign against the pass laws that started with the 1913 march in Welkom and the 1919 march in Bloemfontein

About 14 years into democracy, South Africans continue to appreciate and celebrate the contribution of women in the social, economic and political development of society.