Mafikeng — The North West Local Government and Housing Department is to increase its efforts to employ more women in construction projects, says departmental MEC Howard Yawa.

Presenting his Budget Vote on Tuesday, MEC Yawa said: "To reiterate our commitment to build capacity and address the imbalances of the past in this province, we have reserved the balance of subsidies for women contractors."

In the past year, 20 women contactors were trained on business and financial management and 100 of their employees were trained on construction projects.

He said a committee has also been established to deal specifically with the empowerment of women in the province.

"Steering Committees have been established in all four districts and one at provincial to coordinate the empowerment, sharing of best practices and the work of women contractors provincially."

During this financial year, MEC Yawa said each woman contractor would be given a house to construct as part of her practical training.

"This year I want to reiterate once more, our commitment to have more women involved in housing delivery."

MEC Yawa said his department is to announce soon the contractors who will delivery one of the major housing projects in the province.

"In the next 14 days, we will announce the first women contractors who will deliver the balance of the 6 000 housing units in our province.

"This is to confirm that we do not just give lip service to our commitment of having reserved 30 percent for women contractors.

"Additional measures will be put in place to ensure that this target is met without compromise," MEC Yawa said.