JSE commemorates International Women’s Day event

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange celebrated International Women’s Day by hosting an event highlighting incredible South African businesswomen.

Keketso Maema, CEO Commission for Gender Equality discusses the importance of pushing for transformation within businesses. Photo: Laura Pisanello

In celebration of International Women’s Day, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) hosted its fourth annual Ring the Bell for Gender Equality ceremony, Sandton Chronicle reports.

Bell-ringing events around the world were held in order to commemorate the significant day.

The ceremony aimed to highlight the importance of gender equality in businesses. It also drew attention to businesses that have already taken steps to ensure that they achieve equality and women’s empowerment.

Women from various organisations and businesses used the opportunity to highlight key focuses on gender equality and the accomplishments they’ve achieved within their business.

Jessica Spira, business development director, Rand Merchant Bank talks about her project, Athena, at RMB. Photo: Laura Pisanello

Ipeleng Mkhari shows the gender breakdown of her company, Motseng Investment Holdings. Photo: Laura Pisanello

Anne Githuku-Shongwe, a representative, UN Women South Africa Multi-Country Office, Nozipho January-Bardill, chair of United Nations Global Compact, South Africa, Ipeleng Mkhari CEO, Motseng Investment Holdings, Nompumelelo Zikalala, deputy CEO De Beers Group, Jessica Spira, Business development director for Rand Merchant Bank and Keketso Maema, CEO Commission for Gender Equality all shared their experiences at the event.

Githuku-Shongwe highlighted that it is still common in the workplace for women to be paid less than men. She said: “We want to build women empowerment principles and the principles are that every single private sector company in South Africa should be committed to doing this, it would be an entirely different story.”

Githuku-Shongwe added that businesses should become activists and advocates to drive action through the Women’s Empowerment Principles to ensure that by 2030, gender equality is a reality.

Nompumelelo Zikalala, deputy CEO De Beers Group talks about De Beers’ efforts to focus on gender equality. Photo: Laura Pisanello

Anne Githuku-Shongwe, representative, UN Women South Africa Multi-Country office, discusses the Women’s Empowerment Principles. Photo: Laura Pisanello

Zikalala added that De Beers has partnered with the United Nations Women to accelerate the advancement of women in the workplace. Over the next three years, they have committed to giving US$3 million (about R36 million) to women’s empowerment projects.

During the event, Mkhari also highlighted that gender equality can’t only be a focus on International Women’s Day but rather something that companies strive for every day.

Maema also added that many companies turn a blind eye to some of the frameworks the Commission for Gender Equality has in place but they try to push for transformation.