Driving women’s economic inclusion: Harambee hosts inspiring panel
In celebration of Women’s Month, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator and SA Youth hosted a powerful panel discussion, where women shared insights on overcoming workplace barriers and advancing economic inclusion in South Africa.
In commemoration of Women’s Month, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator together with SA Youth hosted a panel discussion on July 20, emphasising the importance of creating opportunities and support systems for women in the workplace.
The event, themed “Enabling Women’s Work, Works for All”, aimed to highlight the structural and systemic barriers young women face when entering and navigating the labour market, while showcasing targeted interventions that promote women’s economic inclusion in South Africa.
Women from diverse backgrounds attended in numbers to share experiences and insights on advancing women’s empowerment and equality in the workplace.
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Independent Labour Economist Lerato Shai outlined ways organisations can better support women’s career development and advancement.
“Employers should stop any discriminatory practices, particularly when it comes to women’s progression. They must provide support for care, mainly childcare, as well as benefits such as flexible work hours,” she said.
Shai emphasised that women’s participation in the economy is not only a matter of fairness and equity but also a catalyst for broader prosperity.
Delivery and Execution Lead at the National Youth Development Agency, Takalani Salimane, stressed the importance of creating pathways for young women to thrive.
“Young people should be given opportunities to strive and succeed. Organisations must think of innovative ways to absorb young women, especially those without prior work experience, and most importantly, let their soft skills signal potential for success,” she said.
She acknowledged that the challenges are significant, but noted it was encouraging to see women actively working on solutions to drive inclusion.
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Khanyisile Mlanzana, founder of Ubuntu Aftercare Programme and co-founder of MUMM Magic Touch Cleaning Detergents, reflected on her personal journey as an entrepreneur.
“My journey started shortly after matric, after being rejected from jobs that demanded unrealistic years of experience. I was introduced to a skills development programme that equipped me with problem-solving abilities and shaped who I am today. I will forever be grateful for those lessons,” she said.
