EMPOWERING DSD WOMEN THROUGH EDUCATION

By Precious Mupenzi

• As Women’s Month concludes, the Department of Social Development (DSD) underscores its commitment to empowering women through targeted education and training initiatives.
• The DSD highlighted its progress during the Public Service Women’s Management Week 2024, including substantial investments in bursaries and training, reflecting the department’s dedication to women’s advancement.
• Looking ahead, the department plans to expand its support with a new mentoring and coaching programme to further enhance professional development opportunities for women in the public service.

As Women’s Month draws to a close, the Department of Social Development (DSD) is reflecting on its ongoing efforts to uplift and empower women through education and training. These initiatives were prominently highlighted during the Public Service Women’s Management Week 2024, hosted recently by Acting Director-General Mr. Peter Netshipale in Pretoria. Female senior managers convened to review the progress of implementing the Heads of Department’s Eight Principle Action Plan for Promoting Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality in the workplace.

The focus of the discussions centred on the Eight Principle Action Plan, which includes key principles such as non-sexism, equity, creating an enabling environment, gender mainstreaming, and the crucial empowerment principle. This last principle emphasises capacity development aimed at advancing women’s careers and ensuring gender equality.

Empowerment through Education

Capacity building is a core component of this empowerment principle. It involves not only crafting policies but ensuring their effective implementation to provide women and young girls with access to education and training opportunities. The DSD’s Human Resource Development strategy has established measures to support women, including those with disabilities and young women, through bursaries, learnerships, mentoring, coaching, and support programmes.

Capacity building is vital for advancing women’s careers and leveraging economic development initiatives. According to Mr. Rudi van Loggerenberg, Director for Human Resource Development at the DSD, the department is proud of its progress.

“The department has made remarkable progress in enhancing the capacity of our female officials, with a growing number of graduates each financial year, ranging from Bachelor’s degrees to PhDs. This reflects our unwavering commitment to advancing educational development,” said van Loggerenberg.

Bursaries for Women: A Strong Investment

In the 2023/24 financial year, the department allocated R1,080,000 for bursaries but ultimately spent R1,360,177.75. Of this, R861,814.12 was directed towards female employees, demonstrating the department’s commitment to empowering women through education. A total of 90 officials benefited from the bursary scheme, with 57 of them being women.

“Empowering women through education is a top priority for the department,” said Rudi van Loggerenberg. “The significant allocation of bursaries to female employees underscores our dedication to creating opportunities for their advancement.”

Beyond formal qualifications, the department also prioritises continuous development through short courses. “We don’t just stop at formal education. We believe in ongoing capacity building,” added van Loggerenberg. During the 2023/24 financial year, 246 female officials participated in training initiatives, outnumbering their male counterparts. The department invested R5,567,386.85 in training, surpassing the budgeted minimum.

Success Stories: Women Leading the Way

A notable success story is Dr. Masindi Mashapha, who recently earned her PhD in Public Affairs. Dr. Mashapha, an Assistant Director in the HIV/AIDS Unit, expressed her gratitude to the DSD for supporting her educational journey. “The bursary funded my Master’s degree and my PhD, and I am grateful for the department’s support, including covering my trips to Harvard University,” she said.

Dr. Mashapha has also been recognised for her contributions to public administration research, presenting papers at the South African Association for Public Administration and Management (SAAPAM) conferences and representing South Africa at the BRICS postgraduate forum in Cape Town in August 2023. She is now set to represent South Africa at the 2024 BRICS postgraduate forum in China.

Looking Ahead: Mentoring and Coaching for Future Growth

The department is planning to expand its empowerment efforts with a formal mentoring and coaching programme. A recent survey showed strong interest among officials, with 40 expressing a desire to mentor and 29 seeking mentorship. This programme is expected to further support women’s professional growth within the department.

As Women’s Month ends, the Department of Social Development’s continued investment in bursaries and capacity development is paving the way for a more equitable and empowered future for women in the public service.