Minister Chikunga calls for united push to unlock women's economic potential

Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga has called for stronger collaboration between government, business and academic institutions to fast-track women's economic empowerment and build a more inclusive economy.

Speaking at the 8th Annual Regenesys Women in Business and Leadership Conference in Sandton on Wednesday, Chikunga said meaningful partnerships are essential to ensuring that economic opportunities reach all women, particularly young women, women with disabilities and those living in rural and township communities.

The conference, held under the theme "Building an Inclusive Economy – The Role of Government, Business and Academia", brought together leaders from across the three sectors to discuss practical solutions for improving women's participation in the economy.

Chikunga said government, business and academia each have a critical role to play and cannot succeed in advancing inclusion while working independently.

"Government cannot legislate its way to inclusion without the productive capacity of industry players. Businesses cannot thrive without the enabling framework and stability of an innovative public service, and neither government nor business can build a workforce capable of driving inclusion without academia," she said.

The minister urged stakeholders to invest in education, skills development, entrepreneurship and improved access to finance, describing these as key building blocks for sustainable economic empowerment.

She also called for a new generation of public-private partnerships focused on developing human capital, saying such collaborations could help bridge funding gaps, improve service delivery and strengthen innovation across sectors.

However, Chikunga cautioned that these partnerships must be guided by transparency, accountability, equity and sustainability to ensure they benefit vulnerable communities rather than reinforce existing inequalities.

She identified early childhood development, technical and vocational education, healthcare, digital infrastructure and innovative financing as priority areas where collaboration could drive inclusive growth.

Turning to South Africa's youth, Chikunga warned that Africa's growing young population could become a missed opportunity without sustained investment in education, healthcare and wellbeing.

She also highlighted women's financial inclusion as a priority, calling for greater access to capital, specialised banking initiatives, expanded microfinance programmes, gender-responsive financial technology and increased procurement opportunities for women-owned businesses.

The minister further urged greater investment in affordable childcare, flexible workplace policies and shared household responsibilities to ease the unpaid care burden that continues to limit many women's economic participation.

Marking Women's Month and the 70th anniversary of the historic 1956 Women's March, Chikunga paid tribute to generations of women who fought against discrimination and urged leaders to turn commitments into measurable action.

"As we mark the Platinum Jubilee of the 1956 Women's March, let us leave this conference committed to concrete action, with timelines and accountability, and with the understanding that we owe the next generation of women more than we inherited," she said.