The Women in Construction Initiative aims to enable women in the Western Cape to enter the construction industry. The initiative targets women for certain projects in road construction and maintenance and in public works. It also offers bursaries and contractor development learnerships.
As part of this intiative the Department of Transport and Public Works will award 25% of all road maintenance contracts and 10% of all road construction contracts to women contractors.
In addition 60% of all Expanded Public Works Programmes (EPWP) community-based road maintenance projects will be allocated to women. Public Works will also allocate 30 Mama Specials Projects (special projects targeting women-owned companies) to businesses owned by women.
All women in the Western Cape are invited to apply for these construction contracts.
The Roads Infrastructure Branch of the Department of Transport and Public Works will award 5 contractor development learnerships for women. An additional 250 bursaries will be award to students for tertiary studies in the fields of engineering, architecture and related construction disciplines.
This annual award recognises exceptional achievements by women in the construction field. There are 3 competition categories: entry level, middle level and experienced level. Municipalities, government departments and non-governmental organisations are invited to submit nominations by the end of July each year.