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Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, has reaffirmed the Provincial Government’s commitment to transforming the transport sector by expanding opportunities for women and strengthening institutional support aimed at advancing their economic participation.
Speaking during the Department’s Women in Transport Engagement Session, held in partnership with the Church of Scientology, the South African National Women in Transport (SANWIT) and other stakeholders under the theme “Siyabakhumbula”, MEC Diale-Tlabela said women are central to the growth and future of the transport industry.
“Women are not guests in the transport industry. Women belong in the transport industry as owners, operators, engineers, entrepreneurs, innovators, policymakers and leaders,” said the MEC.
The engagement brought together women across the transport value-chain to recognise and honour their contribution to the sector. It further provided a platform to discuss challenges, strengthen partnerships and identify practical interventions aimed at accelerating participation, transformation and economic empowerment.
Acknowledging barriers that continue to hinder women’s participation in the sector’s economy, MEC Diale-Tlabela noted that women still struggle to access finance, obtain operating licences, and compete in a historically male-dominated industry. She further highlighted the unique challenges faced by widows who are often left vulnerable and forced to fight for businesses they helped build.
“As government, we have moved beyond policy. We are building practical interventions that protect, empower and create opportunities for women. Transformation is measured by the institutions we build, the lives we change, and the opportunities we create,” she said.
To further strengthen women’s empowerment programmes, MEC Diale-Tlabela announced the Department has repurposed R2 million from the Taxi Trust allocation to support initiatives focused on women in transport.
This will be used to fund enterprise development for women-owned transport businesses, leadership and skills development programmes, business advisory services, mentorship initiatives, support for women entrepreneurs entering the transport economy, and dedicated assistance for widows and vulnerable women.
The MEC also announced the Department has allocated dedicated office accommodation to the South African National Women in Transport (SANWIT), providing the organisation with a permanent operational base to continue advocating for and supporting women across Gauteng.
“This is far more than office space. It is an investment in an institution that invests in women and demonstrates our commitment to building sustainable structures that advance their participation and empowerment,” added the MEC.
The engagement also highlighted the progress made by the #AgaLeRona Women in Transport Help Desk, established by the Department in 2024 to provide dedicated support to women in the sector.
Staffed and supported by a team of dedicated officials, the Help Desk provides legal guidance, business advisory services, psychosocial counselling, operating licence support, mentorship and leadership development to women, particularly widows and vulnerable entrepreneurs.
Since its establishment, the Help Desk has responded to 483 enquiries, facilitated 190 operating licence transfers, processed 99 operating licence activations, provided counselling and psychosocial support to 54 widows, and assisted with 106 new operating licence applications.
MEC Diale-Tlabela reaffirmed the Department remains committed to building a transport sector where women participate fully as business owners, professionals and decision-makers, ensuring that future generations of women can thrive within an inclusive and transformed industry.
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