Cape Town – Johannesburg City Power managing director Sicelo Xulu said it is unacceptable that 21 years into democracy, women still play a miniscule role in a sector critical to economic growth.
Xulu, who also serves as the Association of Municipal Electricity Undertakings (AMEU) president, said he has launched an initiative to boost the role of women in the male-dominated sector as the industry is one of the least transformed in the country.
“It is unacceptable that 21 years into the new democratic dispensation, women still play a miniscule role in such a critical sector which is the driving force of economic growth. Women in Electricity will be a programme that needs to be driven by women for women's advancement,” said Xulu in a statement.
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According to official statistics women constitute a negligible number of professionals in the sector, accounting for a paltry 5% of the total complement of professionals. African females are less represented and make up a marginal percentage of the aggregate female population in the sector.
Xulu said the Women in Electricity initiative will be outlining an action plan that has programmes, a scorecard and targets to ensure that the acceleration of women in the electricity industry is realised.
In addition, the initiative will work closely with the AMEU, institutions of higher learning and utilities to provide internships to female apprentices with the right skills sets.
“Driving transformation and fast-tracking women’s advancement in the sector is a collective undertaking that requires all the role players to play their part to ensure that women participation in the sector is meaningful and is enhanced.
“I am delighted that the AMEU and the industry have shown leadership and put in place the building blocks upon which this lofty ideal will be realised,” says Xulu.