President commends Eskom's Progress in Gender Equality in Workplace

President Ramaphosa called on both public and private companies to implement deliberate programs that empower women, especially in decision-making and technical roles.

Following the conclusion of Women’s Month, President Cyril Ramaphosa has commended the leadership of Eskom and other state-owned entities for their ongoing efforts to promote gender equality in the workplace. In his weekly newsletter to the nation, the President highlighted the importance of creating work environments that are free from discrimination and more conducive to the participation and advancement of women.

President Ramaphosa called on both public and private companies to implement deliberate programs that empower women, especially in decision-making and technical roles. He emphasized the need for workplaces to reflect the diverse demographics of South Africa, ensuring equal opportunities for all.

The President specifically praised Eskom's efforts in increasing female representation within the company, noting the success of the Women Advancement Programme. Launched a decade ago, this initiative has focused on developing a pipeline of female leaders, transforming workplace culture to be more gender-inclusive, and addressing issues such as equal pay for equal work.

Significant achievements include:

Women now make up just over 33% of Eskom’s workforce.

20% of Eskom’s executives are women.

Approximately 43% of senior management roles at Eskom are occupied by women.

The gender pay gap at Eskom has been reduced from 41% to below 6%.

Eskom's procurement spend on black-women-owned businesses has increased from R6 billion in 2013 to over R16 billion by 2022.

President Ramaphosa also highlighted the inspiring story of Maserati Lesolang, the general manager of the Matla power station in Mpumalanga, who has led a turnaround plan making Matla one of Eskom’s better-performing power stations. He underscored that women at Eskom are excelling not just in leadership positions but also in technical roles traditionally dominated by men.

The President noted that South Africa has surpassed 150 days without load shedding, attributing this milestone to the dedicated efforts of Eskom's leadership and staff. He reiterated the importance of continuing and intensifying efforts to advance gender equality in all sectors, with the hope of having even more achievements to celebrate in future Women's Months.