EC premier unhappy at pace of gender transformation

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Eastern Cape Premier Noxolo Kiviet says despite the ANC led government's promotion of men and women equality, women continue to lag behind.

The premier was speaking at the International Municipal Finance Officers Women in Local Government Seminar in East London on Thursday.

Kiviet said it's disappointing to know that A Women in Leadership Census had found that women hold just 4.4% of chief executive officer or managing director positions in the country.

She says its also unacceptable that women hold a mere 35% of all senior management positions in the public service.

Meanwhile, the election of Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as the first woman chairperson of the African Union Commission heralded not only the fruition of women's struggles throughout our continent but the beginning of a new phase of active involvement and participation of women in shaping the political and economic destiny of Africa.

"The views and voices of women will now be better heard, including on issues of how to respond decisively to the challenges facing our local government system."

"We need to demonstrate a strong sense of purpose to ensure that opportunities are opened for women to participate robustly and take their rightful place in leading the local sphere of government," she said.