​The TDA Training Academy responsible for implementing this project aims to empower women with skills which will enable them to access employment opportunities at the 18 road depots across the city.
 
The Academy works in close collaboration with the City’s Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). This relationship serves as a mechanism to fund the project.

The number of women-only road repair teams has been steadily climbing since its inception in 2015, when the first four teams were successfully established at the road depots in Ndabeni, Fish Hoek, Heideveld and Kuils River.
 
Subsequently, teams were established at the depots of Hillstar, Kraaifontein, Sacks Circle, Southfield, as well as at Killarney where two teams have been appointed to fix potholes and do general road and stormwater maintenance.
 
The establishment of the two additional teams at Ebenezer and Atlantis will bring the number of women-only road repair teams across Cape Town to 12.

‘Next on our list is to implement women-only road repair teams at the road depots in Khayelitsha, Strand, Parow, Hout Bay, Durbanville and Mitchells Plain. We expect these teams to be in place within the next two months or so,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport and Urban Development, Councillor Brett Herron.
 
The City has excelled in the roll-out of the Women-at-Work Programme, exceeding its target of establishing ten teams in the 2016/17 financial year.

‘Our research indicates that the women-only road repair teams are already setting new standards in terms of the quality of the work they are doing. This is an exciting result, one which we believe will inspire others to follow suit. It also confirms the success of the training programme and support that these teams receive from the TDA Training Academy,’ said Councillor Herron.

The roll-out of the women-only road repair teams with entry-level permanent positions at the TDA road depots will assist the City to grow the number of women in the transport and urban development realm which is traditionally a male-dominated industry.
 
‘There is a bigger picture in mind which could benefit society at large, especially in changing general perceptions about the ability of women to compete equally in a male-dominated industry. The training programme is also setting national benchmarking standards in the transport and urban development realm,’ said Councillor Herron.

In order to support the sustainability of the programme and its purpose, the TDA has made a decision to allocate vacant worker positions to the programme.

‘Meaning, the women from the four pilot teams who were appointed as temporary workers through the EPWP, have successfully applied for permanent positions at the road depots. The aim is to gradually expand the number of permanent employment opportunities so that we can appoint as many qualifying women as possible at our road depots across Cape Town,’ said Councillor Herron.
 
The Women-at-Work programme has received numerous awards since its inception in 2015:

• Women in Construction Awards: Most Innovative Women Training Programme (Midrand – City of Johannesburg).
• Employment Equity: Recognition of Excellence Award - Women Empowerment and Gender Equity External Focus: Departmental Initiative for Gender Equality.
• Employment Equity: Recognition of Excellence Award - Women Empowerment and Gender Equity: Capacity Building and Advancement of Women for Gender Equality.
• International Award: The 3rd Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation: Certificate of Recognition for its contribution to urban innovation.

‘This initiative serves a dual purpose. Firstly, it is in keeping with the City’s Organisational Development and Transformation Plan which aims to ensure that women enjoy economic inclusion by supporting skills development initiatives in high growth sectors to create the skills base required for a growing economy. Secondly, it addresses the global issue of low participation by women in the transport industry in general,’ said Councillor Herron.
 

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