Sandton: Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Minister, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has warned that there can be no resilient economy while wealth and income inequality persist along gender lines. Speaking at the official launch held at the Sandton Convention Centre on Friday, Chikunga emphasised that economic resilience is fundamentally undermined when half the population remains economically marginalised.

According to South African Government News Agency, Chikunga stated that financial inclusion for women goes far beyond basic access to banking. ‘It represents a fundamental shift in economic power,’ she noted, highlighting the need to challenge discriminatory lending practices, advocate for property rights reforms, and confront cultural norms that position men as the primary financial decision-makers.

Chikunga argued that true economic resilience requires a deliberate reconstruction of systems and structures that harness the full productive potential of all citizens, with particular attention to those historically excluded from economic power. She pointed out that Africa, with its rapidly growing population, represents the future of trade and market success. The continent’s population is projected to increase significantly, representing an untapped market that must be connected through technology and innovation.

The Minister underscored the need for women to be at the forefront of the African market. Traditional trade models, she argued, have proven insufficient in addressing the paradox of a wealthy Africa inhabited by poor Africans. Research shows that economies with higher levels of women’s participation in trade enjoy greater resilience, innovation, and sustainable growth.

Despite these strengths, Chikunga acknowledged barriers remain, such as limited access to digital tools and excessive red tape, which prevent women from fully participating in cross-border trade. She called on policymakers, businesses, and development financiers to intensify efforts to eliminate these barriers and expand trade opportunities for women.

Chikunga highlighted the need for a Comprehensive Financial Architecture Reform that establishes gender-responsive financial systems. This includes creating women-focused investment funds and developing alternative credit scoring mechanisms. She urged financial institutions to adopt collateral-free lending programmes to ensure women’s limited property ownership does not exclude them from accessing capital.

Deputy Minister Mmapaseka Steve Letsike echoed Chikunga’s message, urging women to see themselves as active economic drivers. She encouraged women to take ownership across all sectors, particularly in the financial and digital economies, asserting that it is time for women to lead a march for economic emancipation.