Watch Out Gauteng - Here's a Woman With a Vision!
By Tumelo Modisane

August 18, 2005 - (BuaNews) "My challenge is to convert the systems and processes already in place into tangible delivery - that is sustainable human settlements in Gauteng!"

So says Manching Monama, who has been appointed the new head of department at the Department of Housing in Gauteng as from 1 August.

Ms Monama, whose energy is contagious, was previously the director-general in the Office of the Premier, Limpopo Provincial Government, where she served since 1998.

She is a qualified attorney who holds an LLB from Wits University and has also studied at Harvard University.
And how does she feel about the appointment?

"It's a good feeling," she told BuaNews today. "It makes me feel I'm contributing to the transformation of the country!"

Ms Monama says her appointment comes at a time when the President is talking implementation; and to that end she must ensure that the goals the President, the Premier, and Gauteng MEC for Housing Nomvula Mokonyane have set [in the area of housing] are achieved.

Hence Ms Monama chooses to work on "making the systems in place - implementation systems and not discussion systems."

The appointment of Ms Monama, which comes during Women's Month, affirms the Gauteng Provincial Government and Premier Shilowa's confidence in women as leaders and active agents in the fight against poverty; and in the building of secure and sustainable communities, says Annette Griessel the chief director of communication in the Gauteng Provincial Government.

The appointment also reaffirms the government's commitment to increase the number of women in senior management and maximise their participation in the public service.

"Currently, 29 percent of our senior managers are women, while five out of ten MEC's and five out of the eleven heads of departments are women," says Ms Griessel.

The Gauteng Provincial Government has committed itself to ensure that, by 2009, women occupy a minimum of 50 percent of senior management positions.

Other Gauteng provincial government departments that are headed by women include Community Safety; Finance and Economic Affairs; Health; and Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture.

The dynamic heads of the above departments are Ayanda Dlodlo, Bongiwe Kunene, Laetitia Rispel, and Maggie Modiba respectively.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200508190608.html