MEDIA STATEMENT

Date: 27 March 2024
Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Embargo: Immediate release

BUILT ENVIRONMENT WOMEN’S NETWORK (BEWN) AN INSTRUMENT TO EMPOWER WOMEN

Thirty years into democracy, the built environment sector is still not transformed and not reflective of the demographic makeup of the country. The sector is still male dominated with women poorly represented, while the youth is struggling to find opportunities.

It is against this background that on 08 March 08, 2024, The Council for the Built Environment (CBE) launched groundbreaking initiative, the Built Environment National Logbook (BENL), which is one of the strategic interventions of the Built Environment Professionalisation and Skills Development Strategy for the Public Sector. The Built Environment National Logbook is a comprehensive and centrally located electronic database that tracks and monitors built environment professionals, candidates, students, unemployed graduates, and artisans and will provide accurate statistical data on a continuous basis to the government and the industry.

One of the key strategic objectives of the BENL is to support the participation of women in the built environment and helping to improve the socio-economic landscape of the sector.

It is against this background that with are implementing the Built Environment Women’s Network (BEWN), which is aimed at empowering women in the sector.

The BEWN will provide women in the built environment with a wide spectrum of initiatives, ranging from innovative learning strategies and appropriate career counselling to more visibility of role models, from enhancing inclusive and fair workplace environments to promoting women in leadership positions to mention but a few.

It will also provide women in the built with a platform to connect, collaborate, and support one another in their professional development. The network is also designed to offer training programmes, workshops, and resources that equip women with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the Built Environment sector.

We invite all stakeholders, particularly women in the Built Environment to join us in the journey of women empowerment and gender equality in the BE sector. The registered members are advised to be on the lookout for further developments and activities planned for the network. We also encourage those that have not registered to take full advantage of the benefits offered in the network. Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of this transformative initiative.

ENDS

About the CBE:

The Council for the Built Environment (CBE) is a Schedule 3A Public Entity that reports to the National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure. It is a regulatory body established under the Council for the Built Environment Act 43 of 2000 (the CBE Act) that coordinates the following six Councils for the Built Environment Professions – Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Engineering, Property Valuers, Project and Construction Management, and Quantity Surveying – and through memoranda of understanding these include Town and Regional Planning, Land Surveying, and Environmental Assessment.

The CBE was established for the purpose of instilling good conduct within the Built Environment Professions, mobilising transformation in the Built Environment Professions, protecting the interest of the public in the Built Environment and advising the South African Government on Built Environment related issues. For more information visit: www.cbe.org.za

Issued by:
Dr Msizi Myeza
Chief Executive Officer
Council for the Built Environment
Tel: 012 346 3985
www.cbe.org.za

Enquiries:
Ms Nosizwe Mokoena
Strategic Support and Engagement Specialist
Mobile : 078 415 9211
Email : nosizwe@cbe.org.za

Ms Sinah Ndala
Communications Associate
Email : sinah@cbe.org.za