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Media release

Media release

Absa Group, SACCI celebrate success of inaugural Women-in-Business Directors Training Programme

13 August 2024

Absa Group is proud to have collaborated with the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) to sponsor the inaugural Absa-SACCI Women-in Business Directors Training Programme, which took place from 5 July to 2 August 2024 and culminated in ten (10) women completing the programme.

The board training programme, conducted by the Institute of Directors South Africa (IoDSA), was aimed at identifying and nurturing women who have the potential to excel in board roles, and equipping them with the essential knowledge and skills required to thrive as successful business leaders and board members. The content covered critical areas such as governance, strategic planning, ethics, compliance and risk management.

The training comes at a time when South Africa continues to struggle to achieve gender parity in business, and particularly at board level. The 2023 Status of Gender on JSE-listed Boards report showed that the proportion of women on boards increased to 32% from 23% in 2017. While there is no available data on unlisted companies, the representation of women on these boards is likely to be even lower.

According to Absa’s Lead Independent Director, Ms Nonhlanhla Mjoli-Mncube, supporting the Women-in-Business Directors Training Programme is part of the Group’s commitment to being an active force for good in everything we do. “This programme has afforded us the opportunity to not only support the empowerment of women, but to also strengthen governance in our institutions and communities,” Mjoli-Mncube said.

She said there is a need for urgent and focussed efforts to increase women decision makers in general and women board leaders in particular.

It is for this reason that Absa Group and SACCI are delighted at the success of the programme and we celebrated the first cohort of board trainees during an event this women’s month. The candidates had an opportunity to share their reflections and insights on the training programme, while there was also a panel discussion looking at what it will take to increase gender equity and diversity on corporate boards.

13 August 2024

Absa Group is proud to have collaborated with the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) to sponsor the inaugural Absa-SACCI Women-in Business Directors Training Programme, which took place from 5 July to 2 August 2024 and culminated in ten (10) women completing the programme.

The board training programme, conducted by the Institute of Directors South Africa (IoDSA), was aimed at identifying and nurturing women who have the potential to excel in board roles, and equipping them with the essential knowledge and skills required to thrive as successful business leaders and board members. The content covered critical areas such as governance, strategic planning, ethics, compliance and risk management.

The training comes at a time when South Africa continues to struggle to achieve gender parity in business, and particularly at board level. The 2023 Status of Gender on JSE-listed Boards report showed that the proportion of women on boards increased to 32% from 23% in 2017. While there is no available data on unlisted companies, the representation of women on these boards is likely to be even lower.

According to Absa’s Lead Independent Director, Ms Nonhlanhla Mjoli-Mncube, supporting the Women-in-Business Directors Training Programme is part of the Group’s commitment to being an active force for good in everything we do. “This programme has afforded us the opportunity to not only support the empowerment of women, but to also strengthen governance in our institutions and communities,” Mjoli-Mncube said.

She said there is a need for urgent and focussed efforts to increase women decision makers in general and women board leaders in particular.

It is for this reason that Absa Group and SACCI are delighted at the success of the programme and we celebrated the first cohort of board trainees during an event this women’s month. The candidates had an opportunity to share their reflections and insights on the training programme, while there was also a panel discussion looking at what it will take to increase gender equity and diversity on corporate boards.