For instance, when we mobilise, educate and inform our communities on women development; and addressing violence against women and children through awareness-raising campaigns, we must not do development dumps; as in jetting in and out of communities with hosts of workshops, in the quests to get quick results.

and processes that always shape human interaction. We might have one common goal for a total emancipation of women at all spheres of our lives, but perhaps, women leaders still need to make a transition from working in comfortable zones as in silos, to achieving greater integration of our work to empower women. You and I have a responsibility towards those women who are not here to also have this kind of an opportunity.

I have thus a great hope then that, the notion

of awarding excellence later this morning, will show-case women leaders in law enforcement who are moving away from a working system characterised by silo-thinking, and to being able to work across set boundaries to achieve impactful outcomes for women’s equality, safety and development This integration of our work necessitates and obliges women leaders in enforcement to be truly committed in involving people and communities they serve in a collective and inclusive manner, as each person or community has different parts of understandings, experiences, information and knowledge.

We must emphasise on a sustainable and impactful integrated work in addressing women’s empowerment, by working together with other women structures such as the Progressive Women’s Movement of South Africa (PWMSA) and other government departments such as the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities.

The collaborative effort sustains a quality leadership for transformation, as opposed to a silo and quick-seeking solutions that seeks for more quantity input. Yes, structures and people represented here come with their focused respective mandate; some are experts in human resource management, others in skills development and training; and some even in legislation. We must strengthen institutions and practices of popular participation.

Our approach must in practice, be premised on people-centred and people-driven process of transformation. All of society must take part in this national effort and, effective systems of interaction with all social partners must be established.

August 2011 | Management Today 111