Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE), has embarked on a journey to be informative through their wellness programmes, as experienced by lady departmental officials at the Womens Day celebrations, held in East London recently.

With an increase in diabetes, high blood pressure and general ills, the Wellness Directorate works hard in ensuring physical activities for employees to take part in, such as aerobics, netball, soccer and fun games.  Not only concentrating on physical activities, but also causes of such illnesses. Wellness invited a host of professionals to speak on eating patterns and how that can affect performance at the work place, an audiologist, Virgin Active, GEMS and the benefits they offer to government employees, tips and ideas that can be texted directly to the phone on ideas for exercise at the work place.

As the ECDoE services hundreds of thousands of employees, stakeholders and clients, they too touched on the mental wellbeing of employees and how interpersonal relations affect the work place environment, what we can do to better those relationships, avoid animosity and a poor working environment.  They shared best working practices and how to keep emotions in check. After a day filled with fun, laughter and a wealth of knowledge, lady government officials went away feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the responsibilities they have of servicing the Eastern Cape. The day went into night ending with a cocktail gala dinner which saw women dressing to the nines, to celebrate the women of 1956 and the current generation that is.

This occasion was graced by the presence of highly influential women within the sphere of government.  Present amongst others were, Deputy Mayor Councilor Z Matane, Buffalo City Metro Municipality and Member of the National Council of Provinces, Zoleka Capa.

A breakdown of the Employment Equity Report was also presented which gave a clear indication of the number of women employed by the Department in specific positions compared to their male counterparts.

It was interesting to note that, very few women occupy Senior Management positions as opposed to males.  The employment equity statics reveal that no woman is employed at salary level 15 and 16, only 4 at salary level 14 and 11 at salary level 13.  Compared to their counterparts the numbers tell a different story where 3 males are at salary level 15 and 16, 6 at salary level 14 and 30 at salary level13.

It is evident that more still needs to be done in terms of elevating women to positions of leadership.  One can only hope that the agenda of transformation will accelerate placement of more women in leadership positions.

“WATHINT’ ABAFAZI WATHINT’ IMBOKOTHO”