Try GOLD - Free
Addressing the gender pay gap in SA
Cape Argus
|August 19, 2025
MORE than three decades into democracy, South African women are still earning 35% less than men for the same work, with voluntary government interventions falling short in compelling companies to close gender pay gaps.
According to recent data from the World Economic Forum and other sources, in South Africa the gender pay gap in 2025 shows women earn 23% to 35% less than men for the same work. This translates to women earning roughly R72.44 for every R100 earned by men. A significant portion of this gap is attributed to women working in lower-paying companies and industries.
Stellenbosch University experts in their paper titled, Gender pay transparency mechanisms: Future directions for South Africa, say that despite various pieces of legislation aimed at preventing gender discrimination in the workplace, South Africa has a stagnant median gender pay gap of between 23% and 35%. The average global gap is about 20%, according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
This story is from the August 19, 2025 edition of Cape Argus.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Cape Argus
Cape Argus
Experts warn of health risks amid dwindling water supply
AS the City of Cape Town's Water and Sanitation Directorate urges everyone to reduce water consumption due to dam levels dropping to 19%, experts warn that while rainfall is uncontrollable, prioritising the protection of existing water resources is essential.
2 mins
January 09, 2026
Cape Argus
Trump's withdrawal signals new US policy
THE US's decision to withdraw from 66 international organisations has been described as a political signal that rules and institutions matter less than the country’s personal interests.
2 mins
January 09, 2026
Cape Argus
Sewer overflow causes chaos
WHAT was meant to be a fun day out turned into a smelly nightmare for families enjoying Llandudno Beach on Tuesday.
2 mins
January 09, 2026
Cape Argus
Sharks searching for new ‘Butch’ or ‘Michalak’ to fire up listless attack
THE Sharks have sent a squad composed mostly of up-and-coming youngsters to Manchester to face Sale Sharks in the Champions Cup.
2 mins
January 09, 2026
Cape Argus
STUDENTS CROWDFUND AS NSFAS FALLS SHORT
Young learners resort to selling food and online appeals to cover university registration and living costs.
3 mins
January 09, 2026
Cape Argus
Ramaphosa: Jobs crisis keeps me awake
PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed concern over the high levels of unemployment in the country, revealing that the issue often keeps him awake at night.
2 mins
January 09, 2026
Cape Argus
Time to relook school expenses
EVERY year, as the school year kicks off, parents find themselves facing the same daunting challenge: the skyrocketing costs of education.
1 mins
January 09, 2026
Cape Argus
Right to protest ‘under attack’ in UK
HUMAN Rights Watch (HRW) warned yesterday that the UK has “severely restricted the right to protest” in recent years and was expanding “repressive measures” against peaceful demonstrators.
2 mins
January 09, 2026
Cape Argus
Democracy is failing to deliver in Africa
ALGORITHMS aside, comments in public discourse that democracy is not for Africa increasingly surface on social media.
3 mins
January 09, 2026
Cape Argus
Zhipu Al’s successful IPO sets the stage for MiniMax’s market
LEADING
2 mins
January 09, 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size