The struggle for women’s leadership in SA

APPROXIMATELY three decades ago, women were not permitted to vote or to work, and three decades later, our gender disparities continue to persist in a country that advocates equality, fair play, and equal opportunity without prejudice and racism.

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Although female representation in parliament has increased tremendously since 1994, there are still significant challenges that women within the formal economy experience. For instance, female representation has been evident in Parliament, and in 2019, approximately half of our political cabinet comprised women. However, between 2019 and 2024, the number of women in influential political positions decreased.

Unfortunately, decision-making positions such as mayors and municipal councillors in South Africa still remain male-dominated. The 2021 municipal elections in South Africa indicated that women occupy only 37% of positions, whereas in 2016, the statistics indicated an over 40% representation.

The South African Local Government Association (SALGA), in a report compiled in 2022, revealed that women occupied 32% of mayoral positions and 30% of positions in senior management. The Eastern Cape and the Free State municipalities have a higher female representation than the Western Cape, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo. Within the Ethekwini municipality, a recent report indicated that senior management positions are still occupied by men, and one could argue that perhaps a higher number of female representations is needed for the municipality to be more effective and efficient amidst continual municipal service dissatisfaction.

The statistics within the private and corporate sectors are very similar. The number of men employed in top executive roles is far greater than the number of women occupying these positions.

Structural barriers still persist, and there have been limitations or glass ceilings identified as the gatekeepers as to why women, in particular, cannot ascend to the highest level of political influence. The numerous structural barriers can be detrimental to the development of women’s leadership to meet global sustainable development goals.