Empowering women
Over the past 30 years, South Africa has come a long way in creating a country that respects and honours women’s rights. Today, women are represented in every sphere of society, and even in roles that were previously only the domain of men.
At the dawn of democracy in 1994 we inherited a deeply divided society, with profound socio-economic and racial disparities. Women were mostly relegated to the fringes of society. The powerful impact of women on our nation was demonstrated on the 9th of August 1956 when South African women marched against discriminatory apartheid laws.
Thanks to the resilience of women, the pass laws were later abolished, and it was proven that when "you strike the women, you strike the rock". We applaud the strength, determination and bravery of the women who came before us. Their selfless actions helped to pave the path for our democracy and its manifold opportunities.
Today, the Bill of Rights guarantees equal treatment for all South Africans and prohibits unfair discrimination based on race, gender or sex. As a society we should be proud of all we have achieved since 1994, however, we continue to face the scourge of violence against women and children.
In the words of President Cyril Ramaphosa: "The unacceptably high levels of gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa are a blight on our national conscience, and a betrayal of our constitutional order for which so many fought, and for which so many gave their lives."
According to the 30-Year Review of South Africa’s Democracy 1994-2024, published by the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, "Women economic empowerment is defined as both the ability to succeed and advance economically, and the power to make and act on economic decisions."
President Cyril Ramaphosa has over the past five years reiterated government’s commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs. Through the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act of 2000 and Preferential Procurement Regulations of 2022, government has committed to setting aside 40% of public procurement for women-owned businesses. Ensuring women’s full participation within the economy is essential to achieve equity, prosperity and shared and inclusive growth.
Further, women entrepreneurs benefit from targeted government funding initiatives such as the National Empowerment Fund’s Women Empowerment Fund, which provides funding of R250 000 to R75 million for businesses owned by black women, across a range of sectors.
Programmes such as the SheTradesZA platform were introduced to assist women-owned businesses to participate in global value chains and markets. Through the SheTradesZA Hub, women entrepreneurs are given an opportunity to increase their international competitiveness and gain access to national, regional and global markets.
Government has made significant progress over the past 30 years of democracy, with the number of women – particularly African women – in senior management positions nearly tripling, especially in the last two decades.
The National Strategic Plan (NSP) is a government and civil society’s multi-sectoral strategic framework to realise a South Africa free from gender-based violence and femicide. It recognises all violence against women (across age, location, disability, sexual orientation, sexual and gender identity, nationality and other diversities) as well as violence against children. The NSP is premised on the equality of all gender groupings including the LGBTQI+ community – and affirms that accessing services is human rights-based.
Government has dedicated R21 billion to implement the NSP which includes women empowerment, psychological support, legal reforms and provision of evidence kits at police stations. The NSP is further strengthened by various new legislation that has been enacted to strengthen the criminal justice system, promote accountability across the state and support survivors.
The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act Amendment Act 13 of 2022, The Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Act 12 of 2022, and The Domestic Violence Amendment Act 14 of 2022 are key interventions of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. These new laws increase protection for victims of gender-based violence and femicide and further prevent perpetrators from escaping justice. Amongst others, the new legislation tightens bail conditions, strengthens parole conditions, ensures consequences for contravening a protection order, as well as increasing the minimum sentence for perpetrators of sexual offences.
Government has also increased the number of sexual offences courts and various specialised units within the SAPS. Direct support is provided to victims through Thuthuzela and Khuseleka Care Centres, which provide survivors of GBVF with various services such as psychosocial support and trauma counselling, health care, police services, and legal assistance.
Laws such as these are designed to empower women and to provide pathways for women to liberate themselves from abusive relationships. Empowering women is one of the important levers in fighting the prevalence of GBVF.
While these laws and policies aim to empower women, effective implementation is vital. Government, through institutions like Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), conducts research to identify existing gaps that require attention. As decision-makers in the public sector, we have a responsibility to heed these insights and direct our efforts accordingly.
According to the Gender Series Volume XI: Women Empowerment, 2014 – 2024 report published by Stats SA in August, women in South Africa are more likely to be unemployed than men and are less likely to participate in the labour market than their male counterparts. The report highlights that the percentage of women in middle management positions rose from 45.2% in 2019 to 46.4% in 2023, while senior management roles saw an increase from 42.4% to 45.2% over the same period.
According to the same report, the country is making significant strides in the political arena regarding women’s empowerment. Representation of women in parliament increased from 33.0% in 2004 to 42.8% in 2024, while women in the National Council of Provinces rose from 41.0% to 44.4%.
It further notes that "achieving gender equity in decision-making positions – both in government and the private sector – is crucial to providing females with responsibilities for planning, making decisions, recommending policies, and coordinating empowerment efforts". As we fill vacant positions, it is crucial to remember that gender equity is a fundamental aspect of the government’s commitment to leaving no one behind.
This understanding underscores why governments worldwide and organisations such as the United Nations (UN) prioritise women's empowerment in their policies. South Africa is part of the AU Circle of Champions, which is an association of African Heads of State who have committed to implementing programmes at a national and continental level that promote positive masculinity and encourage more men and boys to be part of the fight against gender-based violence.
Let us strive to be part of the solution to end discrimination against women and GBVF by implementing and supporting programmes that empower women. Together, we can ensure that women are not placed in vulnerable positions, fostering an environment where they can contribute fully to society.