Remaining challenges
By Nozuko Gloria Bam
As we celebrate women’s month, it is worth noting that, only recently were South African women recognised as equal partners who are contributing immensely in the development of their country. Today South Africa has an inclusive Constitution that protects the rights for all. It set the foundation for a statutory and policy framework for gender empowerment.
The empowerment of women is about eliminating gender discrimination, patriarchy, sexism, racism, ageism, gender based violence and structural oppression by creating an environment that enables women to take control of their lives. To achieve the empowerment of women, our focus is on policy and research.
Policy review and research enable the state to consider the extent to which policies are advancing women, review law and identify gaps which may be impeding women’s development. Therefore, South Africa’s key areas from a policy perspective are: education, labour market, access to credit, land and property, poverty and inequality and unpaid work. As we implement empowerment programmes we are guided by our National Development Plan: Vision 2030 and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda on the SDGs. This is particularly important for South Africa as we continue to deal with the triple challenge of unemployment, poverty and inequality of which women are on the receiving end.
Education: The Ministry of Women is working with civil society and corporate South Africa to ensure the empowerment of women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The government also works with businesses on the “Take a Girl Child to Work” programme as a mechanism to introduce girls to various careers available. Access to education underpins much of women’s full engagement in the economy. In the period 1996 to 2014, women’s overall enrolment in higher education increased from 48% to 58%. South Africa continues to make resources available for women to study further and in this regard, 56% of bursaries were offered to women towards postgraduate degrees in all fields in 2016 and 2017.
Labour Market: South Africa has amended its Employment Equity Act to achieve equity in the workplace and introduced fair treatment particularly for women in the care economy. Women form 49% of the labour force mainly in the service sector. We have recently agreed on a minimum wage for domestic workers. In the broader formal economy, opportunities for women have been improved through preferential procurement policies in favor of women.
Access to funding is critical for empowerment of women in the economy ― It is a fact that the current criteria, institutions and processes of funding are not friendly for women to be able to shape, participate and contribute to the economy. To this effect government welcomed the 30% Club ― a global team of listed companies that have committed to ensuring at least 30% women representation on their boards. It is encouraging to note increases in Black women directorship of JSE-Listed companies. In 2006, there were 114 black women directors in JSE-listed companies ― a number that increased to 385 by 2016. Since January this year, it is now mandatory for all listed entities to have a policy of promoting gender diversity at board level ― as well as disclosure of how they are performing against this policy. In the judiciary, our statistics currently show that of the 242 permanent judges, 86 are women ― representing about 35% of the total. Earlier this month, President Zuma announced his nomination of a woman to become South Africa’s first female President of the Supreme Court of Appeal.
Even with enabling policies and laws, there is still a large challenge in ensuring that the legal and regulatory frameworks are effectively implemented, enforced, monitored and evaluated.
Nozuko Gloria Bam is the ambassador of South Africa in Korea.