Before 1994 there were hardly any women in positions of leadership and most top positions both in the public and private sector were dominated by white males. There has been a sea change in the past 20 years with women taking up leadership positions in every sphere of society, even those that were previously perceived as the exclusive domain of men.We have steadily been breaking the mold and women now occupy strategic leadership positions in government’s security cluster. The appointment of General Riah Phiyega as National Police Commissioner in 2012 and the subsequent appointment of Ambassador Sonto Kudjoe as the Director-General of the State Security Agency in 2013 might have been considered as ground breaking in other countries, but was seen as the norm in South Africa.
It would be fair to say that our achievements in proactively involving women in governance constitutes one of South Africa's many successes. It is all the more remarkable given that many countries around the world still grapple with the issue of women empowerment.
Since 1994 successive administrations have prioritised gender equality and women empowerment. There have been numerous successes over the years most notably in female representation in the Public Service. As of March 2014 female representation at the Senior Management Service level stands at 3 734 (39.8 per cent).
Prior to 1994, there was a mere 2.7 per cent representation of women in Parliament and today it stands at 41.5 per cent, while representation in the National Council of Provinces stands at 33 per cent. This puts South Africa tenth on the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s list of Women in National Parliaments. Notably we are ahead of long established democracies such as the United States, United Kingdom and Germany.
This should come as no surprise given that the first speaker of the National Assembly was a woman as was the second. Dr Frene Ginwala served in the post from 1994 to 2004; she was succeeded by Baleka Mbete-Kgositsile who served as speaker from 2004 to 2008.
Baleka Mbete would later serve as South Africa’s second female Deputy President from 2008 to 2009, having succeeded Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka who was appointed South Africa’s first female Deputy President; she held office from 2005 to 2008.
Baleka Mbete is currently serving her second team as speaker of the National Assembly and
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and the Executive Director of UN Women.
The United Nations has also claimed another South African as its own. Navanethem Pillay is the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Closer to home we saw the election of Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma as the first female Chairperson of theAfrican Union Commission.
Wherever one goes in South Africa the proverbial glass ceiling is being shattered and women are boldly breaking new ground.
As we celebrate Women’s Month and remember the heroic and selfless women who sacrificed all so that we may be free, it would be remiss not to reflect on women empowerment today.
The 2013/2014 Annual Report of the Commission for Employment Equity paints a mixed picture on women empowerment.
Female representation at top management has increased steadily by 6.6 per cent from 14 per cent in 2003 to 20.6 per cent in 2013. However females still lag far behind their male counterparts who occupied 79.4 per cent of top management posts in 2013. The figures are only slightly better at senior management level where female representation increased from 22.3 per cent in 2003 to 29.9 in 2013.
These figures indicate that in both top and senior management change has happened too slowly and is reflective of the blockages which prevent women from reaching the upper echelons of the corporate world.
The removal of the persisting barriers to the advancement of women, many of which are systemic remains critical if we are to achieve women empowerment and gender equality. Government has been at the forefront of removing barriers and has put in place legislation to create an enabling environment for women, and to improve their participation in income-generating activities in the economy.
We are encouraged by the level of women’s representation at the highest public office. About 43 per cent of ministers and 46 per cent of deputy ministers are women.
Women now have increased access to participate in sectors that were previously male dominated such as the judiciary, defence, engineering, finance and commercial fields.
However, what is most encouraging is that even more women are taking their future into their own hands by studying. The 2013/2014 Annual Report of the Commission for Employment Equity shows that female representation at the professionally qualified level was at 43 per cent in 2013 up from only 36 per cent in 2003.
This indicates that a new generation of talented young women is steadily emerging; therefore we must do more to prepare them for leadership roles and accelerate their rate of progress in society. These talented women will forge their own destinies and move South Africa forward just like the women who marched on the Union Buildings in 1956, and those who defied the pass system in 1913.
Faith Muthambi is Minister of Communications
