The Ministry for Women, Children and People with Disabilities notes the Report on Gender in 2011 Local Government Elections released by Genderlinks today providing analysis on representation of women in local government.
The Ministry is disappointed at the decline in the percentage of women as councilors in the country from 40% in 2006 to 38% after the 2011 Local Government Elections. This development once again confirms the urgent need for a legislation to spearhead the increase in representation of women in decision making positions.
The failure of all political parties - other than the ANC - to field an adequate number of women as candidates for the 2011 elections has led to the decrease in the number of women councilors. This is a setback in the country’s effort to achieve gender parity by 2015 in line with the targets set in the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development that SA is signatory to.
The Genderlinks report indicates that the ANC was the only political party which committed to 50/50 gender parity in the compilation of its list of candidates and the party also mainstreamed the issues of women in its election manifesto. This led to the ANC having the highest percentage of women candidates (47%) of all parties that contested the May 18 elections. From the results of the elections, the party has the highest percentage of women councilors at 44%.
On the other hand, DA fielded 33% women candidates. Post elections, only 30% of all DA councilors are women. Cope has 28% women councilors followed by NFP at 27% and IFP is at 25%.
For the country to achieve the target of 50/50 gender parity, Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities Ms Lulu Xingwana says women in opposition will also need to stand up and champion the course of women. She said the women in the ANC led by example in this area and the ANC has made an effort to adhere to the 50/50 gender parity in the compilation of its lists of candidates for elections.
“We are developing the necessary legislation which should compel all political parties to adhere to the principle of gender equality. The Gender Equality Bill will be submitted to Cabinet by March 2012 and it will also extend to the issue of employment and appointment of women to senior positions in both the public and private sector,” said Minister Xingwana.
Contact:
Sibani Mngadi
Cell: 082 772 0161
