As South Africa continues to make significant strides in women’s representation in government, greater efforts are urgently needed to ensure women’s leadership extends to corporate and economic sectors.
The Department of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities made the remarks ahead of the global commemoration of International Women’s Day (IWD) on Saturday, 8 March 2025.
International Women’s Day is a worldwide celebration of women’s achievements, as well as a powerful call to action for gender equality.
The day serves as a reminder of the invaluable contributions women make to society, while also highlighting the ongoing challenges they continue to face in various spheres of life.
This year’s theme, “Accelerate Action” encourages the global community to intensify efforts to implement strategies, allocate resources, and initiate activities that will positively impact the advancement of women everywhere.
The WID 2025 coincides with the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) (“Beijing +30”).
The year also marks the final five years of the 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), underscoring the urgency of advancing gender equality globally.
The department emphasised that with the right action and support, positive progress can be made for women across the globe.
“South Africa continues to make strides in women’s representation in government, with women making up 46% of Parliament and 43% of the Cabinet. However, greater efforts are needed to ensure women’s leadership in corporate and economic sectors.
“More work should be done to accelerate equal representation, as women remain underrepresented in high-income sectors and continue to face significant wage gaps. To bridge the gap, there is a need to demonstrate actions to stronger policies on financial inclusion, access to credit, and workplace protections for women,” the department said on Friday.
The department highlighted the importance of equipping women with the necessary tools and resources to start and grow businesses, manage household finances, and invest in their futures.
These efforts will strengthen their voices in decisions affecting them, and also help narrow gender gaps in financial access, while endorsing broader social and economic equality.
In alignment with the Government of National Unity's (GNU) priorities for the 7th administration, which has identified rapid, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth for all South Africans, the department emphasised that these priorities align closely with the World Economic Forum's (WEF) agenda for women’s rights.
The WEF focuses on closing gender gaps in economic participation, pay, and leadership.
“The South African Constitution champions the achievement of equality, including gender equality, throughout its provisions, particularly section 9 of the Constitution, which creates a basis for the obligation of the public sector, the private sector and civil society to eliminate and remedy gender, race and social inequalities,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
