Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi spoke passionately at the Vaal University of Technology about the ongoing fight for gender equality in South Africa. She highlighted both the progress made, like more women in government and courts, and the big challenges still faced, such as unfair jobs, cultural barriers, and high unemployment for Black women. Kubayi reminded everyone that real change needs teamwork and sharing success so no one is left behind. Her message was clear: together, South African women can break old rules and build a fairer future for all.
What are the main challenges and progress in achieving gender equality in South Africa?
South Africa faces persistent gender inequality shaped by historical oppression, economic disadvantages, and workplace barriers. Progress includes increased female representation in government and judiciary. Key challenges remain in unequal employment, cultural norms, and limited access to high-level professions, requiring coordinated policies and collective action.
A Legacy of Leadership and Collective Responsibility
On a brisk morning at the Vaal University of Technology, Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi addressed a diverse audience assembled for the Women’s Dialogue. The energy in the hall reflected the urgency and hope fueling South Africa’s drive toward gender parity. Academics, students, and leaders gathered not just to listen, but to engage in the pressing call for women’s advancement.
Minister Kubayi opened with a call to action, emphasizing that opportunities bring obligations. She invoked the timeless wisdom of Charlotte Maxeke, a pioneer for women’s rights in South Africa, whose guiding belief insisted that any personal progress should also uplift others. This principle, rooted deeply in the country’s history, still guides contemporary efforts to dismantle barriers facing women.
Throughout her remarks, the Minister drew on the struggles and triumphs of past generations. She recognized the foundational role played by women like Maxeke, whose advocacy during the early 1900s set the stage for ongoing resistance against gender injustice. The spirit of “bringing others with you” has become an essential thread in South Africa’s tapestry of activism and reform.
Historical Context and Persistent Challenges
South African history, marked by apartheid and structural oppression, continues to shape the reality of women today. Under apartheid, Black women experienced intersecting discrimination based on race, gender, and economic status. Cultural icons such as Miriam Makeba and Bessie Head captured these hardships in their art and literature, ensuring future generations would not forget the sacrifices and resilience of their predecessors.
Reflecting on this complex legacy, Minister Kubayi acknowledged both progress and persistent inequality. Women have certainly achieved noteworthy advances, breaking through barriers in many sectors. However, the figures underscore a sobering reality: Black African women remain disproportionately affected by social and economic hardships, occupying the most precarious positions within society.
The Minister highlighted how, despite advancements, economic participation remains unequal. Black African women, in particular, confront higher unemployment rates and greater difficulties in accessing formal, stable employment. These hurdles reinforce the need for transformative action that addresses the systemic roots of gendered inequality.
Economic Disadvantages and Shifting Opportunities
The South African job market continues to reflect entrenched gender disparities. Women, especially in the informal sector, find themselves excluded from stable employment and regular incomes. Men who are self-employed are more likely to operate businesses within the formal economy, benefiting from security and higher earnings. Meanwhile, women shoulder a disproportionate burden of unemployment – especially those between the ages of 25 and 34.
Households led by women with several children face even starker challenges. In 2024, unemployment among men with five or more children reached nearly half. For women in the same circumstances, the rate climbed even higher, with Black African women reporting a staggering unemployment rate of over 40% at the start of 2025.
Despite these obstacles, Kubayi noted incremental gains in government employment. The share of women in middle management roles increased modestly from 45.2% in 2019 to 46.4% in 2023. Senior management also reported a slight uptick in female representation. Notably, women under 35 are beginning to outnumber their male counterparts in public sector management, hinting at a generational shift that could further alter the landscape.
Judicial Transformation and Remaining Inequities
The legal profession in South Africa offers a striking case study in both progress and the challenges that remain. In 1994, the judiciary’s ranks were overwhelmingly white and male. Only two white women and three Black men held judicial positions, and not a single Black woman served on the bench.
Fast forward to today, and a dramatic transformation has taken place. Women now account for nearly half of the country’s 252 judges. Leadership at the highest levels of the judiciary has shifted as well, with women presiding over six of the nation’s fifteen Superior Courts, including the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court of Appeal. The magistracy – a cornerstone of the judicial system – now boasts a 54% female majority.
However, the transformation has not reached all corners of the profession. Black and female lawyers remain concentrated in fields considered “soft,” such as family and personal injury law, while commercial and international law continue to be dominated by longstanding male networks. The market-driven nature of the legal profession has failed to open these lucrative and influential sectors to women and Black professionals, underscoring the limitations of reform without targeted intervention.
Barriers in the Workplace and Cultural Obstacles
The world of work remains fraught with visible and hidden obstacles for women. Sectors such as agriculture, domestic service, and hospitality tend to employ women in insecure jobs with unpredictable hours and limited protections. Family responsibilities, especially childcare and eldercare, present further complications, rendering women’s participation in the workforce more precarious. Many women travel long distances for work, yet employers rarely adapt to their specific needs.
Deeply embedded gender norms continue to restrict women’s advancement, especially in male-dominated industries. Promotions and leadership roles often remain out of reach, not because of a lack of talent or ambition, but due to exclusionary networks and implicit biases. These hurdles are not unique to South Africa, but mirror global patterns observed since the emergence of women’s rights movements in the late 20th century.
The Minister stressed the need for women to challenge and rewrite entrenched rules, insisting that the structures governing politics, economics, and social life have long favored men. The pathway to genuine equality lies in transforming these frameworks, creating new norms that ensure fairness and opportunity for all.
Policies and Pathways for Inclusive Growth
Effective strategies to close the gender gap require coordinated policy interventions and determined implementation. International research, including reports from the United Nations, advocates for holistic approaches that open non-traditional industries – such as technology, engineering, and finance – to women. Targeted recruitment, skills training, and mentorship programs can break down barriers and equip women for new opportunities.
Workplace reforms must address both tangible and intangible forms of discrimination. Enforcing equal pay, instituting flexible working arrangements, and ensuring workplace safety are critical steps toward leveling the playing field. Social protection measures – like minimum wage standards, social grants, and paid parental leave – play a vital role in reducing vulnerability and promoting economic security for women, particularly single mothers and caregivers.
Minister Kubayi emphasized that individual effort alone cannot bring about gender equality. Only through robust social networks, institutional support, and a communal sense of responsibility can women collectively advance and “lift as they rise.” These principles echo the spirit of Ubuntu, the African philosophy of shared humanity and interconnectedness, which insists that one person’s progress must benefit the wider community.
Cultural Expression and the Continuing Dialogue
Art, literature, and activism have always provided powerful tools for women to express both struggle and hope. South African writers and visual artists, from Nontsizi Mgqwetho to Zanele Muholi, have used their craft to challenge stereotypes and document resilience. Their contributions run parallel to policy changes, offering alternative spaces for dialogue and transformation.
Minister Kubayi’s call to move beyond individual ambition toward collective upliftment recalls the wisdom of past activists and the broader ethos of solidarity that underpins much of South Africa’s progress. She urged participants to draw on the values of empathy, cooperation, and shared responsibility to build a more just and equitable society.
The VUT Women’s Dialogue did not pretend to resolve the deeply rooted issues facing women, nor did it offer quick fixes. Instead, it provided a platform for open engagement, critical reflection, and mutual support. Attendees left with a renewed understanding that the journey toward gender equality requires ongoing effort in every sphere – public and private, institutional and cultural.
As women and their allies continue to challenge old limits and forge new paths, they weave a more inclusive and vibrant future for all. The enduring legacy of leaders like Charlotte Maxeke and the persistent efforts of this generation keep the movement alive, steadily unravelling centuries of exclusion and charting a course toward true equality.
FAQ on Gender Equality and Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi’s Address at VUT Women’s Dialogue
1. What progress has South Africa made toward gender equality?
South Africa has made significant strides, particularly in increasing women’s representation in government and the judiciary. Women now make up nearly half of the country’s judges, and female presence in middle and senior management roles in the public sector has seen modest but consistent growth. Young women under 35 are beginning to outnumber men in public sector management, signaling a promising generational shift toward gender parity.
2. What are the main challenges still facing South African women in achieving equality?
Despite progress, major challenges remain. Black African women face disproportionately high unemployment rates, especially those aged 25-34 or heading households with multiple children. Many women work in insecure, informal sectors with limited protections and face cultural barriers that restrict access to leadership and well-paid professions. Gender norms, exclusionary networks, and implicit bias continue to impede women’s career advancement, particularly in lucrative fields like commercial and international law.
3. How does South Africa’s historical context influence current gender inequality?
The legacy of apartheid and structural oppression has had a lasting impact, particularly on Black women who experienced intersecting discrimination based on race, gender, and economic status. These historical inequalities have entrenched economic disadvantages and cultural barriers that persist today. The struggles documented by cultural icons and activists serve as reminders of the resilience needed to confront ongoing social and economic exclusion.
4. What role does workplace discrimination play in the gender gap?
Workplace discrimination is a significant barrier to equality. Women often work in sectors with unstable employment conditions, such as domestic service, agriculture, and hospitality, which offer low pay and little job security. Family responsibilities and inflexible work environments further limit women’s participation and advancement. Additionally, women frequently face implicit bias and exclusion from male-dominated networks that control promotions and leadership opportunities.
5. What policy measures are recommended to promote gender equality in South Africa?
Effective policies include targeted recruitment and mentorship programs, skills training for women in non-traditional industries (like technology and finance), and enforcement of equal pay and workplace safety standards. Flexible working arrangements and social protections – such as paid parental leave and social grants – are crucial to supporting women, especially caregivers and single mothers. Minister Kubayi emphasizes that collective social support and institutional reforms are essential to achieving lasting change.
6. How does Minister Kubayi suggest women should approach the struggle for equality?
Minister Kubayi calls for a collective, team-oriented approach where women share successes and bring others along. She draws inspiration from historical figures like Charlotte Maxeke, advocating that individual progress must be tied to uplifting the wider community. Kubayi underscores the importance of solidarity, cooperation, and the African philosophy of Ubuntu – emphasizing interconnectedness and shared responsibility – as the foundation for building a fairer, more inclusive future.
If you want to learn more about gender equality efforts or how to get involved, attending dialogues like the VUT Women’s Dialogue and supporting inclusive policies are great ways to contribute to this vital movement.
