A Step Backwards? The Decline of Women in South African Leadership Post-2014
Comprehensive Report by: Sona Headlines Political Desk
Focus: Gender Parity, ANC Internal Politics & Continental Benchmarks
South Africa has long been hailed as a continental leader in the struggle for equitable democratic representation for women. However, after two decades of celebrated progress since the dawn of democracy, the outcomes of the 2014 elections have painted a somewhat disappointing picture of regression at the highest levels of provincial and national government.
From the controversial appointment of an all-male cabinet in the Western Cape to the systematic replacement of female ANC premiers with male candidates, the political landscape is shifting. We analyze the underlying causes, the response from gender watchdogs, and where South Africa stands compared to the rest of the continent.
The Purge of Female Premiers
The regression in female leadership at the provincial level is striking when compared to the heights reached in 2009.
The 2009 Benchmark
The High Watermark: After the 2009 elections, South Africa boasted women premiers in four of the eight provinces controlled by the ANC. Combined with Helen Zille in the Western Cape, this meant five out of the nine provincial premiers were women. However, Zille faced intense backlash and accusations of misogyny—ironically from the male-dominated ANC Youth League—after announcing an all-white, all-male provincial cabinet despite using women as the face of her campaign.
The 2014 Replacements
The Shift: The 2014 election drastically altered the landscape. While Zille retained her seat, only one ANC woman premier survived: Sylvia Lucas of the Northern Cape. Despite the ANC NEC reportedly favoring Gauteng treasurer Ntombi Mekgwe for premier, the provincial NEC rebelled and secured the position for David Makhura. Furthermore, female premiers in the North West (Thandi Modise) and Eastern Cape (Noxolo Kiviet) were completely replaced by men.
The Commission's Backlash
Recognizing the glaring gender disparity in premier appointments, the ANC attempted a political compromise. They decided to appoint female speakers to all legislatures where male premiers governed. However, this strategy was heavily criticized by watchdogs.
A Step Backwards
The Commission's Stance: South Africa’s Commission for Gender Equality forcefully rejected this compromise. They stated that appointing female speakers is "hardly an equivalent substitute or trade-off, given that the post of legislature speaker does not bear the same constitutional, legislative, and political authority as that of provincial premier." They officially labeled the 2014 outcome "a clear step backwards in the fight for gender equality."
A Foreseen Trend
Ignoring the Warnings: The Commission had already raised red flags in 2011 regarding a "worrying trend of women appointees being replaced by male candidates, from Deputy-President and Speaker of Parliament, to Ministers, mayors and councillors." Despite calls for the ANC to reconsider its 2014 appointments, the party pushed forward.
Representation By The Numbers
The statistical reality of South Africa's political landscape reveals both historical triumphs and current stagnation.
Parliamentary Decline
The Trajectory: South Africa saw incredible growth, moving from 27% female members of parliament in 1994 to a peak of 45% in 2009. However, the 2014 National Assembly dropped significantly, comprising only 38% women.
The Cabinet and the Courts
Executive Appointments: President Jacob Zuma’s newly appointed, outsized cabinet of 37 ministers includes 15 women (40%). Yet, in other critical forums, the disparity is stark—only two of the country’s ten current Constitutional Court justices are female.
The African and Global Context
Despite the recent backsliding, South Africa still ranks highly on the continent, though other nations are setting the ultimate standard.
Rwanda Leads the World
The Global Benchmark: It is Rwanda, not South Africa, that boasts the highest number of women parliamentarians globally, with women holding an astounding 56% of seats in its lower house.
Sub-Saharan Averages
The Broader Picture: The average percentage of women parliamentarians in sub-Saharan Africa is 21%. This is higher than the Middle East/North Africa (14%) and Asia (18%), and roughly equivalent to Europe (23%). Only nine African countries have achieved the 30% "critical mass" mark for women’s representation.
Sona Headlines Verdict
The Danger of Complacency
The 2014 election results serve as a stark warning. The progress made since 1994 is largely institutionalized through the ANC's internal proportional representation quotas, rather than a fundamental shift in societal attitudes. When political expediency or internal factionalism takes priority, women are often the first to be sidelined from executive power in favor of male candidates.
Vigilance is Required
As the Commission for Gender Equality pointed out, offering legislative speaker roles as a consolation prize for executive premier positions is unacceptable. South Africans cannot afford to be complacent about the progress made to date; continuous vigilance is required to ensure the push for genuine 50/50 representation does not stall or reverse further.
Join the Conversation
Are quotas enough to ensure true gender equality in African politics? Keep following Sona Headlines for ongoing political analysis and debate.
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