National Gender Equity Campaign in South Africa

This month, the National Gender Machinery of South Africa launched a campaign aiming to create an equal representation of women in political and decision-making positions by 2014. Minister in the Presidency, Dr. Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, stated to the South African national assembly, “Women constitute the majority of the population and this is [a sufficient reason] to dictate women’s inclusion in all decisions concerning them whether it is economic, social, political, or developmental.” The South African government voiced support for the campaign by agreeing to use affirmative action measures to ensure progress toward gender parity in both the public and private sectors. “This is another example of the ambitious and vigorous South African approaches for equality”, commented Diversity expert Michael Stuber. “With first hand experience in South African diversity initiatives, monitoring the country’s speed of development is remarkable.”
All members of the South Africa Development Community (SADC) plan to embark on similar campaigns. Tshabalala-Msimang voiced her support and stated, “at least all SADC member states should have a representation of 50-50, to ensure that all legislative measures are accompanied by public awareness campaigns which demonstrate the vital link between the equal representation and participation of women and men in decision making positions.”

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