By Reneva Fourie
President Joe Biden’s recent decision to withdraw from the coming US presidential elections, leading to the nomination of Vice-President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party candidate, has sparked discussions about the positive value that women add to high-level leadership positions. This move has also brought renewed attention to the reality that South Africa has never had a woman president.
South Africa has a rich history of women’s pivotal roles in the Struggle for liberation, the establishment of the democratic government, and the shaping of civil society. This historical significance, duly recognised and documented, has generated high expectations for gender equality in leadership roles.
The country rightfully honours women. We actively participate in the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign. International Working Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8, while Mother’s Day is observed in May. On August 9, we commemorate National Women’s Day, paying special tribute to women’s contributions to South Africa’s quest for freedom.
In addition, post-apartheid South Africa has implemented transformation quotas, enacted gender-conscious policies and legislation, established a dedicated department for gender mainstreaming, and empowered oversight institutions. Thus, there have been significant strides in achieving gender balance within the legislatures, Cabinet and judiciary.
The ANC and other political parties need to implement more targeted and deliberate efforts to dismantle patriarchy and its deeply entrenched interests and networks. Significant reform at the political party level will translate into positive changes in government.
Women have consistently held the position of Speaker in the National Assembly, and the country has seen two women deputy presidents. Recently, Justice Mandisa Maya was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court.
However, South Africa has yet to see a woman ascend to the position of president. Our inability to acknowledge that a woman can lead at this level is an enigma. South Africa trails behind Liberia, Ethiopia, Mauritius, the Central African Republic, Malawi and Tanzania. Furthermore, 11 other African countries, including Mozambique and Namibia, have had women prime ministers. Namibia’s Swapo party currently has a female presidential candidate for the November elections, emphasising the disparity in the political landscape between us and our neighbouring countries.
The globe is moving towards intersectionality, diversity and inclusion.
However, despite South Africa’s policy and programmatic interventions, entrenched power dynamics have continued to hinder meaningful gender transformation.
The inability to fundamentally drive transformation stems from the fact that the world still comprises systems of oppression based on the calculated misperception of some being superior to others.
These social constructs that forge unequal, exploitative power relations include class, race, imperialism and patriarchy. Capitalism exploits people for profits, diminishing our sense of self-worth. Imperialism seeks to acquire territories, natural resources and cheap labour. Human rights are violated daily by transnational corporations, leading to familial and social conflicts and wars.
Racism, capitalism, imperialism and patriarchy – the latter promoting toxic, often violent, masculinity – are interlinked. They are reinforced through a superstructure comprising a complex interplay between culture, institutions, roles, rituals, religion, media and the state. The superstructure generates deliberately nurtured stereotypes and prejudices, many of which are enforced through socialisation before a child is even born.
The consequences of these oppressive systems, especially for women, LGBTQIA+ persons and children, are often humiliation and abuse. Such abuse includes sexual exploitation and different forms of assault – be it physical, psychological, moral or sexual – often resulting in tragic outcomes such as murder, disappearances or suicide. The stereotype and prejudices also result in exclusions from fundamental areas of control, whether these be with property or workplace ownership, or basic services such as health care, education and reliable energy, water and sanitation.
They also limit access to power. Some false prejudices include women leaders being viewed as less competent and influential than their male counterparts. Moreover, leadership is often linked to traits like ambition, assertiveness and forcefulness which are traditionally associated with men.
On the other hand, women are usually perceived as kind, sympathetic and nurturing. These stereotypes and biases frequently contribute to men being the primary gatekeepers to leadership roles, thereby inhibiting access to positions of substantial authority.
Many countries appreciate that while patriarchy must be challenged at a systemic level, equality displayed at the leadership level, including in the highest office of government, is imperative. In contrast, South African society remains deeply patriarchal, with the seemingly reluctant political will to drive fundamental change.
This is especially evident within political parties, where women leaders are often relegated to administrative-related roles. At the same time, their strategic, analytical and organisational capabilities are undervalued and downplayed.
For a woman to emerge as the president of South Africa, she must first become the president of the dominant governing party. Currently, it is the ANC. The ANC has numerous highly competent and theoretically astute women with vast experience, often unmatched by many of the men who find themselves in positions of political leadership. While the ANC is working towards meritocracy within its leadership, this goal still needs to be achieved. The current challenges in the party mean that some of its top leaders are not necessarily its best.
Currently, gender mainstreaming is not emphasised in the specific initiatives and programmes underpinning the ANC’s renewal process; it cannot be the domain of its Women’s League alone. It is also concerning that the GNU’s Statement of Intent does not explicitly state how the government will address patriarchy.
The ANC and other political parties need to implement more targeted and deliberate efforts to dismantle patriarchy and its deeply entrenched interests and networks. Significant reform at the political party level will translate into positive changes in government.
It is time for a woman to lead our country. Having a woman serve as South Africa’s president will not automatically eliminate patriarchy. However, it will play a significant role in shifting societal perceptions of women’s capabilities. This will confirm that leadership is not inherently confined to a specific gender and encourage more women to embrace their leadership responsibilities.
A female president could make a more meaningful contribution to creating a unified South Africa that is free from gender inequalities while also laying the foundation for a more equitable and just economic system.
* Dr Reneva Fourie is policy analyst specialising in governance, development and security
** The views expressed in this article are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL and Independent Media