By Akani Nkuna
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for greater representation of women in leadership roles across the public and private sectors to drive inclusive growth and build a resilient, equitable, and gender-responsive economy.
Speaking at the Women’s Day celebration in Tzaneen, Limpopo, Ramaphosa said government has implemented robust policies to boost women’s participation in the workforce and close the gender pay gap.
He noted that women are increasingly represented across all sectors of the economy, including senior leadership. More than a quarter of top managers in the private sector are women, while South Africa ranks second among G20 countries for female representation.
Currently, 42% of Members of Parliament are women—surpassing the proportion in several developed nations.
“The overarching purpose of this commemoration is to promote women’s participation and representation in leadership and the economy,” Ramaphosa said. “These developments reflect South Africa’s resolute drive towards gender parity. We have consistently increased the number of women in leadership and decision-making roles.
Women’s Day event is one of the most significant commemorations in the country, honouring the 20,000 women who, on 9 August 1956, marched to the Union Buildings to oppose the extension of Pass Laws to women—a system that violated their fundamental right to work.
Ramaphosa hailed the women of 1956 as a blueprint for equality, empowerment, and gender justice, saying their actions were pivotal in shaping a South Africa that now ranks second among G20 countries for female representation.
“Their courageous actions culminated in the creation of a non-sexist, non-racial state, cemented through our Constitution and policies that advance women’s social and economic development,” Ramaphosa said.
He highlighted government interventions to empower women, including skills training, access to funding, and multi-sector partnerships enabling women to compete equally in key sectors.
“We also continue our work to increase the participation of women in sectors such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, as well as the green economy and industrial sectors. Government also seeks to grow women’s role in digital finance—covering banking, payments, access to credit, and investments,” he added.
Meanwhile, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced the launch of the Green Doors campaign to make the fight against gender-based violence more community-driven. Under the initiative, residents will be invited to paint their doors green, signalling their homes as safe havens for abused women. Government will provide support to households that shelter victims.
Speaking at the Union Buildings, where women in the security cluster staged a symbolic walk retracing the 1956 march, Lesufi urged innovative solutions to tackle the social ills facing women.
“The campaign for Green Doors must spread to every street. There must be no street without a green door. Treating women in conflict and abused children cannot be left to centres alone,” he said.
Lesufi also stressed the importance of early childhood education in addressing GBV, calling for lessons on respect for women and children to be introduced in primary schools.
“Children in Grade 9 and below should receive a certificate each year after completing a course on how to treat women and children appropriately. If we cannot instil these values in the classroom, we will not succeed when they are adults,” he said.
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