By The BEE Chamber
The BEE Chamber, a group of experts in the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) industry, is drawing attention to the ongoing barriers that prevent the empowerment of women, particularly Black women, in South Africa. Despite the constitutional guarantees of equal rights for all citizens - including gender equality - women still face discrimination and unfair treatment due to historical factors like apartheid.
Nadiya Hattia, Senior Consultant at the BEE Chamber, emphasises that gender equality cannot be addressed in isolation in South Africa, gender equality is always inter-connected with racial inequality.
To address the obstacles faced by black women in accessing employment, Section 20 of the Employment Equity Act (EEA) was implemented to ensure fair representation and equal opportunities for women, especially black women, across various occupational levels, including managerial positions.
"However, the current statistics reveal that approximately half of South African women are inactive in the labour force, including those discouraged from seeking employment," explains Hattia. "This gender-based unemployment gap persists throughout the country, contributing to one of the highest gender pay gaps globally, with women earning on average 23% less than men across different sectors and occupations."
African women in particular are vulnerable to unemployment in South Africa, with their unemployment rates surpassing the national average for all women. According to the expanded definition of unemployment, 51% of African females are economically inactive compared to 43.9% of African males, indicating a 7.1% gap in employment and labour force participation between African men and women. These statistics highlight the prevailing gender/sex based gap.