Women play a key role in managing South Africa's automotive industry amid changing regulations

One of South Africa's largest insurance companies, Hollard, held its third 'Women’s Voice in Agriculture awards' ceremony. The awards were presented to women whose work has significantly impacted areas such as mainstream farming, scientific research, business, food security, and local community support.

Andries Wise, Head of Agriculture at Hollard Insure, noted that the perspectives of women in agriculture reflect the necessary comprehensive approach to securing the sector's future. He emphasized that agriculture is a complex ecosystem encompassing farmers, brokers, researchers, agribusinesses, communities, financial partners, and logistics operators, whose work is closely interconnected.

Wise added that the company's role is to understand these connections and assist the sector in more informed, practical, and sustainable risk management. The women recognized in the competition bring valuable knowledge and experience to the industry, helping the sector better recognize current changes.

He explained that the laureates contribute to establishing a link between innovation and its practical application, between risk resilience and viability, and between commercial stability and social impact. Their work provides the industry with a deeper understanding of the needs of modern and future agriculture.

Andries Wise also stated that this initiative aligns with the insurer's approach to creating shared value—conducting business in a way that delivers tangible benefits to clients, partners, and communities while strengthening the sectors in which the company operates.

Terryn Palani, HR Director at Hollard, reminded that nothing valuable appears instantly in agriculture. She compared the process to preparing soil and sowing seeds, asserting that if they want to see more women leading agriculture tomorrow, they must nurture them today.

Johann Pretorius, Director of Future Agri Perspective Group, explained the goal of this initiative—to support the growth of businesses and projects led by women in agriculture. He noted that the concept of the awards arose after seeking like-minded individuals, such as Hollard, who share his values of supporting the agricultural sector, and the partnership resulted from a convergence of views and synergy among the parties.

An independent jury selected five finalists. They included Grietha Van Rensburg, recognized for issues of rural security and livestock theft; Boniswa Kule Dlamini, for farmer development; Christel Basson, for advocating for agricultural development interests; Karla Maiburg, for guiding the future of agriculture; and Petrus Fourie, for the theme of the 'invisible link' (animal feed supplements).

Petrus Fourie was awarded third place, and Christel Basson received an award. Karla Maiburg was the absolute winner. Accepting the award, Maiburg called on women entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector to use their influence to achieve significant change. She stated her intention to continue advocating for the inclusion and empowerment of women in agriculture while remaining a realist.

The 'Women’s Voice in Agriculture' program also presented Special Recognition Awards to several leaders for their exceptional contribution to advancing the South African agricultural ecosystem. Recipients included Rhona Brooks, economist at the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Viana Lowe, General Manager of the Southern African Grain Laboratory (SAGL); Phumulani Ratshitanga, CEO of Fruit South Africa; Dr. Rene Prince, founder and director of CenGen, and former professor at the University of Stellenbosch Genetics Department; and Annelise Crosby, Head of Legal Intelligence at Agbiz.

In South Africa, women are showing increasing financial autonomy, which is reflected in significant progress in the ownership of both housing and vehicles. In August, recognized as Women's Month, new data reveals a noticeable transformation in ownership dynamics.

These changes highlight a new level of dominance in real estate investments, which were previously predominantly held by men, according to Hayley Irvine-Downs from Lightstone Property. She noted a steady shift in ownership patterns as more South African women acquire property, indicating their growing financial confidence and belief in real estate as a long-term investment.

The historically male-dominated real estate sector is undergoing a paradigm shift. According to the latest reports, women now surpass men in the housing market. The share of homes owned by women as sole buyers has sharply increased from 30% in 2014 to an impressive 39% by 2025. Meanwhile, the share of joint ownership by couples has decreased from 39% to 30%.

It is important to note that 'female sole buyers' are defined as women who are the sole registered owners of the property, regardless of their marital or partnership status. The overall trend of rising ownership has far-reaching implications: properties owned exclusively by women or jointly with men account for a substantial 69% of total ownership, while male ownership remains stable at 31%.

Lightstone's analysis showed that out of approximately 200,000 residential property transactions made by individuals over the past year, 140,000 involved sole buyers, of which 75,000 were female sole buyers. Furthermore, about 60,000 transactions were joint purchases where women collaborated with male buyers.

The rise in female buyers is notable, especially between July 2024 and June 2025, largely driven by a surge in low-cost property transfers. This shift is also visible in the price ranges of affordable housing, where female sole buyers significantly outperform their male counterparts, particularly in categories below R250,000, from R250,000 to R500,000, from R500,000 to R750,000, and from R750,000 to R1 million.

Government housing support programs also play a significant role in this trend: 26% of transfers to women as exclusive owners are subsidized, compared to 21% for male sole buyers and 17% for male/female joint purchases. When these subsidized properties are excluded from the analysis, it becomes clear that female buyers prefer secure living conditions: 12% chose Estate Freehold, 4% preferred Estate Sectional Schemes, and a significant 37% opted for Sectional Scheme properties.

Over 47% of female sole buyers entered the Freehold market. Financially, female buyers generally spend less on average than men: women pay nearly R2.2 million for Estate Freehold properties and just over R1.5 million for Estate Sectional Scheme properties, excluding subsidies. Moreover, female buyers show a clear trend toward ownership with age: at age 30, women constituted 50% of buyers, and by age 74, this figure rises to 73%, indicating a preference for sectional titles.