Nearly 95 thousand women contribute to the development of South Africa's automotive industry

Over the last thirty years, women in South Africa have made substantial progress in education and employment, alongside significant changes in marriage and household models.

According to a recent publication by Statistics South Africa, between 1996 and 2022, the improvement in equality of rights has been reflected in increased educational attainment, greater participation in professional sectors, and higher visibility of women in leadership positions.

The organization noted that despite persistent challenges, such as a higher unemployment rate among women compared to men, the resilience and achievements of women have contributed significantly to shaping South Africa's democratic and developmental trajectory.

Census data indicates that this change extends beyond mere trends in real estate or labor markets; it points to a deeper transformation in how women are educated, where they work, which households they head, and what relationships they choose, all of which impacts their ability to earn and manage finances.

Education is a Priority

Changes began in the field of education. The proportion of women aged 20 and over who obtained a matric certificate increased from one-sixth in 1996 to nearly 40% in 2022. The percentage of women with qualifications above the matric level doubled—from 6.4% to 12.8%.

Furthermore, women surpassed men in certain indicators of educational growth. StatsSA found that around 2010, women began overtaking men in progression from grade 9 to grade 12, and also surpassed men in transitioning from matric to a bachelor's degree.

The agency emphasized that over the past three decades, South Africa has achieved significant progress in expanding women's access to education. From 1996 to 2022, school attendance among young women grew steadily, reflecting both expanded access to learning and the country's commitment to the principle of equal rights.

The agency added that this progress has not only narrowed the gender gap but has also positioned women as key drivers of socio-economic development, as more women complete secondary education and attend higher education institutions than ever before.

Entering the Labor Market

These changes were accompanied by a transformation in the types of employment women hold. The number of working women increased from 5.5 million in 2001 to 6.8 million in 2022. The share of women working in the formal non-agricultural sector rose from 50.7% to 69% over the same period.

The number of women employed in the financial sector almost doubled—from 502,000 in 2001 to 987,000 in 2022, while employment in public and social services grew from 1.2 million to 2.3 million.

StatsSA noted that this demonstrates the vital role women play in the economy, the labor market, and South Africa's overall development. However, progress has not eliminated all obstacles: the unemployment rate among women rose from 27.9% in 2001 to 35.6% in 2022.

Changing Household Structures

Household structures have changed parallel to workplace shifts. In 1996, women headed 37.8% of households, whereas by 2022, this figure reached 49.5%.

There has also been a significant shift in women's marital status. The proportion of women aged 15 and older who have never been married increased from 44.7% in 1996 to 57.1% in 2022, while the proportion of married women decreased from 38.8% to 25.6%. Cohabitation increased from 4.9% to 8.2%.

For women, this combination makes the issue of financial independence more pressing, especially when income, assets, and long-term savings must support a household rather than supplement another person's finances. These changes lay the groundwork for growing attention on how women accumulate capital independently.

Savings and Investments

Anchor Capital pointed to a broader shift in women's wealth creation, noting that they are increasingly building capital through careers, entrepreneurship, disciplined saving, investing, and property ownership.

The organization stated: 'Women are not just inheriting wealth; they are increasingly creating it. Women tend to invest disciplinedly, adhere to long-term plans, and avoid unnecessary portfolio turnover. This behavior can become a powerful driver of compound interest over time.'

The property market shows one clear aspect of these changes. BetterBond Home Loans registered over 43,000 mortgage applications from women in 2024 and 2025, with more than half of them being first-time buyers. The number of applications where the woman was the primary loan applicant increased by 18% between 2024 and 2025.

Mari Lindemann, Chief Operating Officer of BetterBond Home Loans, commented: 'As more women assert their financial independence and utilize their purchasing power, we are seeing strong activity in this market segment.'

BetterBond data showed that women applying as the primary borrower spent an average of R1.3 million on housing. Earlier data indicated that more women under 35 were buying homes independently.

Lindemann added: 'Women marry later, if at all, and many postpone starting a family. They do not wait for a ring or a spouse to buy property.'

Seventy years after the 1956 Women's March, South African women continue to face challenges related to poverty, unemployment, gender-based violence, and unequal opportunities. The article asserts that achieving genuine gender equality requires broader economic empowerment, education, leadership opportunities, and more decisive action against gender-based violence.

Every August, South Africa commemorates the legacy of over 20,000 women who marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria on August 9, 1956. This act of resistance is considered one of the most significant in the country's history. These women of various races, many carrying infants on their backs, protested against pass laws that regulated not only their movement but also their dignity. They carried petitions, chanted, and declared with unwavering confidence: 'Wathint' Abafazi, Wathint' Imbokodo.'

The 1956 march serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made for freedom and the long-standing demand for equality even before it was enshrined in law. It highlighted that unity is the strongest counter to division, demonstrating the remarkable achievements possible when women unite.

Women of the past faced immense hardships and overcame countless obstacles, transforming their darkest days into a brighter future for coming generations. Their courage, resilience, and determination paved the way for the rights and opportunities many enjoy today.

The Unfinished Journey to Equality

Today, 70 years later, their footsteps still resonate in our national consciousness. Although the country has made significant strides in advancing women's rights since the advent of democracy, many women continue to encounter systemic barriers to full participation in society and the economy. They are disproportionately affected by poverty, unemployment, gender-based violence, unequal access to opportunities, and underrepresentation in critical sectors. These issues serve as a stark reminder that the fight for gender equality is far from over and requires a collective commitment from all sectors of society.

Economic Empowerment is Crucial

At the heart of women's transformation lies economic empowerment. Despite numerous policy measures, unemployment, income inequality, and limited access to economic opportunities continue to disproportionately affect women. Many women-owned businesses still struggle to secure funding, procurement opportunities, and established supply chains. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen support mechanisms that enable women to fully participate in the economy through greater access to capital, markets, skills development, technology, and entrepreneurial support. Economic empowerment means much more than just earning higher wages; it signifies increased autonomy, independence for women, and their ability to influence economic outcomes.

Combating Gender-Based Violence

The government also recognizes that violence against women violates their dignity, safety, and constitutional rights, and hinders their full participation in societal life. Thus, combating gender-based violence has become a national priority. To demonstrate this commitment, President Cyril Ramaphosa recently established the first legislative National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide in South Africa, marking a major step forward in the country's fight against GBV. The Council will lead national initiatives aimed at strengthening prevention, supporting survivors, reinforcing law enforcement, and coordinating actions between government and civil society.

Education and Skills Open Doors

Education and skills development are equally vital in advancing women's empowerment. Quality education opens doors to employment, entrepreneurship, and leadership positions. More needs to be done to encourage girls and young women to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, as well as to expand access to vocational and digital skills. Through the Human Resources Development Council, we focus on gender-inclusive economic growth and skills development to combat unemployment, which disproportionately affects women. We address gender gaps through technical education, digital skills, and training in in-demand professional fields. However, policy measures alone will not suffice for long-term change. South African society must confront deeply rooted patriarchal attitudes and stereotypes that continue to shape the experiences of women.

Shifting Mindsets and Increasing Representation

Gender inequality is often rooted in homes, schools, workplaces, and communities where discriminatory beliefs and practices are normalized. To achieve significant transformation, cultural attitudes must shift with a greater emphasis on equality, mutual respect, and the fair distribution of roles and responsibilities between men and women. It is equally important to involve boys and young men as partners in promoting gender equality and building a society that respects both women and men. Furthermore, significant efforts are needed to increase the representation of women in leadership and decision-making roles. While progress has been made in political representation, women remain underrepresented in corporate leadership, entrepreneurship, and strategic economic sectors. Various organizations must also actively invest in mentorship, leadership development, and succession planning to ensure that more women occupy positions where they can influence policy, institutions, and economic outcomes.

Supporting Women Beyond the Workplace

The transformation of women also requires acknowledging the disproportionate burden of unpaid care work, which women often shoulder while balancing professional and caregiving duties without adequate support. Key measures include improving access to childcare, implementing family-friendly workplace policies, and ensuring a fairer distribution of caregiving responsibilities to allow women to participate in education, employment, and leadership. As a government, we are also addressing systemic barriers through targeted allocation in public procurement, specialized financial funds, and multi-sectoral partnerships. Key interventions include implementing a target of 40% preferential procurement for the public sector, utilizing special financing schemes such as the Isivande Women's Fund, and creating structured market fairs. Moreover, the EmpowerHer Market trade fair has been established to promote women-owned businesses, expand market access, and foster investment linkages. This initiative provides women with tangible pathways to enter supply chains, scale their businesses, and transform their communities.

The Work Continues

However, the story of women's transformation does not end here. Aluta continua. Real change is a process, not an event, and the path to full equality requires sustained and active participation. Government, business, civil society, traditional leaders, religious organizations, communities, and families all play a role in creating an environment where women can thrive. Ultimately, we must measure success by the degree to which every woman can live with dignity, safety, equality, and the freedom to realize her full potential. Only then will the vision of the women who marched in 1956 be fully realized.

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.