The origins of Women's Month in South Africa trace back to the historical fight for women's rights and parity. On the 9th of August, 1956, a multitude of women representing diverse racial and cultural heritages embarked on a march to Pretoria's Union Buildings. Their purpose was to voice their opposition against the unjust pass laws. This pivotal moment, referred to as the Women's March, stands as an emblem of the united power and unwavering resolve exhibited by women in their battle against oppression.

The University of Pretoria (UP) sees Women's Month as a chance to spotlight women's challenges and advocate for gender equality. It raises awareness on women's rights, gender-based violence, and discrimination in South Africa. This fosters dialogue, empowerment, and a more inclusive society. Concerningly, women's representation has stagnated or declined in certain sectors. Anne Cabot-Alletzhauser and Amanda Khoza from our Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) recently conducted a qualitative study on female professionals in South African asset management.

According to their study women currently represent only 17,2% of portfolio management professionals in SA and they also note a "a drop in the number of women applying for the Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) three-year programme”.

That’s not all, their study paints a very grim picture of women in the workplace and more so for women in leadership positions such as (page 12):

• “Women in South Africa get paid 15% to 17% less than men for the same work.
• Only 25.8% of executive positions and 36.4% of senior management roles are held by women. This is somewhat better than the global average of 25% but lower than the best regions, such as Eastern Europe, at 38%;
• One-third of South African companies have no women in management (again, at 31%, this is slightly better than the global average of 34%;
• Only seven of the 100 largest companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) are led by female chief executive officers (CEOs), indicating minimal progress in gender balance in senior management and leadership positions. According to PwC South Africa’s 2022 board report, the typical senior roles women tend to hold are in human resources and finance.
• In the public sector the picture is somewhat better and women comprise 45.5% of senior management of state-owned enterprises and have 46.0% representation in parliament."

The full report is available at the bottom of this article.

These statistics are quite alarming, and we acknowledge the substantial effort required to tackle this issue. We are fully dedicated to taking action based on these findings. In a clear demonstration of our commitment, the University's Executive Committee has recently given the green light to create a Women's Leadership Programme at UP. This initiative stems from our institution's recognition of the necessity to proactively equip women for forthcoming leadership opportunities within our community. We understand that comprehending the distinct obstacles women encounter in leadership and aiding them in overcoming these hurdles is crucial for fostering a more inclusive and encouraging atmosphere.

The UP Women’s Leadership Programme to be hosted by the prestigious Albert Luthuli Leadership Institute (ALLI) in partnership with the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) with the aim to empower women within the institution by offering them growth and mentorship opportunities to grow into leadership positions. It seeks to establish a systematic process of specifically empowering women leaders with the necessary capabilities to not just join the leadership pipeline, but to excel as transformative agents in our society. This bespoke programme for UP women leaders will span a year, providing comprehensive and tailored support to foster their growth and success.

We aim to purposefully prepare and adapt UP’s culture, policies, appointment procedures, and management processes to ensure women are represented at all levels of leadership. By leveraging existing opportunities and programmes, we are committed to ensuring that women benefit from the growth and development initiatives offered by the university.

Throughout this Women's Month UP celebrates the achievements, contributions, and leadership of women in various fields such as politics, business, arts, sports, science, and social activism. It acknowledges the invaluable role women play in shaping South African society and highlights their accomplishments to inspire future generations of women.

At UP we have always been passionate about women empowerment, as at 31 July 2023 within our pool of over 1,423 academics and researchers, 775 of them are women which equates to 54,5%; among the 268-professoriate cohort, 100 of them are women which makes up a little over 37%.  We have 612 NRF rated researchers of which 241 are female, translating to 39% researchers and 55% of our SARChI chair grant holders are women (11 of the 20 UP SARChI Chairs are women). This is testament of our commitment to gender equality and the creation of an inclusive workplace.

We commit ourselves to consistently honour women's contributions, raise awareness about gender-related issues, and promote gender equality. Together as the UP community in our collective efforts we can create a society where women are valued, respected, and given equal opportunities.

More information about the Programme will be shared in due course.

Kind regards,

Professor Loretta Feris

Vice-Principal: Academic