Johannesburg: South Africa will over the next five years focus on strengthening and monitoring systems that are meant to advance gender equality and women empowerment. Speaking at the official launch of Women’s Month 2025 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, Sindisiwe Chikunga, the Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, emphasized the need for robust evaluation and accountability across all spheres of governance to ensure that women empowerment is realized.

According to South African Government News Agency, Chikunga outlined critical developments aimed at institutionalizing gender-responsive governance. A notable development is the forthcoming Promotion of Women’s Rights, Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill, which seeks to embed gender-responsive planning, budgeting, procurement, and service delivery across all state organs. ‘The bill will also provide the enforcement mechanisms that have long been missing,’ Chikunga stated.

The department is collaborating with National Treasury to expedite the finalization of regulations related to the Public Procurement Act, aiming to boost empowerment for businesses owned by women, youth, and persons with disabilities. As part of the economic empowerment strategy, a socio-economic empowerment index has been developed to track participation across socio-economic sectors, thereby identifying systemic barriers to women’s economic empowerment.

To transition from intent to tangible impact, Chikunga mentioned that the Women’s Economic Assembly will be analyzing government expenditure and supply chain patterns. This initiative is expected to dismantle existing market entry barriers and foster a women-led industrial revolution. The Minister also called for new economic progress indicators that account for both paid and unpaid care work, which is often undervalued.

Highlighting the significance of Women’s Month, Chikunga remarked on the evolving struggle for gender equality, which now demands a restructuring of power relations. She reiterated that the movement seeks to eliminate entrenched patriarchal structures that have historically marginalized women in various spheres of life.

Chikunga also reflected on achievements since 1994, noting the increase in female representation in Parliament, with women currently holding 43.5% of seats. She highlighted the historic appointment of Justice Mandisa Maya as the first female Chief Justice and the establishment of a R20 billion annual Transformation Fund supporting women industrialists and SMMEs.

Further accomplishments include the passing of the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Act and significant strides under South Africa’s G20 Presidency, particularly through the G20 Women’s Empowerment Working Group.

The Women’s Month launch, held in collaboration with various departments and financial institutions, featured initiatives like the Women in Trade Intervention and a roundtable on ‘De-Risking Financial Inclusion for Women,’ designed to equip women with business skills and access to opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area.