As the world observes women striving for equality in various spheres, South Africa stands out for its impressive representation of women in government. With over 40% of parliamentary seats occupied by women, the nation has showcased its commitment to gender equality through the enactment of numerous progressive laws aimed at uplifting women’s rights.

However, a lingering question persists: Are these representatives genuinely advocating for women, or are they merely fulfilling quotas?

Speaking to IOL, Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille, whose political journey began in the late 80s during the twilight of apartheid, embodies the dual narrative of progress and ongoing struggle for women in politics.

As she reflects on the changes since the dawn of democracy, De Lille acknowledges significant advancements

“There has been undeniable progress. When I entered politics, very few women held leadership positions. Today, women are far better represented across government. But representation alone is not enough; very few women are supported to rise to the top of political parties, and that is a structural problem we must confront. With over 55% of registered voters being women, our political parties must do more to reflect the electorate they serve,” she said.

Despite having a substantial number of women in government, the Good party leader said women continue to face systemic exclusion from real decision-making spaces as the fight against patriarchy continues.

“The fight now is for lived equality – in our homes, workplaces, and political institutions. Until we dismantle the culture of patriarchy and change the rules of the game, too many women will remain under pressure to justify their place at the table instead of shaping the agenda.”

At 74, she remains resolute, stating, “I have always been outnumbered but never outmuscled.”

This ceaseless struggle for empowerment is echoed in the journey of Dereleen James, an ActionSA Member of Parliament from Eldorado Park, Johannesburg. James transformed her personal fight against her son’s drug addiction into a powerful community movement. 

In 2013, James courageously addressed drug lords by writing a poignant letter to then-President Jacob Zuma. This act broke the pervasive silence and confronted the stigma around drug addiction and highlighting the harrowing reality for families grappling with substance abuse.

James’ activism eventually brought her into Parliament, where she continues to advocate for her community.

“After almost 13 years of activism and tireless advocacy, I’m now a member of Parliament, but I don’t consider myself a politician, by default maybe. But I’m an activist,” she said

With over a year in Parliament, 49-year-old James said she has noticed that most of the work that women do is on the ground as opposed to being influential in decision-making.

“Parliament doesn’t listen to anyone; it’s a place of optics after decisions were taken behind closed doors. The only time our voices find expression is when there’s public outrage. When we drive issues outside of parliament. Hence, it’s important for me as an MP to work on the ground so South Africans can realise and take back their power,” she said.

James also highlighted a critical gap in representation, lamenting the lack of young women in political positions both locally and nationally. 

“It’s disheartening to see some MPs in their fourth and fifth term stuck in their ways, doing the same thing expecting a different result,” she said.

The narratives of De Lille and James reveal a complex landscape in South African politics, where significant strides towards gender equality coexist with the stark reality of systemic limits on women’s voices and influence.

Analysing the dynamics, Ndzalama Mathebula, an assistant lecturer at the Department of Politics at the University of Johannesburg, said there’s been a noticeable female representation in government and other entities that influence governance and policy in our country.

Mathebula said while the growing number of women in government is notable, she emphasised the importance of scrutinising the quality of these female representatives to assess whether their voices genuinely align with those of ordinary citizens.

“This will help us understand and evaluate whether the women’s voice is taken into account. Also, it is equally important to assess if the women’s representation is not tokenism, through assessing the overall impact of women’s representation,” she said.

sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za

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