Women Carry Communities, Yet Men Still Dominate Candidate Lists: The Fight for Political Parity in South Africa

As South Africa gears up for the November 4 local government elections, a stark reality confronts the nation: men continue to dominate the candidate lists, holding 62% of the 136,790 certified spots, while women, who form the backbone of community life and the majority of the electorate, account for just 38%. This is not merely a statistical imbalance; it is a structural continuation of patriarchal control that our democracy can no longer afford to ignore.

Gender activists and female candidates are raising their voices against this disparity, pointing out that the very women who sustain communities are being systematically sidelined from decision-making power. The numbers from the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) do not lie, and they tell a story of exclusion that demands urgent redress.

Why are women still underrepresented in South African politics?

The reasons for this underrepresentation are deeply rooted in our history and in the persistent sexism that pervades political structures. Zelda Trantraal, Chairperson of the ANC Women's League in the Dullah Omar Region, explains that the imbalance is a legacy of the past.