Latest news with #NkosazanaDlamini-Zuma
IOL News
08-08-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Women's Day: Why South Africa has yet to elect its first woman president?
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka worked as the executive director of the UN Women for eight years. Image: Women Deliver / Facebook / File South Africa is not short on capable women who could be candidates for the presidency — what's holding the country back is fear and outdated thinking. That's according to several experts and political leaders who say the absence of a woman president has less to do with ability or lack of choice, and more to do with persistent gender bias and entrenched patriarchal attitudes within society and political structures. Earlier this year, Ndemupelila Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was the first woman elected as Namibia's president on March 21, 2025. They followed Liberia's Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who was the first woman elected to office on the continent. The other female in charge at the moment is President Samia Suluhu Hassan from Tanzania, who took up the role after her predecessor died in 2021. Video Player is loading. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Just this week, while discussing Women's Month, ANC veteran Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who is also the former chairperson of the African Union Commission, highlighted how women continue to bear a disproportionate burden of poverty, and that there should be equal opportunities between women and men. Dlamini-Zuma stated that South Africa has developed into a patriarchal society where men predominantly hold power in political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and property control. ANC veteran and National Executive Committee (NEC) member Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma at the Independent Media offices on Tuesday. Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers Dlamini-Zuma contested to become the ANC president in 2017. However, she lost the battle to businessman-turned-politician Cyril Ramaphosa, who won 2,440 votes against her 2,261 votes during the ANC elective conference in Nasrec, Johannesburg. 'There is no reason why we shouldn't have a woman president. We have seen that Liberia did well when a woman was in charge. In Namibia, it is still early, but we can see that she is doing well and the decisions she is taking are very decisive and Pan-Africanist. I like her decisions and I think she will do well for Namibia,' said Dlamini-Zuma. Dlamini-Zuma said the pay gap between men and women needs to be addressed. She added that while the government has resolved the issue, this persists in the private sector, despite research showing that companies with more women in management are more competitive than those without female leaders. Zululand University-based political analyst, Professor Sipho Seepe, agrees with Dlamini-Zuma's analysis: 'Patriarchy is a thought system that afflicts both men and women in the same way that white supremacy afflicts black people. Black people suffering from the virus of white supremacy believe in their inferiority. 'They look up to whites for solutions to their problems, including those created by whites. In the same way, women would rather vote for the most mediocre and spineless man than support a highly qualified, disciplined, and experienced black woman. This script has replayed itself many times in our country and elsewhere.' Postdoctoral Fellow to the H.F. Oppenheimer Chair of Human Rights, Dr Anisa Mahmoudi, weighed in and said that the primary obstacle to women in leadership is not readiness, but the deeply entrenched social norms influencing how society views women. 'South Africa, and much of the rest of the world, still overlooks the influence that existing patriarchal structures have on the advancement of women, positioning women as secondary to men in all spheres of societal functioning, especially political and other public-facing participation. 'Traditional concepts of authority and leadership remain gendered, and political participation is no exception. The status quo will remain until we address the deeply entrenched social norms that feed harmful narratives about the value, worth, and place of women in society,' Mahmoudi said. Political analyst Nkosikhulule Nyembezi said that, similarly in other democracies, the process of choosing representatives is governed primarily by two sets of organisational and institutional rules - candidate selection methods framed by party rules and the state's electoral laws. 'Because an electoral system is the vehicle through which to stand for public office and proceed to gain membership of a legislative body, South Africa is embarking on a critical electoral reform journey that could improve chances for females aspiring to the presidency. 'After 30 years of democracy in South Africa, the making of political choices must produce more election results that are less restricted by narrow political party trappings of citizens aspiring to be in legislative bodies and the executive,' Nyembezi said. 'We are ready for a female president because over the past decades, in several provinces and municipalities, we were well served by female premiers and mayors. Their individual and collective records of achievements confirm that we are all better people today, and ready for a female president.' Distinguished professor in the Political Science department at Stellenbosch University, Amanda Gouws, said male domination in parties is hampering women, but also contributing to this problem is the ANC Women's League, which said in the past that 'SA is not ready for a woman President'. 'There was a woman deputy president under president Thabo Mbeki - Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. She would have been excellent, but Mbeki was recalled. She became the director of UN Women. 'The issue is that men do not mentor women to become the next president, and the ANC also does little to mentor men; additionally, there are too many factions within the ANC,' Gouws said. 'Women are hampered by faction infighting. Other parties do not have enough support to form a government and to decide on a president.' Patricia de Lille, minister of Tourism and the leader of the GOOD Party, said that one of the biggest obstacles is that too few women are supported to lead political parties. 'The ballot paper is still dominated by male faces. The irony is that 55% of registered voters in South Africa are women. Women are deeply embedded in the social and political fabric of this country. They participate. They vote. However, when it comes to leadership, that support doesn't always translate. 'Over 30 years into democracy, and I'm still the only female party leader in Parliament. Over the years, we've only seen a handful of women at the helm of political organisations. We must change that. We need to go back to the drawing board and create pathways for more women to lead,' De Lille said. Minister of Tourism, and GOOD Party leader, Patricia de Lille. Image: Department of Tourism Mahmoudi explained that women leaders face heightened scrutiny, reflecting the patriarchal norms. 'Generally speaking, women in the public sphere are judged by their 'likeability' rather than the substantive value they bring forward. Society still expects women to prove themselves, but using different yardsticks than men. This creates an unequal playing field. 'I would argue that people place different standards on women, for instance, questioning women's toughness while critiquing them for being too assertive. This double standard extends to other areas as well,' Mahmoudi said. 'Women leaders are expected to demonstrate unwavering dedication and availability, yet face criticism for perceived neglect of family responsibilities, an expectation rarely placed on men leaders. Similarly, women's confidence and authority are often perceived as arrogance and attempts at gaining power. Where men display similar characteristics, they are praised for them. The double standards place obstacles to women's leadership and reflect the deeply embedded gendered assumptions that remain in South Africa and beyond.' South Africa is not short on capable women who could be candidates for the presidency — what's holding the country back is fear and outdated thinking. Image: IOL / Ron AI Ultimately, the experts agreed that it is the perception that needs to change. 'Women don't need empowerment, they need opportunity and recognition. Women are already empowered. It is the system that holds them back. The language of empowerment suggests that women lack something inherent that needs to be given to them by others, usually men. 'The reality is that women are systematically excluded from pathways to leadership. What women need is an equal playing field,' Mahmoudi said.
IOL News
06-08-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma: Women continue to face poverty and inequality
ANC veteran and former anti-apartheid activist Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers As South Africa commemorates Women's Month, ANC veteran Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma says women continue to bear a disproportionate burden of poverty, and that there should be equal opportunities between women and men. Dlamini-Zuma said this is because the system is still working against women despite constitutional protections and legislative efforts. She was speaking during her visit to the Independent Media newsroom on Tuesday. Every year, in August, South Africa celebrates Women's Month to pay tribute to the more than 20,000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on August 9, 1956, in protest against the extension of the pass laws to women. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading During Women's Month, South Africa celebrates women as active agents of change and social transformation. The commemoration also allows the country to take stock of achievements and challenges that remain while mobilising support for the further development of women. Dlamini-Zuma, who is also the former chairperson of the African Union (AU) executive council of ministers, said this is because South Africa has become a patriarchal society where men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of property. She said one of the root causes for this is that some parents taught their children that men are more capable than women. 'And we allow this thing instead of bringing girls and boys equally. I was fortunate because my parents, especially my dad, always said we all go to school, especially the girls, because I don't want to see you sitting in a toxic situation for the sake of food. 'He would also tell us that education is the only thing that nobody can take from you. He said this is the only thing he will leave with us. So we were lucky that way,' said the former anti-apartheid activist. Dlamini-Zuma said the pay gap between men and women needs to be addressed. She said while the government has resolved the issue, this persists in the private sector, despite research showing that companies with more women in management are more competitive than those without female leaders. According to the Business Case for Change study by the International Labour Organisation, companies that promote parity in management positions increase their profits by 5% to 20%. A study conducted by the consultancy group McKinsey revealed that companies with more gender diversity at the top are 21% more likely to have above-average profitability, adding that women tend to bring diverse perspectives and styles on how to solve problems. Women leaders tend to place higher emphasis on teamwork and collaboration, and research published in Harvard Business Review found that when a woman joins corporate leadership ranks, employee engagement and satisfaction skyrocket, boosting productivity and profitability while creating more cohesive, more effective teams. Dlamini-Zuma said, however, despite this evidence, many companies still have more men in the management positions. She added that what is even worse is that women are still the face of poverty, adding that they are poorer than everyone else. She stated that this is because it is difficult for women to access financial resources. 'Even when they have good ideas, women find it difficult to access funding from financial institutions. Everything is just against women. Regardless of our Constitution, it is generally very difficult to be a woman, including the fact that women also face additional challenges such as gender-based violence and many others,' she said, adding that this is one of the reasons the economy remains stagnant. 'No country will reach its full potential without involving women. It won't happen and we will always be crying about the economy not growing,' said Dlamini-Zuma, who also added that women should be given equal opportunities as men.
Time Out
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
South Africa is officially one of the world's funniest countries
If there's one thing South Africans are known for, it's our ability to laugh through just about anything. We don't take ourselves too seriously – and more often than not, that sense of humour brings us together. Take lockdown, for example. When Cabinet Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma defended the tobacco ban with her now-infamous line – "When people zol, they put saliva on the paper, and then they share that zol" – the internet did what it does best. Within days, Capetonian music producer Max Hurrell had turned the moment into the viral hit 'Zol', which quickly became a national lockdown anthem. Fast forward to the 2023 Rugby World Cup and the peak of loadshedding, and Mgarimbe gave 'Sister Bethina', affectionately called South Africa's unofficial second national anthem, a fresh spin with 'Amabokoboko (Sister Bokkina)', featuring the memorable line: "We're taking the loadshedding to France, boys." View this post on Instagram A post shared by 947 (@947joburg) Now, science has caught up with what we've always known. A global study by Remitly using the Humour Styles Questionnaire, involving 6,000 participants across 30 countries, set out to identify the World's Funniest Nations – and South Africa made the list, ranking 19th with an average humour score of 69.26. The study assessed four types of humour: Affiliative humour: The social glue – friendly, inclusive, and uplifting. Self-enhancing humour: Optimistic and resilient – helping people cope through tough times. Aggressive humour: Sarcastic, teasing, and sometimes at others' expense. Self-defeating humour: Self-deprecating and used to deflect or gain approval. While we didn't crack the top 10 overall, South Africa did claim the number one spot for both affiliative and self-enhancing humour. The 10 Funniest Nations: Czech Republic Portugal Ireland Belgium Chile Greece Australia Poland Denmark Hungary So no, we might not be the absolute funniest, but when it comes to laughter that brings people together and keeps spirits high, South Africa leads the pack. As if our sense of humour isn't enough (we're looking at you Trevor Noah), we've were also recently named one of the Best Countries on Earth!
IOL News
12-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma urges African Mayors to transform urban spaces
Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma speaking during the opening of the U20 African Mayors Assembly Image: Oupa Mokoena/Independent Newspapers During the first full plenary of the U20 African Mayors' Assembly and Sherpa Meeting held on Thursday in Tshwane, former Chairperson of the African Union, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said we must build cities where young people wish to stay and fix our continent, rather than wanting to leave. 'Together we can build a bright future to reflect the true spirit of the African Renaissance…As African mayors you have the responsibility of creating cities that are economically vibrant, socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable," Dlamini-Zuma told the various delegates during her keynote address. She addressed the gathering on the relevance of African Renaissance in an urban setting and said cities are critical in creating the Africa we want. 'The Africa we have now, is not the one we want,' she said. She urged the various mayors to commit to building a brighter future for our people and one which reflects the true spirit of the African Renaissance. 'As African mayors you have the unique opportunity to transform our African cities into vibrant hubs,' she said. Dlamini-Zuma stressed that people working in cities must live in the cities. This will mean that they will have access to proper, safe and affordable public transport, as well as to adequate healthcare and good education. She further stressed that cities must be safe, especially for women and children. 'I believe in cities that don't sleep. Cities which don't sleep are safer.' Dlamini-Zuma pointed out that cities must also have proper infrastructure, which includes proper roads and airports. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The infrastructure must be able to connect cities throughout the continent. She said people should be able to drive or take a train to another African country if they so wished.' We need to decolonise minds. If we do not, we remain colonised,' she said. Tshwane Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya meanwhile during her opening address told the delegation that they meet not as individuals, but as a collective. 'We are connected by geography, guided by duty, and united in our determination to realise the full potential of our cities.' She said this is a time when the world is looking to cities for solutions. 'Tshwane, like many African cities, is growing rapidly. We are urbanising at speed, but often without the infrastructure or resources to match. Our challenges are not unique. They reflect a wider African reality,' Moya said. She pointed out that cities are becoming centres of innovation, climate action, and economic activity. 'They are where the future of Africa is being shaped,' she said, but added that there are still serious challenges ahead. 'Urban 20 gives us a vital megaphone within the G20. It is our opportunity to inject African priorities into global policy, and to ensure that local voices shape global decisions,' Moya said.
