GOOD Statement by Patricia de Lille,
GOOD Leader
7 August 2023
As we commemorate Women’s Month, the GOOD party would like to acknowledge the economic struggles faced by the women of South Africa.
This year we celebrate under the theme: Women’s Socio-Economic Rights and Empowerment: Building Back Better for Women’s Improved Resilience.
Our Constitution enshrines equality, dignity and the right not to be discriminated against based on one’s gender or race.
Unfortunately, this is not the reality for many ordinary South Africans trying to make a living.
Almost 20 years into democracy, the face of poverty in South Africa remains a woman and more specifically a black woman.
In a country with a shockingly high unemployment rate, women remain the most vulnerable in our labour market.
Statistics South Africa Quarterly Labour Force Survey (Q1 2023) reveals the unemployment rate for women is 35.4%, whilst it is only 30.7% for men.
This gender disparity persists throughout all population groups.
And for those who are lucky enough to find formal employment, the workplace remains an incredibly unequal place.
According to the 23rd Commission for Employment Equity Annual Report 2022-2023, women make up 45.5% of the National Economically Active population. However, they only make up 26.5% of top management positions and 37.2% of senior management positions.
These statistics are even more concerning when further broken down into race.
Although the government is making strides at addressing gender disparities, the private sector is failing dismally.
Despite making up 36.6% of the National Economically Active population, only 5.4% of top management positions in the private sector are held by African females.
As long as females are underrepresented in leadership positions, women will continue to earn less than men.
The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2023 shows South Africa has only managed to close the overall pay parity gap by 70%.
With the rising cost of living our mothers, sisters and daughters are struggling to make ends meet.
Stats SA’s General Household Survey 2021 shows Social Grants were the second most important source of income (51,0%) for households after salaries (59,4%), and the main source of income for almost a quarter (24,4%) of households nationally.
Due to the high uptake of the Social Relief of Distress Grant (R350 per month), the percentage of households that received at least one grant increased to 50,6% in 2021.
The GOOD party maintains the current grant funding is not enough.
If we look at the SRD grant, R350 per month is not nearly sufficient.
The GOOD party repeats the call for the SRD grant to be used as the foundation for a Basic Income Grant, which could and should be increased to R999 per month.
This would place the Basic Income Grant at approximately the lower-bound poverty line.
As the GOOD party, we salute the women of this nation who manage to provide a loving home under extremely difficult economic circumstances.
Media Enquiries:
Samantha Jackson, GOOD Acting Media Manager
Cell: 083 550 9875
Email: media@forgood.org.za