EMPOWERING WOMEN FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH IN SOUTH AFRICA

Her Excellency Lulama Xingwana, Minister for Women, Children, and People with Disabilities, Republic of South Africa

South Africa has one of the world’s leading legal frameworks for protecting women’s rights. South Africa’s 1996 constitutional provisions give equal importance to “non-sexism” and “non-racialism.” Progress for women is visible in the public sector where, in the country’s 2009 elections, female representation in parliament rose from 34 to 45 percent. Conversely, women’s leadership roles in the private sector have seen little improvement since 1996, keeping South Africa from reaching its full economic potential. Recognizing the importance of women’s employment and leadership in combating poverty, the South African government is developing a Gender Equity Bill that will enforce gender parity in the public and private sectors. If this goal is achieved, South Africa could not only create new jobs and reduce unemployment, but also provide new opportunities to empower its women. 

Her Excellency Lulama Xingwana is South Africa’s Minister for Women, Children, and People with Disabilities. She is also a member of the African National Congress Women’s League National Working Committee. Prior to joining the ministry, Xingwana was the minister of arts and culture from 2009 to 2010 and the minister of agriculture and land affairs from 2006 to 2009. She also worked for the South African Council of Churches as the director of women’s development programs and was a member of the Federation of South African Women. She received her B.S. from the University of the Witwatersrand and a post graduate diploma from the University of London.