GOOD Statement by Brett Herron, GOOD Secretary-General:
Theoretically and Constitutionally equal, but practically prejudiced and marginalised. That’s the picture of women, particularly women of colour, that emerges from South Africa’s latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey – as it has for the past 30 years.
The second quarter stats for 2025 were released yesterday, in Women’s Month. This year’s Women’s Month theme is: Building Resilient Economies for All. While there’s nothing wrong with an aspirational theme, those groups of people regarded as second class under apartheid – including women – are rightly getting tired of waiting for material improvements to their daily lived experiences.
Women bear a disproportionate social and economic burden as the primary carers in millions of single parent homes. They are targeted for unspeakable violence by predatory toxic men. More women are unemployed, and those fortunate enough to have a job are generally paid less and occupy fewer senior positions.
It should shock us that three decades into democracy, the face of poverty in South Africa remains that of a woman of colour. But it doesn’t shock most of us because we have become so blasé about inequality that we regard it as normal.
According to Statistics South Africa’s latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (Q2:2025):
- The national unemployment rate for women stands at 35,9%.
- Black African women face an unemployment rate of 40,2% – 4,3 percentage points higher than the national average for women.
- Women of colour hold only 6,8% of managerial positions.
- Using the expanded unemployment definition, gender disparity persists across all population groups.
Despite these systemic inequalities, women across South Africa continue to hold families and communities together – often under impossible circumstances.
The GOOD Party salutes the resilience, strength, and determination of South African women. But resilience alone is not enough – it is time for decisive action to close the gendered economic gap, dismantle barriers to opportunity, and ensure that the promise of equality is lived, not just written in our Constitution.
GOOD Manifesto on Land Reform: Supporting fair land reform that respects property rights.
pixy mox
Fundi – expert or teacher [foon-di] A term derived from the Nguni tribe, used to describe someone who is an expert at something.Example: “He’s a fundi at that!”
Metal Lady
Fun South African Fact: South Africa is extremely rich in mining and minerals and considered the world’s leader with nearly 90% of all the platinum metals on earth and around 41% of all the world’s Gold!