South African Government Departments have been told they must intensify their efforts to ensure 50 per cent representation of women in top Public Service positions.
Director-General of Public Service and Administration, Yoliswa Makhasi (pictured) called on Departments to focus on concrete strategies to implement the Government’s eight-principle action plan.
The plan is a mechanism to address the imbalance of power relations within Public Service workplaces due to the under-representation of women in senior management.
Ms Makhasi said the Public Service was currently sitting at 42 per cent of the required 50 per cent equity representation at the senior management service level, which included directors, chief directors, deputy directors-general and directors-general.
“There is a need to eliminate gender oppression, patriarchy, sexism, racism, ageism and structural oppression by creating conducive working environments that enable women to live meaningful and dignified lives, more especially contributing to decision-making which affects all areas of their lives,” Ms Makhasi said.
Ms Makhasi said she also wanted discussions on the provision of adequate support systems and resources to deal with increased unemployment of women as a result of COVID-19.
“The pandemic has underlined and exacerbated the continued deprivation and inequality faced by women and girls across the world, but that in South Africa there is also the added burden of unacceptable levels of gender-based violence.”
“Department heads must create enabling environments for women empowerment and gender equality at work,” she said.
Pretoria, 24 August 2020
