President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that South African women remain underrepresented in both national wealth and land ownership, despite representing more than half the country’s population. Speaking at the Union Buildings on National Women’s Day, Ramaphosa said women hold only 39% of total couple net worth on average and continue to lack equal access to resources, employment, and business opportunities.

Persistent Inequality In Wealth, Land, And Economic Power

Research published in the South African Journal of Economics indicates that women in South Africa hold, on average, just 39% of total couple net worth, confirming a significant gender gap in asset accumulation. Studies highlighted by PLAAS show that over 40% of households are headed by women, a number rising to 47.7% in rural areas, yet women’s ownership of land and wealth remains disproportionately low relative to their responsibility in family and community life.

Wealth in South Africa is heavily concentrated, with approximately 3,500 people—making up the top 0.01%—owning 15% of national wealth, according to a GroundUp report. Housing assets make up to 65% of household wealth, but these assets remain shaped by historical inequalities and geography, limiting the ability of women, particularly those from marginalised communities, to build generational assets.

Government Response And Historical Context

During his address, President Ramaphosa stated, “Women are more than half of our population, but they do not yet hold an equal share of our country’s wealth, its land or its enterprises.” He also noted continued gender disparities in employment and earnings, saying, “Too many women are without work. Too many earn less than men for doing the same work. Too many carry the burden of caring for families and households, labour that goes unrecognised and uncounted. This must change.”

Ramaphosa announced that the government is opening public procurement to women-owned businesses as part of efforts to build women entrepreneurs and increase equitable participation. This year marks seventy years since the 1956 Women’s March, where thousands of women marched to protest apartheid pass laws, yet recent events such as the PLAAS webinar underline continuing struggles over land rights and representation.

Ongoing Barriers: Gender-Based Violence And Structural Legacy

Despite progress in policy and representation, more than one in three South African women reported experiencing physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, data from 2024 show. Activists and researchers contend that gender-based violence and the legacy of apartheid both constrain women’s full economic participation and asset ownership. These deep-rooted challenges signal the continued importance of economic reform and societal transformation focused on gender justice.

Further policy developments and public sector interventions targeting inclusive economic growth for women are expected to be announced in the coming months.