Assessing the Role of Gender in Local Governance (Political Context): The Case of South African Municipalities

Due to social and economic factors, gender inequality persists in society requiring initiatives for women empowerment. It is vital that government policies are gender-sensitive incorporating the elements of gender-disaggregated data, gender-based demography, gender-based tasks and gender equality resulting in women empowerment. The review of relevant literature, official documents and international/regional/national policies [descriptive and analytical methodology] reveal the lack of participation by women in political decision-making, especially at grass-roots level. The reasons could be, inter alia, the lack of skills, capacities, household responsibilities, societal pressure and cultural beliefs. This nature of constraints can be overcome through building women’s capacity for improved political involvement in local governance [a hypothetical statement]. In order to find solutions, the article raises the following questions for [on-going] debate and discussion: What is the magnitude of gender-awareness in political decision-making in municipalities? To what extent are gender equity policies implemented at grass-roots level? Are municipalities acknowledging the need to empower women? Are there any initiatives in place to capacitate women to ensure participation in decision-making processes? There are diverse arguments on this issue. The strong augmentation emphasizes the significance of the normative approach that supports public participation as a form of transformation. Another augmentation stresses the instrumental approach supporting the political decentralization for participatory decision-making at grass-roots level. In order to find answers to the above questions, the article investigates at the status of women in South African local governance [political context]. The article utilizes an empowerment approach of the feminist theory. The empowerment approach has its own indicators for measurement varying from individual to collective at micro and macro levels. The micro level symbolizes an individual seeking progression from subjugation to an evolutionary personality. The macro level symbolizes the institutions/authorities/regulations taking relevant decisions regarding progression of individuals. In this article, the micro level, that is, the individuals, are women seeking empowerment and recognition, while the macro levels are municipalities (organizations), authorities (political office-bearers), and regulations (gender equality policies and programmes). The article recommends that it is vital to review and revise existing constitutional, political, legislative and regulatory frameworks, including electoral systems, to remove provisions that hinder women’s equal participation in the decision-making processes. To facilitate research on the conditions under which women representation is enhanced in political parties, parliament and government at all spheres is significant. The government must ensure monitoring and evaluation of the participation and representation of women in the decision-making processes. At the political level, the parties must review and revise their manifesto and structures to accommodate the participation of women. To enhance the participation of women in political decision-making, a quota on gender is being considered as an important policy measure. At the social level, there is a need to change attitudes that should include: the culture of local government needs to be reviewed to ensure that women are treated fairly and equally; discrimination against women is unacceptable; gender awareness programmes for men and women need to be developed; and opportunities need to be availed to women as soon as they are elected so that they can learn about local government, governance and receive the required support.