Women are not just participants in SA’s economy – they sustain it
By Steve Letsike Often, the conversation about women and the economy is framed around participation – as though women are waiting at the margins for an invitation to enter spaces where economic decisions are made and value is created.
But this framing misses a fundamental truth: women are not simply participants in South Africa’s economy; they are among the forces that sustain it.
Every day, women earn incomes, build businesses, create jobs, care for families, support communities and contribute to the productivity of our nation.
Much of this contribution is visible in workplaces and boardrooms, while some take place quietly in homes, communities and informal markets, often without the recognition or economic value it deserves.
As South Africa marks Women’s Month and commemorates 70 years since the historic Women’s March of 1956, we are reminded that the women who marched to the Union Buildings demanded more than mere political rights or recognition – they asserted their dignity, agency and rightful place in society.
Seven decades later, that legacy lives on in millions of women who continue to shape the country’s social and economic life.
Their story is not simply one of participation.
It is a story of resilience, productivity and economic power.
That economic power is reflected in the progress women are making across the economy.
The latest data from Statistics South Africa show that between 2014 and 2024, the share of female-run businesses operating in the formal sector increased from 20.0% to 21.6%.
Over the same period, the representation of women with tertiary qualifications employed in physical, mathematical and engineering fields increased from 22.2% to 29.6%.
These shifts demonstrate women’s growing presence as entrepreneurs, skilled professionals and contributors to sectors that drive innovation, productivity and economic growth.
Women’s entrepreneurial contribution is particularly significant.
In 2024, 76% of female-run businesses operated in the informal sector.
5News aggregated this summary from the outlet’s public feed. The full article, with all the context, is on www.sabcnews.com — the content belongs to SABC News.
