CAPE TOWN – August 11, 2025: President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued a strong call for the mainstreaming of gender equality across all levels of government policy and decision-making. In his latest weekly newsletter, the president emphasized that no policy or government action should be taken without considering its direct impact on women, who make up more than half of South Africa’s population.
As South Africa marks Women’s Month, Ramaphosa is using this national moment of reflection and activism to push for structural changes in how the government approaches gender in policy development, social programming, and economic transformation.
“A gendered lens must be consistently applied to every challenge facing our country and in developing and implementing the solutions to those challenges,” Ramaphosa wrote in his Monday newsletter.
Ramaphosa: Women Must Be Central to National Dialogue
The president’s message comes ahead of the first National Convention of the National Dialogue, set to begin in Pretoria this week. The convention, which is expected to gather civil society organizations, community leaders, and policymakers, is seen as a critical opportunity to elevate women’s voices and experiences within the national discourse.
Ramaphosa made it clear that this event should not be a symbolic gathering, but a platform for real engagement and inclusion.
“Given the history of women’s struggles in our country, it is to be expected that women will once again take centre stage and participate actively in the dialogue process,” he said.
The National Dialogue aims to address South Africa’s persistent social, economic, and political challenges, including inequality, unemployment, gender-based violence, and service delivery issues. According to Ramaphosa, it is impossible to find sustainable solutions to these problems without prioritizing the unique challenges and contributions of women.
Ramaphosa’s emphasis on gender-sensitive governance signals a broader shift in the way South Africa’s executive is approaching national development.
While women have made strides in representation within Parliament and the Cabinet, Ramaphosa noted that these achievements must now translate into practical, everyday policies that improve women’s lives in tangible ways.
“Women are affected by every political, social and economic issue facing our country,” he wrote. “They experience these challenges not only differently but often more acutely.”
From economic exclusion and gender-based violence to unequal access to healthcare, education, and employment, the president argued that policies must go beyond surface-level gender representation and instead be designed to dismantle systemic barriers.
With the national convention kicking off during Women’s Month, Ramaphosa called on all sectors of society—government, business, civil society, and traditional leadership—to unite around the shared goal of achieving gender equity in every sphere.
He challenged leaders across the board to go beyond performative gestures and make concrete commitments to gender transformation.
“We must ensure that Women’s Month is not only a time for celebration, but also a moment of recommitment to the struggle for women’s rights,” Ramaphosa said.
Women’s Month, commemorated every August in South Africa, honors the 1956 Women’s March against apartheid pass laws. Today, it serves as a platform to spotlight the ongoing struggle for gender equality, including the fight against patriarchy, violence, and exclusion.
In his closing remarks, Ramaphosa called on every South African to recognize the importance of gender equity—not only as a women’s issue but as a societal imperative tied to the country’s future development and cohesion.
He urged men, in particular, to step up as allies and challenge toxic gender norms in their communities, workplaces, and homes.
“True freedom and democracy can only be achieved when women enjoy the same rights, dignity, and opportunities as men,” he concluded.
As the National Dialogue begins, Ramaphosa’s vision for a gender-inclusive society will be put to the test. The coming weeks will determine whether his administration and its partners can translate rhetoric into action—and whether South Africa can build a future that prioritizes women at every level of governance and policy-making.
With women continuing to bear the brunt of unemployment, poverty, and violence in the country, the stakes could not be higher.
Ramaphosa’s message is clear: progress without gender equality is not progress at all.
Source- EWN
