South Africa: Gender and Elections
2004 2009 2014 2019 Comment
Women MPs 33% 43% 40% 46% Highest proportion of women in Parliament in 2019.
Women in the NCOP 41% 30% 28% 36% Proportion of women in the NCOP, need substantial increases moving forward.
Women MPLs 30% 41% 37% 46% Highest proportion of women in 2019.
Women in cabinet 42% 41% 41% 50% Highest proportion in 2019, 50% cabinet for the first time
Women deputy ministers 60% 39% 44% 46% Falls short of the 50% mark.
Women premiers 44% 55% 22% 22% Dropped from 2004 and 2009, 22% in the last two elections, needs urgent action to achieve the 50% mark.
Women voters 55% 55% 56% 55% Consistently at around 55%
Women as news sources 22% 24% 25% 20% Lowest proportion of female sources in the last four elections.

Policy Briefs | Local Govt Reports | Election Reports | Other reports | Laws & Policies | Press releases  

Concept Note and online discussion: Women’s political participation and the Constitutional Court ruling

Policy brief
2020 Policy Brief
Local govt reports
2016 Local government elections report
2011 Local Government elections report
Election reports
2024 Elections report; View the Infogram
2019 Elections report 
2014 Elections report
2009 Elections report 
Press releases 
Aug 2024: SA Elections: Gender parity takes a knock
May 2019: Mixed blessings for women in SA elections
Other reports
Commonwealth research paper
Women in South African Politics Fact Sheet
Gender and Political Development South Africa
Country laws and policies
South Africa Gender policy
South Africa Electoral law
South Africa Local government law
South Africa Constitution