Women in South Africa are earning 40% less than men, according to a 2024 report by the Commission for Gender Equality.
Women still earn far less than men in South Africa
This means that for every R1 a man earns, a woman earns only 60 cents, on average. The report examined income data across various industries and employment levels to assess how big the gender pay gap remains in the country.
According to the Commission for Gender Equality report, the pay gap remains wide even when women and men perform the same types of jobs.
This wage disparity is not due to women working less or in different roles only — it also affects women in leadership positions and women with similar education levels as men .
The report found that while women are increasingly represented in the workforce, especially in service and public sectors, they are under-represented in higher-paying industries such as mining, finance, and information technology.
Even when women do break into these male-dominated sectors, they tend to be clustered in lower-paying roles .
Why the pay gap exists
There are several reasons why women earn less. These include:
- Discrimination: Women are sometimes paid less than men for doing the same job.
- Job types: Women often work in lower-paying sectors such as education and healthcare.
- Family responsibilities: Women are more likely to take time off or work part-time to care for children or elderly family members, which affects their earnings over time.
- Promotion gaps: Men are more likely to be promoted into high-paying leadership roles, while women are often overlooked, even when qualified.
These issues combine to create a persistent and unfair income gap between men and women in South Africa.
What the CGE recommends
The Commission for Gender Equality has called for more transparency in salaries.
It wants companies to publish pay reports that show how much men and women earn for the same jobs.
The commission is also pushing for more gender-sensitive hiring and promotion practices to make sure women get fair opportunities.
It recommends government intervention, stronger enforcement of equal pay laws, and support for women returning to work after maternity leave.
As South Africa observes Women’s Month, the wage gap remains a pressing issue. The CGE’s findings cast a bright spotlight on the need for stronger policies and workplace accountability. Without action, the wage gap could continue to disadvantage generations of working women.