Minister Vows to Increase Percentage of Women in Senior Management

Women will occupy 50 percent of senior management positions in government by March 2009, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, minister of public services and administration was quoted saying recently.

Speaking to the Governance and Administration cluster briefing in May, Fraser-Moleketi said research shows women occupied just 8 percent of senior management in 1995 and grew to 33 percent in 2007, according to BuaNews, a South African news service focusing on government. Although these numbers are lower than expected, Fraser-Moleketi said she believes the country will still meet its mark next year.

But finding and grooming women leaders is a challenge, especially for women with familial responsibilities.

“Although we are gender sensitive in this country, it is clear that parenting is still mostly the role of the women,” Fraser-Moleketi told BuaNews.