The United Democratic Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) says there is an urgent need for societal shifts that prioritise gender equality, dignity, and respect for all individuals in the country.
This, after the National Debt Advisors (NDA) revealed that South African women are still earning less and accumulating more debt compared to their male counterparts.
According to NDA, this disparity disproportionately affects single mothers in particular, as Statistics South Africa reported a 30 percent gender pay gap across various industries in the country.
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“The reported 30 percent pay gap across different industries highlights the unequal financial burden carried by women, who often find themselves resorting to loans to make up for the income disparity between men and women. This trend underscores the urgent need for action to address the systemic inequalities that perpetuate financial insecurity among women in South Africa.
“Come 29 May 2024, UDEMWO demands that the new government properly enforces the Employment Equity Act of 1998 and the Labour Relations Act of 1995 where the gender pay gap is concerned, because the African National Congress [ANC] has dismally failed the working women of this country,” the organisation asserted.
In addition, UDEMWO believes that the Commission for Gender Equality needs to do more for the women of South Africa.
Speaking with the SABC news on Wednesday, NDA Compliance Officer Dehan Scherman, also pointed out that women often bear the burden of managing debt, resorting to loans to bridge the income disparity between men and women.
“This predicament often traps women in a cycle of debt that is challenging to overcome,” she said.
Nearly 38 per cent of South African households are led by women, with approximately 6.1 million homes primarily supported by women.
Scherman stressed that these statistics are deeply concerning as the labour market in South Africa remains skewed in favour of men, resulting in significant gender disparities in employment opportunities.