Evidence-based insights about Women at Work
Women’s Report 2023
Women entrepreneurs

The empowerment of women can be realised through a myriad of mechanisms, one of which is supporting women to achieve economic independence. This is, however, easier said than done, and requires insight into their specific circumstances and contexts, which is why this year’s Women’s Report positions the ecosystem of women’s entrepreneurship under the loupe.

Women’s Report 2022
Women and fiscal policy

We hover an equity lens over the realities created for women by South Africa’s fiscal policy. Careful considerations of aspects of fiscal policy, including tax, social grants, retirement funding and gender-based budgeting, could halt the downward spiral of odds that progressively stack up against women as they navigate life.

Women’s Report 2021
Childcare as an enabler of women’s economic participation

Women’s economic contribution is hampered by a lack of childcare support. The WR2021 focuses on an evidence-based rationale for decent childcare as part of government’s drive for job creation and the employment of women.

Women’s Report 2020
The rise of the black woman: Celebrating black women’s excellence

In celebration of the 10th year of publication, the 2020 Women’s Report reflects on the rise of the black woman. Very little is written about black women’s workplace successes and wisdom. We address this discrepancy by celebrating black women’s excellence.

Proudly standing for women’s workplace equity and equality, the Women’s Report aims to provide thoughtful insights corroborated by facts that not only encourage dialogue but speak for those who can’t.

The Annual Women’s Report e-publication is proudly sponsored by the Stellenbosch Business School and is distributed in association with the South African Board for People Practices.

  • Women’s Report 2020: Unleashing black women’s entrepreneurial power

    "Until South African organisations transform by actively dismantling inequality in the workplace, the damaging effects of dominance will continue to erode their social cohesion and the retention of talented black women. If organisations want to realise true parity, they will have to actively address systemic racism and the associated imperceptible hindrances to the empowerment of black women through a cultural approach."

    Ms Nastassja Wessels

  • Women’s Report 2020: Unleashing black women’s entrepreneurial power

    "A person with ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished when others are tortured or oppressed."

    Dr Phumzile Mmope

  • Women’s Report 2020: Unleashing black women’s entrepreneurial power

    "As part of an organisation’s corporate social responsibility, supporting both intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship would be more than meeting a social need, it would be a sustainable investment in the economic welfare of both individuals and the country — it would be teaching black women to embrace and unleash their entrepreneurial talent."

    Ms Christine Chichi Kere

  • Women’s Report 2021: COVID-19 and women’s care responsibilities

    "Gendered norms of childcare are holding women back from full and equal economic participation, and it will take a collective effort by individuals, companies, and government to change this reality."

    Ms Jennifer Smout

  • Women’s Report 2021: COVID-19 and women’s care responsibilities

    "Stay-at-home mothers need to be aware of the skills they acquired through motherhood, and position themselves positively in interactions with prospective employers. Those doing the hiring need to be equally aware of the attributes of stay-at-home mothers."

    Mr Lunga Tukani

  • Women’s Report 2021: COVID-19 and women’s care responsibilities

    "Beyond the joy of spending quality time with our children, there are additional reasons why women, men, children, and wider society can benefit from more active parenting by fathers. The first is the most important. The rewards of being an active father and building a lifelong relationship with one’s children are priceless."

    Prof. Mark Smith

  • Women’s Report 2021: COVID-19 and women’s care responsibilities

    "Improving access to high-quality, age-appropriate early childhood care and education (ECCE) is a national imperative, recognised in numerous pieces of legislation and policy in South Africa. While the benefits to children of the proliferation of these services are clear, the associated opportunities for benefits to women are seldom given due attention. "

    Ms Laura Brooks

  • Women’s Report 2021: COVID-19 and women’s care responsibilities

    "This is particularly the case for women who, despite their increased participation in economic activities, continue to be disproportionately responsible for childcare, due to socially ascribed roles."

    Prof. Zitha Mokomane

A celebration of excellence would not be complete without words of wisdom and encouragement to the next generation of women.

Twelve black women of note — women who have excelled in their respective fields — graciously narrated their life stories and views about their success in the 2020 Women’s Report. Read about their success, challenges and triumphs.

Read more opinion pieces, articles and insights on our blog

What is the Women’s Report?

Conceptualised from the need to map the field of women at work and recognising the lack of accessible evidence-based writing about women in paid work in South Africa, the Women’s Report was born in 2011. Initial topics revolved around the author’s choices and interests but soon the Women’s Report developed into an authoritative annual publication about topical themes relating to the life-worlds and lived experiences of African women.

The Women’s Report informs academic, practitioner and line manager audiences. Interest from the public has grown strongly since 2014 when the topic of Work and Women’s Reproduction was introduced. The annual Women’s Report is proudly sponsored by the Stellenbosch Business School and is distributed in association with the South African Board for People Practices (SABPP).