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Election Update 2004: South Africa, 9 ELECTION UPDATE 2004 SOUTH AFRICA number 9 ·17 May 2004 editorial top position in Parliament this system in place whereby namely, the Speaker of the every third person on the party In the Election Updates we House, has been occupied by a list is a woman. Second, it is have discussed various aspects woman; first by Dr Frene well and good that the ruling of the South African election Ginwala and now followed by ANC has put in place a 2004, in some detail. The Mrs Baleka Mbete-Kgositsile, voluntary quota system. previous issues of this bulletin both of whom are political However, this situation could have carried vital information heavyweights from the ANC be further improved by covering the electoral process stable. introducing a mandatory prior to, during as well as the legislated quota system to immediate aftermath of the Furthermore, following the which all the parties have to polling phase of the election. 2004 election, the abide and adhere to with clear What we have not yet done in representation of women in the sanctions stipulated for non- sufficient detail is to provide South Africa cabinet stands at compliance. some information and analysis an impressive 41.2 percent, Khabele Matlosa of the gender dimensions of the only 8.8 percent shy of the 50% entire electoral process and its mark (i.e. equal gender contents outcome. representation which is the Editorial 1 ultimate goal of the SADC National Perspectives This ninth issues of Election Declaration). It is also Women and the 2004 Election 2 Update 2004 aims precisely to interesting to note that of the address this missing link in our Provincial Roundup nine provincial Premiers, four Gauteng discussion thus far. The focus are women (about 50% women Gender and Elections of our discussion aiming to representation. in Gauteng 4 address this dimension of the KZN 2004 election is important for What should be noted, Gender Issues in purposes of unravelling gender however, is that despite this KwaZulu-Natal 6 Elected by the Women, but aspects of political participation improvement in women’s in South Africa. It is worth Government of, and for, political participation and the Men 8 noting that South Africa is one representation in key organs of Free State of the signatories to the 1997 the state, only the ruling ANC The Gender Gap after a Decade of SADC Declaration on Gender has a voluntary quota system Democracy 11 and Development which that allows for gender Western Cape commits member states to inclusivity. None of the other Gender and Elections 14 equal gender representation in Eastern Cape opposition parties have any Women and the Elections in the all key organs of the state and institutionalised mechanism for Eastern Cape 17 at least 30% representation of gender equality or balance. Northern Cape women in these institutions by (En)gendering the Elections 20 the year 2005. It is interesting Two major problems present Mpumalanga to note that South Africa has themselves here. First, it is Gender Representation in the 2004 already surpassed the 30% imperative that all parties, both Elections 22 Previous Issue Contents 25 target in terms of women’s ruling and opposition, adopt representation in Parliament. and adhere to deliberate policy EISA Editorial Team From 27.7% in 1994 to 30% in and institutional mechanisms Jackie Kalley, Khabele Matlosa, 1999, the representation of that promote women’s Denis Kadima women in Parliament has participation and representation soared to 32.8% following the in the political system. So far published with the assistance of 2004 election. Since 1994, the only the ruling party has put OSF-SA and NORAD Election update 2004 south africa number 9 NATIONAL PERSPECTIVES WOMEN AND THE behaviour. A gender gap 82% of the total number of exists when a significant seats held by women. In total 2004 ELECTION larger number of women there are 131 women in than men vote for a certain Parliament in contrast to the Professor Amanda Gouws party or on grounds of 119 elected in the 1999 University of Stellenbosch certain issues. There are election. Women, therefore, many issues that could constitute 32.8% of the After the 2004 elections, contribute to a gender gap National Assembly, mostly South Africa now ranks such as the fact that women due to the increase in the eleventh in the world with die in larger numbers from ANC’s share of the vote and regard to the number of HIV/AIDS than men, the its commitment to a one women in Parliament by impact of unemployment on third gender quota. In this having women in 131 seats. women as primary election the ANC put women The relatively high number caregivers, basic needs in “electable” positions as of women in Parliament can issues such as housing, nearly every third name on be attributed to the water, electricity and the national candidate’s list proportional list electoral education and violence was that of a woman. The system and the acceptance of against women. The lack of 50/50 campaign spearheaded a one third voluntary quota a gender gap can probably be by the Gender Advocacy by the governing party, the attributed to a lack of Campaign (GAP) has ANC. The benefit of a alternatives among the demanded that 50% women proportional list system is different parties. During the be elected to Parliament by that it ensures that women 2004 election most parties 2005 in order to obtain parity and small parties have access dealt with the same issues with men. Even though the to representation. However, and most of them did it in a campaign raised what really makes the gender blind fashion. consciousness about difference in South Africa is women’s representation and the ANC’s quota. Without While the ANC is the party helped in getting the the ANC’s quota there would with the best track record for women's vote out, it did not have been far fewer women delivering on gender issues, succeed in getting 50% in Parliament. None of the no party really attempted to women in Parliament opposition parties have mobilise the women’s vote, because a zebra list of every accepted a quota for even though women have the second name on the list, a women’s representation. power to swing an election. women’s name, was not Voters are not mobilised by used. Women have become quite a their gender identities. Racial significant constituency with and class identities and their The opposition parties 1 982 876 more women than intersection with gender and managed to get a few more men having registered to party loyalty play a more women into Parliament. The vote. This means that important role when it comes DA has 10 out of 50 women, probably more women than to voting behaviour in South the IFP 6 out of 28, the men have voted. Research Africa. UDM 3 out of 9, the ID 2 out on previous election results of 7, the NNP 1 out of 7, the has, however, shown no With a 69.68% of the vote ACDP 1 out of 6, the UCDP significant gender gap going to the ANC it attained 1 out of 3, the MF 1 out of 2 between men and women 279 of the seats with 107 are and the FF+, AZAPO and when it comes to voting filled by women. This is the PAC 0. In the bigger 2 Election update 2004 south africa number 9 opposition parties, women the ANC’s “contract with the accept a quota. With the may not be placed people”. Putting women in problem of accountability in strategically on the list. these important portfolios the PR system the electoral Women in cabinet are also expresses his faith in system may be changed to a approaching the 50% mark their ability to deliver. Many mixed PR and district system with 41.2% ministers and of the women ministers have as recommended by the Van deputy-ministers. With 4 a strong gender Zyl Slabbert Task Team. premiers out of 9, women consciousness and may The number of women in make up 44.5% of the contribute to monitoring the Parliament will then decline. premiers. President Mbeki gender sensitivity of the Evidence of this already has shown the ANC’s policies they have to exists on a local level where commitment to gender implement. A relationship more women are elected equality by appointing 10 between women in from the PR lists rather than women ministers and 12 Parliament and the National in the wards. deputy-ministers. Women Machinery for Women is now fill some of the most very important to ensure the The transformation of the powerful ministries in necessary monitoring work electoral system should be government such as Justice on gender issues. In this effected with the gender (Bridgette Mabandla), regard, the Joint Standing dimension in mind. Failure Foreign Affairs (Nkosazana Committee on the Quality of to do so will result in the Zuma) and Education Live and the Status of gains South Africa has made (Naledi Pandor). ). These Women (JSQLSW) has done on the representation of portfolios are not the “soft excellent work in the past. women in government ministries” usually assigned Unfortunately government possibly being being lost. to women. Other ministries has lost two of its gender headed by women are stalwarts, in the persons of Agriculture and Land the previous speaker, Frene (Thoko Didiza), Housing Ginwala, and the Chair of (Lindiwe Sisulu), Home JSQLSW, Pregs Govender. Affairs (Nosivivwe Mapisa- The loss of their experience Nqakula), Health (Manto is a loss to all women in Tshabalala-Msimang), South Africa.
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