Progress in Gender Equality in South Africa
As South Africa approaches 2026, the nation boasts almost a decade of measurable advancements in gender equality. While significant strides have been made, there remains a critical need for enhancing momentum within the ICT sector to effectively bridge the education-to-employment pipeline for women.
A recent analysis of the World Economic Forum’s ten-year data (2015-2025) reveals that South Africa has successfully closed approximately 77% of its overall gender gap. This figure indicates that South African women enjoy about three-quarters of the access, opportunities, and outcomes experienced by men across various sectors, including economic engagement, education, health, and political empowerment.
South Africa’s positioning in this regard surpasses the global average and consistently ranks among the top three performers on the African continent. Over the past decade, the country has maintained a position within the top 25 worldwide for gender equality, although it slipped to 33rd place by 2025—not due to a decline in its performance, but rather because of more rapid progress made by other nations.
While advancements in education and health are evident, women now hold nearly half of the seats in South Africa’s parliament, the gender imbalance in the ICT sector is glaring. According to findings from the Information Technology Professionals Association of South Africa (IITPSA) and Africa Analysis, women represent only 39.5% of the overall ICT workforce. In technical roles like software development and cybersecurity, this number nearly diminishes to a quarter.
This deficit signals more than just a pipeline issue; educational barriers also play a substantial role. Currently, only about 13% of graduates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are women. Those who do enroll in these programs frequently encounter obstacles such as inadequate mentorship, pervasive gender stereotypes, and limited access to quality training. This misalignment between potential and opportunity is hindering progress, as few women are graduating in high-demand fields, while even fewer ascend to leadership roles.
Women in South Africa’s ICT sector face stark challenges, with only 5% of ICT companies led by women, leaving them underrepresented in executive positions across the technology landscape. This disparity adversely impacts everything from product design to funding decisions, further complicating visibility for aspiring female professionals in early career stages.
Gender Inequality in the ICT Sector
Although South Africa’s overall gender balance has improved in the last decade, the ICT sector still requires substantial progress. Women currently constitute only 39.5% of the ICT workforce, and their presence in core technical roles, such as software development and engineering, falls to nearly 25%. Education plays a pivotal role in this gender imbalance, as only 13% of STEM graduates in South Africa are women.
Barriers such as limited mentorship opportunities, societal stereotypes, and unequal access to quality training continue to challenge women in these fields. As Sembisile Tsambarikagwa, director of communications at Briefly News, stated, this imbalance has long-lasting economic implications; technology significantly contributes to GDP and drives future employment opportunities.
Moreover, in terms of leadership roles, a mere 5% of South African ICT firms have women at the helm, reflecting a broader underrepresentation in decision-making roles within the technology sector. This lack of gender diversity affects everything from product development to funding choices, leaving fewer role models for young women pursuing careers in tech.
Emerging Female Innovators
Despite prevailing inequalities, South African women are increasingly stepping into roles as innovators and founders, challenging long-standing stereotypes. In Sub-Saharan Africa, women demonstrate a higher propensity for entrepreneurship compared to men, with South Africa leading this trend. Women are founding and leading startups across fintech, healthtech, edtech, and digital creative sectors.
Many of these female entrepreneurs credit resources such as online courses, digital skills training, and accelerator programs as catalysts for their success. Numerous local initiatives are fueling this momentum. For instance:
- Huawei’s Women Engineers Program: This initiative has trained hundreds of women in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, data analysis, and other advanced tech skills.
- Vodacom’s “#CodeLikeAGirl”: A national coding initiative aimed at girls aged 14-18 from underprivileged backgrounds, offering boot camps that teach coding languages and essential life skills.
- African Girls Can Code Initiative: Collaborating with UN Women and national education authorities, this program offers boot camps in coding and robotics for young women.
- Women in IT (WIT): A professional organization dedicated to supporting and empowering women in South Africa’s ICT sector.
The South African government is also poised to provide further structural support for women innovators. In 2025, the announcement of the Women in Technology and Innovation Program aims to extend funding, technical assistance, and resources to help women engage meaningfully in the country’s innovation ecosystem.
Future Directions for Gender Equality in 2026
With an eye on transforming the ICT landscape by 2026, Tsambarikagwa emphasizes the importance of strengthening the education-to-employment pipeline. Encouraging more girls to pursue STEM fields and ensuring they receive appropriate mentorship and educational opportunities will be crucial. Companies must also prioritize gender-balanced hiring and career progression.
Investment remains a significant barrier at the entrepreneurial level. While women globally struggle to secure venture capital, South Africa reflects this trend. Tsambarikagwa advocates for public and private funding mechanisms to include women not just as an afterthought in diversity initiatives but as integral to innovation.
Despite the ongoing challenges of gender disparity, South Africa has demonstrated that intentional policy and community support can yield substantial advancements. With collective efforts, there is potential to cultivate one of Africa’s most inclusive innovation sectors. The groundwork is being laid through women launching startups, acquiring digital skills, and taking leadership roles in innovation. The next step is to build on this momentum for a comprehensive transformation of the sector.
