Newsletter 38 – Gender inequalities most severe in metros– 11 September 2009
The findings of the municipal outreach project on poverty challenges in South Africa show not only the achievements and failures of local government in combating poverty, but also the disparities between men and women in the country’s municipal districts.
In all district municipalities there were more women with no income than there were men. This is according to the 2007 Community Survey from Statistics South Africa. The survey also showed the following:
· Poor rural women had generally lower incomes than their urban counterparts.
· The disparities between the incomes of men compared with women were more prevalent in the metros than in smaller municipalities.
· The types of industries prevalent in each municipality contributed to the disparities in the incomes. Some industries are dominated by men and others by women.
To illustrate these disparities and some similarities data for two municipalities is analysed. The Capricorn District Municipality and the City of Cape Town are representative of the general picture of rural and urban municipalities.
The Capricorn District Municipality, a largely rural municipality where Polokwane is situated, had a population of 1 243 171 which was 46% male and 54% female. Some 270 280 men and 323 488 women had no income. Some 38% of people with a monthly income between R801 and R1 600 were men, and 62% were women. Amongst those with a monthly income of more than R6 400, 57% were men while 43% were women.
The City of Cape Town had a population of 3 497 101, of which men made up 48% of the population and women 52%. There were some 682 283 men in the City of Cape Town with no income and 833 764 women. Among people with a monthly income between R801 and R1 600, some 45% were men and 55% were women. Among those with a monthly income exceeding R6 400, some 59% were men and 41% were women.
One of the factors that contributes to these disparities in the income levels is the type of industry. The breakdown between men and women in each industry in terms of employment for the two municipalities is illustrated in the tables below:
Employment by industry and sex, Capricorn District Municipality
Industry | Total employed | Proportion of employees who are men | Proportion of employees who are women |
Agriculture, hunting, forestry, and fishing | 13 801 | 58% | 42% |
Mining and quarrying | 1 795 | 92% | 8% |
Manufacturing | 21 547 | 68% | 32% |
Electricity, gas, and water supply | 2 749 | 85% | 15% |
Construction | 11 471 | 82% | 18% |
Wholesale and retail trade | 26 769 | 47% | 53% |
Transport, storage, and communication | 5 908 | 75% | 25% |
Financial, insurance, real estate, and business services | 17 491 | 55% | 45% |
Community, social, and personal services | 46 714 | 46% | 54% |
Other and not adequately defined | 19 263 | 26% | 74% |
Total | 167 508 | 53% | 47% |
Source: 2007 Community Survey, Statistics South Africa, 2008
Employment by industry and sex, City of Cape Town
Industry | Total employed | Proportion of employees who are men | Proportion of employees who are women |
Agriculture, hunting, forestry, and fishing | 41 221 | 55% | 45% |
Mining and quarrying | 3 059 | 76% | 24% |
Manufacturing | 186 414 | 61% | 39% |
Electricity, gas, and water supply | 10 472 | 70% | 30% |
Construction | 81 839 | 90% | 10% |
Wholesale and retail trade | 183 998 | 49% | 51% |
Transport, storage, and communication | 48 504 | 67% | 33% |
Financial, insurance, real estate, and business services | 161 479 | 55% | 45% |
Community, social, and personal services | 179 231 | 42% | 58% |
Other and not adequately defined | 31 384 | 84% | 16% |
Total | 927 601 | 58% | 42% |
Source: 2007 Community Survey, Statistics South Africa, 2008
In both municipalities, there were more women than men employed in most of the industries except wholesale and retail trade and in community, social, and personal services. However, the disparities were greater in Cape Town than in Capricorn. Men accounted for 53% of the employment in Polokwane and women 47%, however, in Cape Town the same industries were comprised of 58% and 42% women.
Other factors which contribute to these disparities between men and women will be explored in next week’s newsletter. These factors include levels of education, institutions attended, social grants, and others.
The Municipal Outreach Project aims to provide extensive research to municipalities covered by the project. This will be done by means of publications, the project website, and workshops. A monthly publication called Fast Facts for Local Government (F3LG) is sent to local councillors, officials, and development organisations in the eight municipalities covered by the project. A weekly newsletter is posted on the project website on Fridays, and e-mailed to project beneficiaries. The annual South Africa Survey, published by the Institute, will be posted to municipalities and extracts posted on the project website.
- Nthamaga Kgafela
by
nkgafela
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last modified
2009-09-11 10:11
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