Inequality Still an Issue in South Africa

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The Gender Statistics in South Africa study revealed that South African men are overall economically better off than South African women. South African men have higher annual expenditures, lower unemployment rates, and longer life expectancies. “Even in death, the registration of women who have died is much lower compared to the registration of dead men. That happens because there is nothing to inherit from a woman and a lot to inherit from a man,” said statistician-general Pali Hehohla.

The inequality between South African men and women is even more apparent in the black population. The extensive inequality gap between the black and white populations is stemmed from the South African apartheid that existed from 1948 to 1991. Black men and women were forced to live in overcrowded townships and had poorly funded schools. Due to poor educations and oppression, black South African women have the lowest employment rate of 30.8% while white men have the highest at 72.6%.

Learners participate in a literacy lesson with one of Operation Upgrade's tutors.
South African citizens are working hard to close the unemployment and education imbalance that currently exists. ProLiteracy’s partner in South Africa, Operation Upgrade, the oldest literacy NGO in the country, believes that basic education, which includes literacy, family health, food security, and income development, will improve the living standards for those overcrowded townships. Currently, 32.4% of South Africans live below the food poverty line, most of who are women.

Ultimately, changes in South Africa’s inequality issues will need to start with basic education. As stated  by Nelson Mandela, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."


Click here to read more about the Gender Statistics In SA study.

Click here to read more about ProLiteracy’s international efforts.


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