Thesis ( M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2015. / The study aims to gain an in-depth understanding of the gender dynamics which promote
or retard the full participation of women in decision-making and leadership positions in the
Nkangala District Municipality (NDM), Mpumalanga. Local Government, through
municipalities, is the most strategic sphere of government. This is so because
municipalities are the institutions of government that are closest to the people.
Municipalities, through the various services provided, present critical service delivery
institutions for women to actively participate in and influence decisions. Therefore the
study contends that these institutions of local government are gendered. Against this
backdrop, an analysis of gender representation of women and men in decision-making
and leadership positions in the NDM was conducted. The aim was to assess the state of
gender equality in the NDM. Further, the study explored this gender representation in
relation to how it translates to women’s authority and influence in decision-making and
leadership.
This qualitative research study triangulated data collection using questionnaires,
interviews and observation. The study focused on both the administrative and political
components of local government. In the administrative component; interviews were
conducted with Municipal Managers (MMs), Executive Directors (EDs) and Managers. In
the political component, interviews were conducted with Executive Mayors, Speakers,
Chief Whips and Members of the Mayoral Committees (MMCs). These constitute the
decision-making and leadership positions in municipalities as institutions of local
government.
The study revealed that amidst the national and international policy and legislative
provisions on women’s empowerment and gender equality, women continue to be
confronted with institutional gendered challenges. Amongst others, the study revealed that
there are pervasive gender dynamics, stereotypes, attitudes and perceptions towards
women in decision-making and leadership positions in these institutions. Also, that there
are minimum institutional mechanisms and strategies that encourage and support
women’s participation in decision-making and leadership positions. The provincial and
national gender machineries’ roles and responsibilities with regard to municipalities’
monitoring, oversight and overall support is not as vibrant. Drawing from the findings, the
study concludes with a proposal for a Women’s Leadership Empowerment Model WLEM). A comprehensive model that will comprise of professional capacity-building and
training, on-the-job coaching and mentorship, regular peer assessment and review for a to
continuously support women in and into decision-making and leadership positions.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ul/oai:ulspace.ul.ac.za:10386/1212 |
| Date | January 2015 |
| Creators | Matoane, T. |
| Contributors | Moyo, T. |
| Publisher | University of Limpopo |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xix, 157 leaves |
| Relation |
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