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This study examines the role of women in power, politics, and decision-making, focusing on the factors that influence political representation, the effect of women's participation on governance, and the efficacy of gender quotas and affirmative action policies. Guided by Feminist Political Theory, the study examines how patriarchal structures, socio-cultural norms, gender stereotypes, political violence, and structural inequalities continue to shape women's political experiences and opportunities. Using a desktop-based methodology, the study systematically reviews scholarly literature, policy documents, and institutional reports. Data were analysedthematically to identify recurring patterns and key issues relating to women’s political participation. The findings revealed persistent underrepresentation of women in political leadership, socio-cultural norms and gender stereotypes, the positive impact of women’s participation on policy and governance, the prevalence of political violence and discrimination against women and the important role played by civil society and feminist movements in promoting gender equality. The study concludes that while progress has been made, achieving substantive gender representation requires comprehensive structural reforms, inclusive political institutions, and continued advocacy for gender justice in governance.

Owing to women past lived experiences of gender discrimination and marginalization, public policy is among the strategies that are prioritized by the government towards the creation of gender balances in the post 1994 era. To this effect, Section 7 (1) of the 1996 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa provides that the bill of rights is the cornerstone for affirming democratic rights, human dignity, equality and freedom of all citizens. Despite this constitutional imperative, the literature and empirical evidence in the South African local government sphere points to challenges of women exclusion and lack of empowerment opportunities. Therefore, this article seeks to examine the prohibiting factors that impedes effective implementation of the WEGEP in local government with specific reference to iMpendle Local Municipality in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal. It also sought to develop strategies to assist the government to improve WEGEP implementation.  The study used qualitative methodology in which structured interviews were used to collect data from the municipal officials. A total of 30 participants were purposively identified and clustered for data collection, and 27 were available for interviews. In terms of data analysis, a mixture of content and thematic analyses were used. The study was underpinned by 5C protocol as a conceptual framework. The findings of the study indicated a slow pace of implementation of WEGEP in the municipality. This was attributed to the lack of human and financial resources. The findings also pointed to challenges in relation to the monitoring and evaluation for gender and women empowerment programmes. Furthermore, there was a lack of change management in dealing with the issues pertaining to women empowerment and gender equality in the municipality. The study contributes to the outlook of public policy, effectiveness of government programs, and strengthens the body of knowledge in the area of public policy.

This study explores the impact of women’s leadership and governance on stability and development in Limpopo province in South Africa, employing a qualitative research approach to provide a comprehensive analysis. Limpopo Province, with its complex socio-political landscape and historical context, presents a unique case for examining the role of women in leadership positions within both governmental and non-governmental sectors. The research integrates qualitative data to assess how women in leadership contribute to fostering stability, promoting socio-economic development, and influencing policy reforms. The qualitative component involves in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with women leaders, policymakers, and community members to gain insights into the strategies, challenges, and impacts of female leadership in governance. The findings showed that women in leadership positions have a positive influence on governance practices, social cohesion, and inclusive development, though challenges related to gender-based discrimination, political power dynamics, and institutional barriers remain significant. This study contributes to the broader discourse on gender equality in leadership, offering policy recommendations aimed at enhancing women’s participation in governance to achieve sustainable development and long-term stability in South Africa. Anti-discrimination laws must also be given top priority by governments and organizations, and prejudices in hiring and promotion procedures must be actively addressed.

This study examined the determinants affecting women's empowerment in political involvement within the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) in the Eastern Cape Province.  A qualitative inductive technique was utilised to obtain insights from female ward and proportional representation councillors, involving 10 key informant interviews to examine their experiences in local governance.  The research was based on feminist theories that underscore the necessity for social equality and the deconstruction of patriarchal frameworks within political situations.  The results indicated that social support, knowledge, and accessible forums for women to articulate their perspectives were crucial in enabling women's active participation in local politics.  The study emphasised the significance of executing existing policies and cultivating personal drive as essential factors for increasing women's political participation.  The results highlighted the importance of establishing a supportive atmosphere that prioritises women for political roles and the need for chances for them to express their views.  The research demonstrated that women's political drive and legacy are crucial in encouraging future generations of female leaders.  This study offers a thorough analysis of the elements that can enhance women's empowerment in municipal politics, hence fostering greater female representation and involvement in decision-making processes.

This paper aims to investigate how moral and matriarchal leadership might enhance the continent's environment for democracy, improving living and working conditions. African nations historically esteemed the influence of matriarchs; nevertheless, their representation in politics and business has diminished significantly. Africa possesses abundant resources and numerous enduring challenges. Implementing matriarchal leadership paradigms may facilitate the discovery of previously untested solutions. This study employs many research methodologies, including qualitative and quantitative approaches, to comprehensively examine the influence of matriarchal leadership on African governance. In-depth interviews and case studies are employed in the qualitative segment to examine the challenges, experiences, and achievements of women leaders throughout various regions of Africa.

The extent of women's representation and visibility in local government planning in South Africa has been significantly constrained. Over the years, the recurring phenomenon of insufficient participation and representation in local governance has become a prevalent issue within the country. The inclusion and participation of women in the decision-making process of local government should not be driven solely by the necessity to comply with legislative and policy frameworks and not by just a mere representation in terms of reflecting on the number of participants. Incorporating diverse individuals and groups is crucial in guaranteeing that progress within communities is accomplished acceptably.  The act of prioritizing men's interests or political opportunism over women's interests in local government planning lacks justification.  This study elucidates diverse factors that underlie the insufficient involvement and representation of women in local government planning. These variables encompass the prevalence of custom, culture, and tradition; socialisation, attitudes, and stereotypes; violence against women in politics; the media; finances and resources; structural deficiencies; patriarchy; and education. The research relied on existing scholarly works and documented accounts to investigate the causative elements and explicate their effect on the developmental condition. The article posits that addressing these factors requires a comprehensive approach that includes a multifaceted approach and a dosage of sustained efforts to ensure that there is gender balance and fair representation of women in local government planning. The study contributes to a better understanding of the participation and representation of women in the context of local government planning. It provides insights into strategies for creating more inclusive opportunities for women to express their views and exercise influence in local decision-making procedures.

Gender disparity is a significant issue that is clearly present in South African municipalities. Municipalities play an important role in providing services to individuals based on their needs and expectations because they are the level of government closest to the people. Gender inequality poses a barrier within municipalities due to discrimination, a lack of gender mainstreaming, a lack of gender policies, and a lack of women's empowerment, limiting women's capacity to contribute to civic life and municipal duties that guide the nation's growth. Inequality between the sexes makes it more difficult for women to support themselves, creating socioeconomic problems in their communities and additional issues for the government to address to ensure effective, efficient, economical, fair, and inclusive governance. This article aims to highlight areas of concern that the government could address through policies by focusing on gender disparities in South African local government from a policy standpoint. Using a qualitative desktop analysis, the article collects information under various themes. The goal is to advise local governments on ensuring gender equality in all decision-making structures and procedures. It is impossible to overstate the importance of involving local governments in the fight against gender inequality. As a result, a gap in research on gender equality in municipal government must be filled. This article seeks to contribute to this direction by examining several aspects of gender inequality at the local government level in South Africa.

Improving gender equality in decision-making is a very important issue in a country's economic development. The main purpose of the research is to analyze the level of central level decision making and the alignment of the labor market at Kosovo level on gender basis. Also, this paper presents a theoretical focus on the role of decision making for a better service and the possible management of gender equality counseling programs in the economic, political and social spheres. Kosovo continues to face challenges as well as a marked disparity in women's disadvantage in regards to managing the gender-based decision-making process at both the central and the local level. Although there are laws that stimulate gender equality, the position of women in decision-making in public life in terms of contributing to economic, political and social development endeavors are lacking their increase in participation and decision-making at both central and local levels.