OPINION EDITORIAL
South Africa leads the world on one measure of women in senior management. But a closer look at who holds executive power reveals a more uncomfortable truth: representation is rising faster than authority.
By Dr Natasha Winkler-Titus, Senior Lecturer: Leadership and Organisational Behaviour and Programme Head: PGD Leadership Development, Stellenbosch Business School
South Africa has a compelling headline statistic: women hold 47.2 % of senior management roles, making the country a global leader according to the 2025 Grant Thornton Women in Business report. Women occupy 52.7 % of CFO positions and 57.1 % of Human Resources Officer roles in mid-market businesses. These are figures that most countries can only aspire to.
But headline figures can mislead. According to Just Share’ s 2025 briefing on the JSE Top 40, women hold 38 % of board seats but only 27.4 % of executive roles. Only three of the Top 40 companies have a female CEO. Only six boards are chaired by women. At the level where strategy is set and resources are controlled, men still dominate.
Researchers describe this as the“ one-and-done” approach: a token female appointment at board level that satisfies optics without changing the structure of power. Representation is not the same as authority. South African businesses need to be honest about which one they are actually delivering.
“ Gender parity on boards – save the date: somewhere in 2165.” – Prof Anita Bosch, Research Chair: Women at Work, Stellenbosch Business School
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