2011 BWA South African Women in Leadership census out

BWA president, Kunyalala Maphisa said the organisation was concerned at the continued under-representation and the slow pace at which women were being incorporated into the corporate space at senior level and that left to market forces, this will never change.

"Year on year, the census reveals that although there is a slight increase in the employment of women in top executive positions, this increase is minimal and does not represent the large pool of competent women who can take up these positions. We see 0.1% movements in figures, which in real terms does not represent any notable developments on the ground.

"The BWA is advocating for the inclusion of a clause that will make gender diversity a mandatory requirement for companies wishing to be listed on the JSE," she said.

Census includes Alt-X

In 2009, in an effort to make the census as representative as possible, the organisation expanded the exercise to include Alternate Exchange (Alt-X) companies as well as the subsidiaries of all JSE-listed companies (main board and Alt-X) and the subsidiaries of all SOEs. Also, for the third year running, the 2011 Census measures the progress of women in leadership positions within government departments.

The 2011 Census measured a total of 339 companies of which 319 were JSE listed companies and 20 were state-owned enterprises. Of the 319 JSE companies, 63 were Alt-X companies and 257 were main board companies.

Regarding the Government data, the 2011 reporting period shows an increase of women, including those in the SANDF, to 56.3% (from 55.8% the previous year) whereas men decreased to 43.7% (from 44.2% the previous year) indicating once again that the growth that has taken place within government has taken place within the female population.

Corporate results

South Africa continues to fare better than its international counterparts in terms of women holding director and executive manager positions. However, women hold only 4.4% of CEO/MD positions, 5.3% of Chairperson positions, and 15.8% of all directorships. There was a significant decrease in the number of women in executive management positions, from 2 827 in 2010 to 1 461 in 2011. This is attributed to a large corporation not verifying its numbers, resulting in such a high drop. A closer analysis of the overall results, based on data provided as at 30 September 2010, drew the following key findings:

• Top performing companies (i.e. companies with 25% or more of director positions and 25% or more of executive management positions held by women) decreased from 41 in 2010 to 37 in 2011. This decrease can be attributed to the inclusion, as of the previous year, of subsidiaries which provided for a larger pool of directors and executive managers.
• Worst performing companies (companies that have 0% females within their director positions and executive manager positions) increased from 26 in 2010 to 27 in 2011.
• Executive managers increased from 19.3% in 2010 to 21.6% in 2011
• Directorships decreased to 15.8% from 16.6% in 2010
• Chairpersons decreased to 5.3% from 6.0% in 2010
• CEOs/MDs decreased by 0.1% from 4.5% in 2010 to 4.4% in 2011
• Companies with 25% or more board seats occupied by women directors remained constant at 70 for 2011. Women hold 18 board chairperson positions, with 11 chairs being JSE companies and 7 being SOEs
• Women CEOs remained constant since the last reporting period at 15
• Higher percentage of women executive managers in Alt-X companies (27.5%) than on main board (20.8%).

Government

• Women hold 35% of all senior management positions
• Of the women in salary levels 13-16, 62.5% are black, 7.5% are Asian, 7.2% are coloured and 22.7% are white.
• In salary level 6-8, where the majority of women in government are employed, 77.2% are black, 2.5% are Asian, 8.3% are coloured and 12.0% are white.

Further insights into the census results were provided during a panel discussion with Dr Danisa Baloyi, Professor Stella Nkomo, Jerry Vilakazi and Sipho Zikode. The discussion was facilitated by Liepollo Pheko.