Breaking ground: women still need to fight for equal property rights

Fatima highlights that the ongoing struggle for women to secure equal property rights despite constitutional guarantees of equal protection and economic opportunity. The 2023 Land Audit exposes significant disparities, with women owning only 13% of farms and agricultural land compared to 71% owned by men. Only 17% of erven are owned by women, further underscoring the entrenched inequality in land ownership.

Fatima says that these imbalances not only affect women but also have serious implications for their families' economic stability and opportunities for generational wealth, demonstrating the necessity of achieving true equality in property rights. The challenges in securing equal property rights for women are complex, stemming from insufficient governmental enforcement, cultural and social norms that limit women's roles in decision-making, and inheritance systems that favour male succession.

Additionally, Fatima says that disparities in earnings contribute to an affordability gap, further hindering women's access to property. While South Africa's pluralistic legal system includes statutes aimed at promoting gender equity in property ownership, gaps in legislation and the influence of societal norms perpetuate the exclusion of women.

To dismantle these barriers, Fatima advocates for legal reforms, inclusive policies, and financial mechanisms that support women, aiming to transform societal attitudes and enable women to participate fully in property management and development, fostering a more inclusive and equitable society.

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