Gender and Power Dynamics in South African Political Transitions Revisited: A Mixed-Methods Inquiry

Recent political transitions in South Africa have highlighted gender disparities in power distribution among leaders and within governance structures. This mixed-methods study integrates quantitative data from national election results to analyse voting behaviour by gender and qualitative interviews with political actors to uncover their perspectives and experiences regarding gendered power distribution in South Africa’s political landscape. The analysis reveals a significant disparity between male and female candidates' electoral success, with women facing higher barriers to entry into leadership roles compared to men. Gender continues to be a critical factor shaping power dynamics within South African politics, necessitating targeted interventions aimed at promoting gender equality in political participation and representation. Policy recommendations include the development of gender-sensitive electoral laws and strengthening of gender quotas for political parties to ensure fairer representation of women in leadership positions.