Gender equality in the South African National Defence Force
| dc.contributor.advisor | Makau, K. L. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Mkhize, M. C. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | Dube, Boitumelo Joyce | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.other | Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Military Sciences. Dept. of Military History. | en_ZA |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2023-10-17T06:10:25Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-01-08T12:41:09Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2023-10-17T06:10:25Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-01-08T12:41:09Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2023-12 | |
| dc.description | Thesis (MMil)--Stellenbosch University, 2023. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Gender equality is a human rights value enshrined in the Constitution of South Africa. This study investigated gender equality in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) by focusing on women in uniform from 2014 to 2020. The research examined how the SANDF interprets national policy documents and legislation on gender equality in order to address and understand gender equality. The reviewed literature suggests that armed forces integrate women into militaries due to national security requirements and as capitulation to social, economic, and political expediency. However, over time, militaries have gradually become more receptive to the recruitment of women. The study examined women’s engagement in influential leadership positions, promotion, and deployment to foreign countries, as well as the utilisation of women by the different arms of service of the SANDF. This study conducted a comprehensive literature review of hard and soft sources such as dissertations, books, and policies related to gender issues. The study adopted a qualitative approach to collect data. The study’s findings revealed that the Department of Defence (DoD) and SANDF are cognisant of transformation issues such as affirmative action and gender equality; however, the presence of women and representation in the SANDF have not translated into gender equality as women account for only 27.85% of the total population of the SANDF. In senior management positions, women account for 23.49%, which is far less than the 50% target set by the organisation. The highest representation of women is in the lower rungs of the ranks (Lieutenant Colonels / Commanders to Privates) and accounts for 56.67% of the total SANDF population. The study concluded that the SANDF has ambitious policies and has made legislative efforts to integrate women into its arms of service; however, the SANDF lacks de jure transformation. After more than 25 years, the SANDF remains a male-dominated organisation. The study recommends that the DOD and SANDF review their current transformation policies to improve the implementation and evaluation of the existing approaches. This action will create a conducive environment for transformation, gender equality, and affirmative action. The government, the DOD, and the SANDF must implement radical change, including adopting best practices inside and outside the military environment, where the demonstration of critical mass is by decision-making power and not just by numbers. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geslaggelykheid is ’n menseregtewaarde wat vasgelê is in die Grondwet van Suid- Afrika. Hierdie navorsing het geslaggelykheid in die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag (SANW) ondersoek deur te fokus op vroue in uniform tussen 2014 en 2020. Die studie het ondersoek hoe die SANW nasionale beleidsdokumente en geslaggelykheidwetgewing interpreteer ten einde geslaggelykheid aan te spreek en te verstaan. Die geraadpleegde literatuur stel voor dat gewapende magte vroue in weermagte integreer as gevolg van nasionale veiligheidsvereistes en as oorgawe tot sosiale, ekonomiese, en politiese doelmatigheid. Met die verloop van tyd het weermagte egter meer ontvanklik geraak vir die werwing van vroue. Die studie het vroue se betrokkenheid in invloedryke leierskapsposisies, bevordering, en ontplooiing na ander lande bestudeer, asook die benutting van vroue deur die verskillende takke van die SANW. Die studie het ’n omvattende literatuuroorsig van harde en sagte bronne soos verhandelinge, boeke, en beleide rakende geslagkwessies onderneem. Die studie het ’n kwalitatiewe benadering om data te versamel gevolg. Die studie het bevind dat die Departement van Verdediging (DVV) en die SANW bewus is van transformasionele kwessies soos regstellende aksie en geslaggelykheid, maar dat die teenwoordigheid en verteenwoordiging van vroue in die SANW nie lei tot geslaggelykheid nie omdat vroue slegs 27.85% van die totale bevolking van die SANW beslaan. Slegs 23.49% van seniorbestuursposte word deur vroue beklee, wat aansienlik minder is as die teiken van 50% wat die organisasie gestel het. Die grootste verteenwoordiging van vroue is in die laer sporte van die range (Luitenant-Kolonelle / Kommandante tot Gewone Soldate) en beslaan 56.67% van die totale SANW bevolking. Die studie het tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat die SANW ambisieuse beleide het en wetgewende pogings gemaak het om vroue in sy takke te integreer, maar steeds te kort skiet aan de jure transformasie. Ná meer as 25 jaar is die SANW steeds ’n hoofsaaklik manlike organisation. Die studie beveel aan dat die DVV en die SANW hul huidige transformasiebeleide hersien ten einde die implementering en evaluering van die bestaande benaderings te verbeter. Dit sal ’n omgewing skep wat bevorderlik is vir transformasie, geslaggelykheid, en regstellende aksie. Die regering, die DVV, en die SANW moet ingrypende veranderinge maak, insluitende toepassing van beste praktyke binne en buite die militêre omgewing, waar kritiese massa deur besluitnemingsmag gedemonstreer word, en nie slegs deur getalle nie. ’ | af_ZA |
| dc.description.version | Masters | en_ZA |
| dc.format.extent | xxi, 261 pages : illustrations | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/128830 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.rights.holder | Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Equality before the law | en_ZA |
| dc.subject.lcsh | South Africa. National Defence Force | en_ZA |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Sex discrimination against women | en_ZA |
| dc.subject.name | UCTD | |
| dc.title | Gender equality in the South African National Defence Force | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_ZA |
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