Publications
Partners
The JSE’s decision to require listed companies to institute policies to promote gender diversity on their boards is a golden opportunity to catapult women into executive positions.
Responding to the JSE’s announcement that, from January next year, listed companies would have to disclose the performance of their gender-diversity plans, Public Protector Thuli Madonsel said the move was in line with the Equality Act.
“It is the right move, as it will force institutions to do an analysis of the under-representation of women on their boards. This will enable them to take initiatives to fix problems. This exemplary move should be followed by all companies, even if they are not listed on the JSE. By voluntarily moving forward, the JSE is doing something absolutely wonderful,” said Madonsela.
The move, she said, complemented the UN’s Global Compact, which seeks to achieve 50-50 gender representation in government and private entities.
Madonsela also spoke of how she had once been a victim of the proverbial glass ceiling, explaining that she had been overlooked for an executive position by a minister who told her she was being “too hasty” in applying for the job, for which he hinted Madonsela was not ready.
“That minister ended up appointing a consultant, who later became an adviser, into the executive position,” she said.
Excluding people on the basis of gender, she said, was pretty much like excluding black people because of their skin colour.
“It happens all the time, but it is almost close to impossible for you to be overlooked or excluded because you are black.”
Noma Nibe, a shareholder and the human resources director at Steloy Castings, said the move was great for women in that it would allow them to have a say in the direction of large corporations.
“Women don’t own a lot in companies because they are not represented on the boards of companies. It really is good news for women,” she said, adding that she had been in positions where she was forced not to hire job applicants simply because they were women.
While suspended national police commissioner Riah Phiyega, who has sat on a number of boards in both the private sector and parastatals, welcomed the move, she said it should not be a numbers game.
“I think a lot of women are going to share my sentiment. It is always difficult to be a woman and participate in senior positions, especially in the public sector. Many men don’t seem to realise that competence and ability are gender neutral,” she said.
Phiyega, who was involved in a 2010 review of parastatals and their roles in a developmental state, said that the study had revealed that in countries such as Norway, which had institutionalised gender parity, government companies performed much better.
What do you think the result would be if large companies were compelled to have gender parity on their boards?
SMS us on 35697 using the keyword GENDER and tell us what you think. Please include your name and province. SMSes cost R1.50
