The Global Gender Gap Report 2023 again highlights the need for renewed and concerted action due to the persistence of large gender gaps worldwide. In terms of closing the gender gap, South Africa ranked 20th overall with 78% gap closure.

In Africa while women make up 58% of self-employment and contribute about 13% of the continent’s GDP, there is a gender funding gap in sub-Saharan Africa of US$42 billion (±R781 billion), highlighting the gender imbalance in support for women entrepreneurs.

Women entrepreneurs play a key role in alleviating “period poverty” in South Africa for the estimated 3.7 million girls unable to afford feminine hygiene products, with menstruation-related issues the leading cause of school absenteeism. 

Health economists estimate that unaddressed mental health conditions cost the South African economy R161 billion per year due to lost days of work, presenteeism (being at work but unwell), and premature mortality.

Research overwhelmingly shows that founding a new enterprise is more challenging for women than men, despite women owning 48% of South African construction businesses, women still struggled to be taken seriously.

The Global Gender, Work & Organization Conference (GWO) is set to take place over three days (28-30 June 2023) for the first time on African soil in Stellenbosch and is hosted by Stellenbosch Business School. The conference aims to address issues concerning women and other marginalised gender groups, striving to reduce exclusion within society.

While Africa celebrates an increase in the enrolment rate following the Universal Primary Education and Universal Secondary Education policies, in many cases schools are continuing to fail the children they are supposed to serve by not imparting them with adequate knowledge to be successful.

New research at Stellenbosch Business School has identified and developed a model of the most critical capabilities that enable startups to identify and exploit opportunities, drive the delivery of innovative products and services to consumers, and build sustainable businesses that attract investment. 

More than one million South African adults with ADHD  represent an “untapped opportunity” for businesses to enhance inclusion, advance workforce diversity, and improve their performance and competitive advantage.

Social grants empower South Africa’s women with greater independence, decision-making power and economic opportunities – and popular opinions that grants promote dependency, discourage work-seeking and encourage teenage pregnancies are not backed up by the facts.

When Peter Cupido from Ida’s Valley, Stellenbosch, swopped his technical assistant job to open his barber shop, he started a community whereby men gather for quality time and a close shave.