ANC veteran Dr Nkosazana Dlamni-Zuma said financial resources
and difficulties limit women to challenge for the position president in
South Africa.Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers
ANC veteran Dr Nkosazana Dlamni-Zuma said financial resources
and difficulties limit women to challenge for the position president in
South Africa.Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent NewspapersNDZ: Financial Barriers, Not Patriarchy, Keep Women Out of South Africa’s Presidency
When Nkosazana Dlamini‑Zuma spoke out, she didn’t mince words: South Africa is ready for a woman president—but women lack access to the financial networks needed to win. In a political culture orchestrated by money, women are equipped to lead but unequally enabled to compete.
This post unpacks her bold claim, analyzes the structural realities in the ANC, and explores what must change for true gender parity in the highest office.
Read also “SAWS Warns of Snow & Sub‑Zero Shock Across South Africa” for winter readiness tips.
Why NDZ Says Finance, Not Character, Limits Women
At a public evening event, Dlamini‑Zuma—the former AU chair and ANC veteran—emphasized that South Africa’s lack of a woman president is due to resource inequality, not a lack of capability. ([turn0search0])
She pointed to Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Namibia’s newly elected President Netumbo Nandi‑Ndaitwah as proof that female leadership works—if given opportunity. But in internal ANC politics, "control of campaign funding is mostly in male hands." ([turn0search0])
Beyond Quotas: When Access Depends on Money
While the ANC claims gender parity through quotas, actual access to top roles remains skewed. Women occupy many mid-level positions, but not the presidency. Dlamini‑Zuma called for a critical re-examination: "Without access to capital, most women can’t run effective campaigns." ([turn0search3])
Analysts—like Sipho Seepe and Siphamandla Zondi—echo this: patriarchal control of finances and campaign networks gave Ramaphosa the edge in 2017, despite NDZ’s political track record. ([turn0search9])iol.co.za
The 2017 ANC Contest: Votes vs Capital
In 2017, Dlamini‑Zuma received 2,261 votes—just shy of Ramaphosa’s 2,440. Many credit her policy experience across portfolios—foreign affairs, health, home affairs, and AU leadership. ([turn0search11])
But the deciding factor was resources: ANC power brokers and corporate backers tended to align with male contenders, tilting the race toward Ramaphosa. ([turn0search8])
This underscores Dlamini‑Zuma’s point: she lost not because she wasn't able, but because she lacked backing.
Why NDZ Matters for South Africa’s Equality Project
At a policy level, Dlamini‑Zuma has highlighted systemic inequality: women and youth consistently bear the brunt of poverty, unemployment, and lack of representation in decision-making. ([turn0search9], [turn0search18])
She has advocated for gender-responsive budgeting and zero-based budgeting, ensuring resources are allocated to women’s empowerment meaningfully. ([turn0search1], [turn0search4])iol.co.za
Financial Inclusion Is the First Step
Experts like Mary Ellen Iskenderian and institutions such as Women's World Banking argue that financial inclusion for women is critical. Nearly 200 million African women remain unbanked or underbanked—cut off from saving, credit, and capital markets. ([turn0search2])
Their message echoes NDZ: without access to capital, women can’t participate meaningfully—even when laws permit.iol.co.za
Voices from Experts
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Prof Sipho Seepe: “2017 was about capital flow, not credentials.”
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Prof Siphamandla Zondi: Patriarchy incarcerates women behind perceptions of incompetence.
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Batsheng Mahuwa (I Know Politics): Campaign support—from mentorship to funding—remains boy’s club territory.iol.co.za
What’s the biggest barrier stopping a woman from becoming South Africa’s President?
– ❌ Lack of campaign funding
– 🧭 Male-dominated political networks
– ⚖️ Public perception bias
– 🤝 Weak institutional support
Share your perspective below—and follow us to track gender equity in politics.
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Final Thoughts
Nkosazana Dlamini‑Zuma’s comments reveal a deep truth: gender equality in titles means little without economic empowerment. True leadership parity requires dismantling the financial caste system that locks out women from the presidency.
Until access to resources, mentorship, and networks is democratized, the glass ceiling will remain less about ability, and more about capital.
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