It is important to always have a gender perspective on knowledge production because males and females think differently and thus the views of women are crucial in creating a balance in knowledge production which has and continues to be male orientated ideas or monopoly of knowledge. The Republic of South Africa (RSA) – since 1994 – has enjoyed much recognition as an exemplary country to political offices. By 2008, for instance, RSA had achieved 43% representation in the Cabinet and about 33% in provincial Legislatures including the appointment of the first female Deputy President in 2005. The representation of women in the South African Parliament has increased from 27.8% in 1994 to 43.3% in 2009. This puts RSA amongst the leading countries in the world in terms of the number of women in important leadership positions. However, although some progress has been accomplished on women representation in senior management in the public service, the low representation of women in corporate decision-making positions in the private sector remains a challenge.
women actively opposed the pass laws restricting the movement of Africans. The women understood that these laws would tear African families apart, codifying where Africans could work and live and with whom. Even in the early 1900s, black women successfully prevented proposed legislation that would require them to carry passbooks. In 1953, however, their fear was close to becoming a reality, as the government announced that it would soon impose pass laws restricting the movement of black African women.
