The question of female representation in senior and executive-level roles, much debated of late in the UK, is now a pressing concern for the South Africa government, reports news agency SAnews.

This concern was expressed by minister for women, children and people with disabilities Lulu Xingwana spoke yesterday [6 August] in Pretoria, noting a 2011 study that found that women hold only 4.4% of chief executive and managing director roles, 5.3% of chairpersons roles and 15.8% of all directorships.

According to Businesswomen Association (BWA) data, within the public service women hold 35% of all senior managerial positions.

Xingwana says: “BWA and all of us who are committed to building a society based on equality are understandably concerned at the continued exclusion of women and the slow pace at which they are being incorporated into the corporate space at senior level.”

She added that such incorporation could not be left to market forces alone – hinting towards the quotas that have been among the most divisive parts of the debate in the UK.