Active Participation and Representation but Lack of Agency: The Role of Political Participation of Women in Rural Areas in Achieving SDG 5, North-West Province, South Africa

Political participation is integral to a healthy democracy, as it legitimizes governance and fosters inclusivity. Despite global commitments such as SDG 5, which aims to ensure gender equality and empower women, the representation and participation of women, particularly in rural areas, remain limited.

Political participation is integral to a healthy democracy, as it legitimizes governance and fosters inclusivity. Despite global commitments such as SDG 5, which aims to ensure gender equality and empower women, the representation and participation of women, particularly in rural areas, remain limited. This study investigates the political participation of rural women in South Africa’s North-West Province, focusing on progress towards SDG 5.5.1. Employing qualitative research methods, the study explores how historical, cultural and systemic barriers, including patriarchy, illiteracy and stereotypical perception further curtail women’s political agency in rural areas. The findings highlight that while South Africa has made strides in achieving numerical and formal gender parity in local governance, substantive gender equality remains elusive because women in rural areas face significant challenges, such as restricted decision-making roles, political violence and structural barriers within political parties.