Buti Manamela, Minister of Higher Education and Training, has urged African universities to move beyond surface-level gender equality and confront the deep structural inequalities that continue to limit women's power, leadership and long-term opportunities within the higher education system.
Delivering the keynote address at the third edition of the Times Higher Education (THE) Africa Universities Summit, Manamela warned that while there have been significant gains in increasing access for women, these advances have not translated into equal representation in decision-making, academic leadership or economic outcomes.
Beyond Reach: Redefining Gender Equity in Higher Education
Speaking under the summit theme, “Empowering Africa's future through talent development, innovation and inclusion,” Manamela positioned gender equality as a central issue shaping the future of the continent – not just an institutional metric or a public relations concern.
Quoting Brazilian teacher Paulo Freire, he said, “There is no neutral education system.” “Education either reproduces the world as it is or helps us change it.”
He stressed that there should be debate on equality, diversity and inclusion Who reaches knowledge, who succeeds, who leads, and who is left behindArguing that universities play a decisive role in shaping broader social outcomes.
South Africa: a success story with structural contradictions
Manamela pointed to South Africa as an example of both progress and persistent inequality.
In 2023, the number of women was:
“These figures reflect decades of struggle, policy reform and social change,” he said, highlighting the role of democracy, public investment and changing social norms in expanding access.
However, he cautioned that focusing solely on enrollment and graduation rates risks deepening inequities.
He warned, “If we stop there, we tell the wrong story.”
Leadership gap: Women are underrepresented at the top
Despite dominating the student population, women remain significantly under-represented in senior academic and leadership roles.
Among professors in South African universities:
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1,129 are women
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2,216 are men
This means that women largely occupy One third of professional postsExposes the persistent lack of leadership across the region.
Manmela describes this as a systemic paradox – where women succeed academically but face barriers in transitioning into positions of authority, influence, and decision-making.
Inequality in the educational pipeline
Minister stressed that gender change should be measured at every level Complete educational and professional pipelineInvolved:
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Admission and Enrollment
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Retention and progress
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graduation results
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Employment and career advancement
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Leadership and institutional power
She said similar patterns are seen in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges, where women make up the majority of total enrolments, but are under-represented in traditionally male-dominated fields such as engineering and technical trades.
This imbalance reflects broader societal norms that continue to shape career paths and limit opportunities, he said.
Advantages in STEM aren't translating into equality
Challenging stereotypes, Manamela highlighted that women are increasingly entering science, engineering and technology (SET) fields in South Africa.
However, participation alone has not yielded the same results.
Women still face inequalities in these areas:
This disconnect underlines the need for policies that go beyond reach and address systemic barriers within institutions and labor markets.
NSFAS is promoting gender change
The Minister also pointed to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) as a key driver of gender inclusion.
Currently women:
This highlights the important role of targeted funding in increasing access and supporting participation among historically disadvantaged groups.
Call for systemic, data-driven reform
Manamela called on higher education leaders to adopt a more comprehensive and evidence-based approach to gender equity – one that moves beyond key figures to questioning the power dynamics within institutions.
He urged universities to:
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Monitor gender inequalities at all levels of the system
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Remove barriers to leadership and career advancement
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Improve institutional cultures and practices
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Align education outcomes with labor market opportunities
Higher education as a mirror of society
The Minister stressed that inequalities within universities are deeply linked to broader social and economic conditions.
He said, “What happens in higher education is not just the achievement of universities – it reflects homes, communities, social movements, and democratic systems.”
He warned that without addressing these interconnected dynamics, progress in education will remain uneven and incomplete.
towards true gender equality
Concluding her address, Manmela reiterated that true gender equality requires transforming both the institutions and the societies they serve.
The challenge, he said, is not just to increase the numbers but to ensure Equality in power, opportunity and outcomes.
His comments signal a shift in the continental conversation – from celebrating access to confronting structural inequality – at a time when African universities are being called on to play a central role in driving inclusive growth.