Fairness and Equity in Employment: A Case Study of a South African Municipality

Abstract

This paper investigated the practice of empowerment between male and female counterparts into top-management positions of the Capricorn District Municipality (CDM), South Africa from the years 2009 to 2012. In this study, the researcher used a quantitative document review approach with the case study research design. The population consisted of all municipal employees from all different employment levels. Data was collected using existing literature, Integrated Development Plans (IDPs), and Annual Reports from the CDM. The analysis was carried out from various employment levels with a view of portraying the tendency of marginalising female employees from occupying top-management positions of the municipality. The results of the study revealed that female employees at the CDM are denied the opportunity of serving at top hierarchies of management despite pieces of legislation introduced to curb this challenge. This paper recommends that gender equity policies be revisited in order to address marginalisation challenges, not only at a municipal level but also in all spheres of government.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n20p592