The growing influence of women in the South African economy is impossible to ignore.
According to the journal Global Africa Network, 22% of businesses are woman-owned, and imbokodo (women) now occupy 29% of top management positions and as much as 47% in smaller to mid-sized enterprises.
And this is driving an upswing in women’s buying trends in the property market, recently reported by Lightstone.
The leader in property trend statistics indicates that 2.154-million, or 38%, of property in South Africa is owned by women, and they co-own another 1.883-million, or 33%, with men, only accounting for 1.694-million, or 29%, of all property ownership.
Head of marketing at Collins Residential Melanie Clarkson says nowhere is this more visible than in the north of KwaZulu-Natal, where her company thinks it has locked into the heart of the woman buyer.
“Women have taken over the property market in this region, along the way changing the meaning of ‘homemaker’ one sale at a time,” she says.
And this new buying power has forced property developers like hers to design estates with the female buyer in mind.
“It’s no coincidence that many new developments place a strong emphasis on communal facilities, walkability, family-friendly amenities, and wellness-focused infrastructure.”
She says this rise in women’s homeownership is a cultural reset because it means women are no longer passive participants in property decisions; “they are leading them”.
“Their voice, priorities and aspirations are shaping the future of real estate in South Africa.”
She warns that developers who fail to recognise this shift risk missing out on one of the most powerful buyer segments in the market today.
“For women, the message is equally clear: property is not just a place to live; it is a means of empowerment, a foundation for family, and a tool for legacy building.”
However, it’s not all good news for women.
A Global Entrepreneurship Monitor SA 2023 study found a notable gender gap in business growth between women-owned and men-owned businesses, with only 4.9% of the former growing to the point of employing 20 or more people, compared to 11.8% of men’s ventures.
And also, women are five times more likely to operate as solopreneurs compared to men, highlighting scaling difficulties for imbokodo.
“These challenges are particularly visible in manufacturing, a sector crucial to South Africa’s industrial growth and global trade ambitions.
“Manufacturing contributes roughly 11% of GDP and employs about 14% of the workforce, yet women remain under-represented, especially in technical and craft roles,” the group said.
Worldwide, research by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor found a crippling fear of failure growing among aspiring entrepreneurs, with nearly half, or 49%, of respondents saying this fear stopped them from starting a business compared to 44% five years earlier.
But particularly with women, the group found that in a high-income environment, women are less likely to start a business.
“While many people still recognise good business opportunities, more hesitate to act on them, underscoring a need for stronger support systems, such as financial assistance, training, and mentorship, to help mitigate risks and encourage entrepreneurship.”
