Despite Recent Advances, Gender Equality Still Has a Long Way to go in South Africa

DUBAI, UAE, September 15, 2010 - The MasterCard Worldwide Index of Women's Advancement, which was released
recently, shows that South Africa's index score - based on management
positions, earnings, labour force participation and university enrolment -
rose to 93.5 this year, up 5.5 points from last year.

www.virtualpressoffice.com/eventsSubmenuForSearch.do?showId=987&en
ableHistory=EventsTab&myLink=myEventsSubmenu&fromSearch=T

(Due to the length of this URL, it may be necessary to copy and paste
this hyperlink into your Internet browser's URL address field. Remove the
space if one exists.)

According to the 2009/10 Employment Equity report, women constitute 46%
of the economically active population in South Africa. However, in the
private sector, which includes companies, state-owned enterprises and
educational institutions, women hold 15.9% of top positions. In the
government, women hold 31.3% of management positions.

These data indicate that while South Africa has made significant
progress, there is still much to be done to increase female labour force
participation rates and achieve gender equality in the workplace.

This view is echoed by leading female professionals who are speaking at
IQPC's 7th Annual Management & Leadership Development for Women conference.
One of the main reasons for the continued inequality is family, as women tend
to give greater consideration to the effects that career advancement will
have on their husband and children in an attempt to achieve a work/life
balance.

Elaine Schorn, Director at Zebra Medical, says that one of her greatest
challenges was, "playing 'catch-up' to my male colleagues after taking about
4 years off to have my children and then a further 3 years off working
mornings only." She adds that it was "well worth it but I was left behind in
the hierarchy of corporate life."

Other speakers cite the entrenched traditional structures in the
workplace as their biggest barrier to achieving professional success.
Nombuyiselo Mapongwana, an HIV/AIDS counsellor at Anglo American, says that
in her experience, "by virtue of being in the 'lower band', you become
sidelined in making key decisions that pertain to the very thing that you do
in your department."

However, these women also offer valuable advice for female professionals
wishing to further their careers. Mapongwana says that it is important "to
persevere, stand your ground and know for sure that you are there to give
valuable input."

In Schorn's experience, it is necessary to "take yourself seriously if
you want people to take you seriously. This means dressing appropriately,
behaving professionally, giving and commanding respect, insist on being paid
for the job and in line with your male colleagues, and plan for your career
path, don't just hope it might happen."

Women in senior positions from the public and private sector will be
sharing their experiences of how to achieve personal and professional success
at the Management & Leadership Development conference in Sandton,
Johannesburg from 22 - 25 November 2010. For more information, please visit
the website, www.womencongress.co.za or contact IQPC on
+971-4-364-2975 or enquiry@iqpc.ae for more details.

About IQPC Middle East:

For over thirty years, IQPC has helped the world's leading corporations
solve their business challenges through the sharing of practical industry
solutions and global best practice. In the process, the company has built a
formidable reputation for quality and value. The world's most progressive
companies have benefited from IQPC's unrivalled global reach, which has
connected international expertise with regional and local leaders.

    For more information, please contact

    Eileen Espelita
    Marketing Manager
    IQPC Middle East
    +971-4-364-2975
    enquiry@iqpc.ae

For more information, please contact: Eileen Espelita, Marketing Manager, IQPC Middle East, +971-4-364-2975, enquiry at iqpc.ae