South Africa

National Assembly National Council of Provinces

National Assembly

Political system: Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament: Bicameral
IPU membership: Yes

Historical data on women

Data on women’s right to vote and to stand for election, the date at which the first woman entered parliament, and female Heads of State or Government

Women's suffrage

Notes: No information available
Year of first woman in parliament: 1933

Notes: 1933: This is before suffrage was granted to non-whites
Year of first woman speaker: 1994

Women’s right to vote

Women’s right to vote: 1930
National or local: National
Restricted or universal suffrage: Restricted
Detail of restrictions: White women only

Women’s right to vote: 1984
National or local: National
Restricted or universal suffrage: Restricted
Detail of restrictions: Colored and South Africans accorded the right to vote but only for their respective Houses in the tri-cameral parliament

Women’s right to vote: 1994
National or local: National
Restricted or universal suffrage: Universal

Notes: The right of all South Africans to vote is enshrined in the Bill of Rights of the constitution since 1996 but men and women had exercised this right since 1994.

Women’s right to stand for election

Women's right to stand for election: 1930
National or local: National
Restricted or universal: Restricted
Detail of restrictions: White women only

Women's right to stand for election: 1984
National or local: National
Restricted or universal: Restricted
Detail of restrictions: Colored and South Africans accorded the right to vote but only for their respective Houses in the tri-cameral parliament

Women's right to stand for election: 1994
National or local: National
Restricted or universal: Universal