South Africa has never had a female head of state in its history, although the country has had female politicians in high-profile roles such as Deputy President and Speaker of Parliament, and Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri briefly served as acting president in 2005 and 2008.
Continentally, Ellen Eugenia Johnson Sirleaf (born 29 October 1938) has paved the way when became the first elected female head of state in Africa. She served as the 24th president of Liberia from 2006 to 2018.
The question that keeps coming up is, ''Is South Africa is ready for woman president?''
Political analyst, Kenneth Moeng Mokgatlhe, agrees but says: ''Let us begin here, we only have two women as premiers out of nine in South Africa, that is embarrassing. Thinking from the top of my head, I can only remember Patricia De Lille as the leader of the political party represented in parliament; otherwise, you only have a group of old men in parliament and cabinet who are clueless about what needs to be done.
''Also, looking at the parties' executives is a bit worrying because there are a few women holding positions. All three or four biggest parties do not have a woman as the president or secretary general; the ones who are included were merely for ticking the boxes.''
Mokgatlhe's top picks for a woman president would be the following:
* Phophi Ramathuba - Despite the recent allegations of corruption in Mogalakwena, she has proven to be one of the few remaining ethical leaders of the ANC. She is on the ground, ensuring that people are doing their jobs. She values competence to the core.
* Thoko Didiza - I have not heard any allegations or reports of corruption about her since 1994. She has carried herself with utmost dignity in every department or institution she was given. She, too, is very competent.
* Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has proven beyond every doubt that she is a capable person to lead the country. She has been undermined and crucified for having associated with Jacob Zuma. Her critics fail to play the ball and not the man; she has great potential.
* Outside the ANC, I would pick Dr. Nasiphi Moya, whose leadership skills are no different from those of Phophi Ramathuba. They are on the ground with the people. They do not sit around meetings in hotels, speaking big English. Their rural background came in handy to help them relate to the people's struggles.
Another respected political commentator, Anda Mbikwana, thinks the time has come the country to give women a chance to lead the country.
''South Africa desperately needs new leadership capable of breaking from the failures of the past three decades. A woman president could prove transformative — but only if she embodies the ethical standards, political independence, and reform vision the country requires.
While Mbikwana says gender alone offers no magic solution to South Africa's complex challenges, he says female leadership could reshape national priorities and signal genuine departure from the patronage politics that have undermined democratic institutions and public trust.
Several women have emerged as potential transformative leaders, regardless of party affiliation, according to Mbikwana.
Given a chance, he would choose:
*Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former Deputy President and UN Under-Secretary-General, brings international credibility and experience beyond ANC factionalism. Her global leadership on women's rights and education could help rebuild South Africa's international standing.
*Lindiwe Mazibuko, the former DA parliamentary leader turned independent thinker, represents sharp policy acumen untainted by corruption scandals. Though she left politics disillusioned, her return could signal a genuine break from toxic political culture.
*Thuli Madonsela, the former Public Protector who exposed state capture, commands respect across party lines as a symbol of institutional integrity. Her non-partisan reputation could restore faith in governance and lead meaningful anti-corruption efforts.
This week, the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL turned up the heat, boldly calling for South Africa’s next president to be a woman.
The league’s National Executive Committee (NEC) member, Boitumelo Moiloa told the crowd at the memorial lecture, in honour of the late ANC stalwart Gertrude Shope, in Pretoria over the weekend, that they were searching for a female leader.
South Africa nearly had a female president when Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma lost the ANC leadership race to President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2017-her defeat effectively ended that possibility.
Another missed opportunity arose in 2008 following former President Thabo Mbeki's resignation, Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka was bypassed by Parliament amid political controversy tied to her husband's role in prosecuting Jacob Zuma.She later became the first female Deputy President, served as Executive Director of UN Women (2013-2021) and continued to champion gender equality globally.During the lecture the ANC's deputy secretary-general, Nomvula Mokonyane, said women in the party should be given a fair opportunity to lead metropolitan municipalities as mayors and not only as speakers.
Meanwhile, last year, IOL reported that Pandor regretted declining the nomination for deputy president that was offered at the 54th ANC conference at NASREC in 2017.She was picked by then Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to be his running mate in the ANC presidential race. This move was seen as pressure on Ramaphosa to adhere to the gender equality policy of his party.Lindiwe Nonceba Sisulu and Dlamini-Zuma campaigned for the presidency against Ramaphosa, however, Pandor declined the nomination, and the late former Deputy President, David Mabuza, was elected to the position.
''The ANCWL's call, whether primarily tactical or transformational, has opened a crucial conversation about what kind of leadership South Africa needs as it approaches its fourth decade of democracy. The answer may well determine whether the country can finally fulfil the promise of 1994 or continue its slide toward institutional decay and social fragmentation,'' Mbikwana said.
He add: ''Some analysts argue South Africa needs leadership from entirely outside the political establishment — respected women from business, academia, or civil society untouched by corruption networks.
''The choice of leadership carries profound implications for the country's trajectory. A competent woman president with genuine credibility could attract international investment and restore confidence in state institutions — prerequisites for addressing the unemployment crisis.
''A leader with strong social justice credentials might push harder for inclusive growth, education reform, and healthcare improvements.
''Most critically, a woman president would possess both symbolic authority and political motivation to elevate gender-based violence from a peripheral social issue to a national emergency requiring comprehensive state response.
''However, confronting South Africa's "drugs, crime, and grime" requires political courage and institutional rebuilding that transcends gender considerations.''
Additional reporting by Kamogelo Moichela