Representation of women in the leadership structures of post-settlement community property associations (CPAs) in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

Various factors impact on the representation of women within community property association (CPA) leadership structures in the Vhembe district. Women’s participation is generally low. To explore women’s experiences within CPA committees, the researcher employed a mixed methods approach which was mostly qualitative with a quantitative analysis embedded into the design. Semi-structured questionnaires, a focus group discussion and key informant interviews revealed traditional and institutional dynamics that impact women and CPAs in several ways. Women’s adherence to gender roles, societal perceptions and committee dynamics conceivably hinders their full participation within leadership and decision-making processes. Women’s lack of resources, skills, capacitation, and lack of government support, all affect women’s empowerment within CPAs. The research maintains that women’s participation should be more than just being present within a structure. The findings reveal the need to evaluate whether women’s participation adds value to women and CPAs, and how their participation can be enhanced.

Hu na zwithu zwinzhi zwi kwamaho u imelelwa ha vhafumakadzi kha zwigwada zwi lavhelesaho thundu dza vha dzulapo (CPA) kha vhurangaphanḓa ha zwiimiswa zwa Tshiṱiriki tsha Vhembe. Vhafumakadzi vha shelaho mulenzhe ndi vha ṱukusa vhukuma. Uri hu wanuluswe tshenzhelo dza vhafumakadzi kha Komiti dza CPA, ṱhoḓisiso yo itwaho yo shumiswa maitele a sa fani o livhisaho ṱhogomelo kha vhuḓi ha tshithu kana u sa vha havhuḓi hatsho, ha itwa na dzimbalo-mbalo. Ho shumiswa dzimbudziso, ha haseledzwa na zwigwada na u vhudzisa vhathu vho khetheaho, zwenezwi zwo bvisela khagala uri mvelele na nḓila ine zwenezwi zwiimiswa zwa tshimbidzwa ngayo zwi kwama vhafumakadzi na CPA nga nḓila nnzhi. U farelela ha vhafumakadzi kha zwine vha lavhelelwa u zwi ita, nḓila ine tshitshavha tsha dzhia ngayo vhafumakadzi na nḓila ye komiti dza vhumbwa ngayo zwi vhonala zwi zwone zwi no khou thivhela u shela mulenzhe nga vhuḓalo havho kha vhurangaphanḓa ha zwiimiswa zwa CPA na kha u dzhia dzi phetho. Vhafumakadzi vha shaya tshomedzo, vhutsila, vhukoni na u sa tikedzwa nga muvhuso, zwoṱhe hezwi zwi kwama u maanḓafhadzwa havho kha dzi CPA. Ṱhoḓisiso yo farelela kha ḽa uri, u shela mulenzhe ha vhafumakadzi hu tea u fhira u sokou u vha hone havho kha zwiimiswa. Mawaniwa a sumbedza uri hu tea u ṱolisiswa arali vhafumakadzi vha tshi khou shela mulenzhe nga nḓila ine ya vha vhuyedza nga ho engedzeaho na dzi CPA, na nḓila ine ha nga khwiniswa ngayo nḓila ya u shela havho mulenzhe.

Ku na swilo swo hambanahambana leswi khumbaka ku yimeriwa ka vavasati eka swiyenge swa vurhangeri bya nhlangano wa miako wa vaaki (CPA) exifundzenintsongo xa Vhembe. Hakanyingi vavasati a va ngheneleri hi xitalo. Leswaku ku kambisisiwa leswi vavasati va swi tokotaka endzeni ka tikomiti ta CPA, mulavisisi u tirhise tindlela to hambanahambana leti vunyingi bya tona ti fambelanaka ni nkambisiso lowu nga xiphemu xa endlelo. Loko a vutisa vanhu swivutiso leswi nga hleriwangiki, a burisana ni ntlawa ni ku burisana hi vuenti na vanhu lava tivaka leswi endlekaka emugangeni, u kume leswaku ku cinca eka ndhavuko ni minhlangano swi ve ni nsusumeto eka vavasati ni tiCPA hi tindlela to hlayanyana. Ku namarhela ka vavasati mahanyelo ya vona, ndlela leyi vanhu va ehleketaka ha yona ni ndlela leyi komiti yi tirhaka ha yona, swi endla leswaku vavasati va tsandzeka ku nghenelela hi xitalo eka vurhangeri ni le ka maendlelo yo teka xiboho. Ku pfumala ka vavasati switirhisiwa, vutshila, vuswikoti no pfumala nseketelo wa mfumo, hikwaswo swi khumba ku nyikiwa matimba ka vavasati eka tiCPA. Nkambisiso wu kandziyisa leswaku ku nghenelela ka vavasati ku fanele ku katsa leswi tlulaka vukona bya vona eka xiyenge. Leswi kumiweke swi paluxa leswaku swa laveka ku kambisisiwa loko ku nghenelela ka vavasati swi va vuyerisa ni ku vuyerisa tiCPA na ndlela leyi ku nghenelela ka vona swi nga antswisiwaka ha yona.