Women make up the majority of voters‚ but gender-based issues are still not being properly addressed‚ says a Commission for Gender Equality report.

 The Commission launched its “Election Observation Report‚” in Johannesburg on Monday.

The report aimed to highlight women’s participation and representation in South Africa’s elections.

“A review of [political] party manifestos revealed a general lack of prioritisation of gender issues by most parties such as gender-based violence and in some‚ gender is not even mentioned. Parties led by women ironically continue to be issue-based‚ failing to advance concrete plans or actions on gender main streaming issues‚” said Arthur Baloyi‚ a researcher at the CGE.

The Commission said it noted the polling staff allocation in white middle class areas was higher than in rural areas‚ squatter camps and townships resulting in longer queues in the latter geographic areas.

The CGE also noted the number of pregnant women‚ the elderly and people with disabilities to be strikingly high on certain voting days in previous elections despite the Independent Electoral Commission’s special votes day being in place.

But IEC senior manager Shamane Manjoo said the IEC had made a huge focus on ensuring that those who applied for special votes were able to use the facility in this year’s coming local elections.

CGE deputy chairperson Thoko Mpumlwana said gender main streaming was part of the transformation process and needed continuous addressing.

“Women can’t be at the mercy of men in power. We need processes that ensure that women are in power and stay in power‚” said Mpumlwana.