Non-sexism in South Africa: What the Constitution guarantees women

Non-sexism in South Africa: What the Constitution guarantees women Estelle.Bronkhorst Wed, 10/28/2026 - 11:00

JOHANNESBURG - What does it mean for non-sexism to be both a founding value and a constitutional right in South Africa?

It means that every woman has the right to be treated with dignity, equality and respect.

For generations, women have faced discrimination because of their gender. They have been denied opportunities, treated unfairly in the workplace and restricted in making decisions about their own lives. South Africa’s Constitution was designed to help address these injustices and build a more equal society.

Non-sexism is one of the founding values of our democracy, enshrined in Section 1 of the Constitution. It reflects a commitment to a society where no one is disadvantaged or discriminated against because of their sex or gender.

Section 9 reinforces this commitment by guaranteeing the right to equality and prohibiting unfair discrimination on grounds including gender, sex, pregnancy and marital status. Whether a woman is treated unfairly because she is pregnant or denied an opportunity simply because she is a woman, the Constitution provides protection against such discrimination.

The Constitution also safeguards women’s bodily autonomy. Section 12 protects the right to bodily and psychological integrity, including the right to make decisions concerning reproduction. Section 27 guarantees access to healthcare services, including reproductive healthcare, subject to the provisions of the Constitution.

These protections are more than words on paper. They affirm that women have equal worth, equal rights and an equal place in South African society.

But knowing these rights is only the beginning. Understanding them empowers women to challenge discrimination, speak up when they are treated unfairly and contribute to building a society where equality is not just a constitutional promise, but a lived reality.

Because non-sexism is not simply an ideal. It is a founding value of our democracy and a commitment to equality for all.

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