Gender & Behaviour 2014, 12(2), 6436-6448 Copyright © 2014 Ife Centre for Psychological Studies/Services, Ile-Ife, Nigeria ISSN: 1596-9231 6436 Analysis of Women Empowerment in South African Water Boards: A Special Reference to Historically Disadvantaged Individuals (HDIs) in South Africa. V.M. Mmbengwa 1* , T.P. Ntili 2 , R. Haines 3 , J.A Groenewald 4 , H.D. van Schalkwyk 4 1 National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC), Pretoria, Republic of South Africa & North West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, Republic of South Africa 2 Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, Republic of South Africa & Department of Water Affairs, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa 3 Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, Republic of South Africa 4 North West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, Republic of South Africa __________________________________________ * Corresponding Author: V.M. Mmbengwa Tel.: +27 72 831 3678, Fax: +27 86 515 3308, E-mail: VMmbengwa@namc.co.za vmmmbengwa@gmail.com The aim of the study was to investigate women’s empowerment in water boards of South Africa. The study was carried out in all South African water boards (n=14) using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. A non-probability sample (which used a purposive sampling frame) was used, resulting in a non-representative sample size (n=409). Qualitative data were collected through a combination of literature reviews, interviews, questionnaires, and observations. The results revealed that males have fair access to managerial and advisory positions such as junior management and water expert categories at a relatively young age. However, at the governance level, males compared to females are dominant at executive level. Very little women empowerment at these boards was evident. Women appear to lack succession prospects in other critical governing positions of South African water boards. The study recommends for a special attention to affirm women in the water boards in a sustainable manner. Keywords: gender, representation, governance, empowerment, boards The Inter-American Development Bank (2010) defined women’s empowerment in terms of expanding the rights, resources, and capacity of women to make decisions and act independently in social, economic, and political spheres (Kabeer, 2012). On the other hand, the United Nations (2001) defined women’s empowerment in terms of five components: “women’s sense of self- worth; their right to have and determine choices; their right to have access to opportunities and resources; their right to have the power to control their own lives, both within and outside the home; and their ability to influence the direction of social change to create a more just social and economic order, in both national and international levels”. In its report entitled: “Towards an enabling environment for women economic empowerment in South Africa: A status quo report”, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) (2011) referred to the term “women’s economic empowerment” as the ability of all women to fully participate in, contribute to, and benefit from economic growth and development. The report associated the women’s empowerment concept with a broad term that encompasses a range of diverse but integrated socio-economic strategies. In addition, McCallum (2005) views this concept as inextricably linked to both the ability and opportunity to make decisions and to act for oneself. Thus, empowerment is associated with a strategy that sought to achieve an egalitarian society, where competence and the right of people to take charge of their own destinies are guaranteed. Whilst empowerment is defined as a multi-dimensional social process that helps people gain control over their own lives (United Nations, 2012), evidence does exist of societies that resist its implementation (Shackleton et al, 2011).