Deprivation tendencies to chieftaincy ascension by first-born females among selected South African ethnic groups

Abstract

The conceptual paper seeks to explicate some of the discriminatory practices towards women based on culture. Although the South African Constitution clearly spells out that everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law, women are still excluded from some benefits relating to inheritance. Most first-born women are overlooked when it comes to the inheritance of the estate of a late father or from occupying the position of traditional leadership if there is a male child born in the family despite the existence of an elder sister. Culture is used as an excuse to exclude females from inheritance but to benefit male children in most Black South African ethnic groups. For instance, when it comes to the occupation of the position of a traditional leader the family will rather wait for the male child to come of age while another mature man (regent) acts on his behalf even if there is a legible female adult born of the deceased. Therefore, the paper focuses on how some South African cultures discriminate against females in terms of ascension to chieftaincy. The paper concludes that women are still culturally excluded and oppressed despite the law being explicit about gender equality and so women should be made aware of this prejudiced practice by the society.

Keywords: primogeniture, deceased, culture, traditional leadership, exclusion, families.