The invisible burdens faced by rural women.  

Uplift women in rural areas through worthwhile charitable giving.  

Living life as a woman and mother in rural South Africa means weaving a tapestry of resilience in the face of systemic challenges—from maternal health risks and educational barriers to food insecurity and limited reproductive autonomy.  

Here are some of the major issues affecting women in rural South Africa: 

1. Maternal Health & Healthcare Access 

Global Perspective 

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), around 830 women die daily worldwide from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth; 99% of these deaths occur in developing countries, with sub-Saharan Africa bearing over half the burden…  

National Reality 

WHO data for 2020 listed South Africa’s maternal mortality ratio (MMR) at approximately 531 deaths per 100,000 live births, far above the global target of less than 70 deaths. In rural areas, inequities persist with only about 80% of women completing the recommended four antenatal care (ANC) visits, compared to 89.7% national coverage. 

Structural Gaps 

Rural clinics suffer from shortages of skilled staff and inconsistent leadership, compounding maternal health inequity. Midwife deficits remain critical; rural communities often rely on traditional birth attendants (“ababelithisi”), especially where formal healthcare is inaccessible.  

Did You Know: The Department of Health introduced MomConnect, a national cell‑phone service supporting pregnant women in all 11 official languages—it reached ~2 million users by 2017, improving clinic registration and HIV care.  

2. Food Security and the ongoing importance of subsistence farming 

Rural women often manage small-scale subsistence plots to feed their families—but land fragmentation, climate variability, and limited access to water and agricultural inputs pose major constraints Nutrition data shines light on these struggles: 11% of infants are born with low birth weight, 5% of children under five are wasted, and rural undernutrition remains stubborn despite national advances. 

Balancing farming, childcare, and household needs places immense pressure on women to secure adequate food and nutrition, despite unstable yields and seasonal shortages. 

3. Early Childhood Development & Childcare 

Support systems for early childhood development (ECD) are inconsistent in rural South Africa. While some community-based ECD centres exist, they lack stability, quality standards, or reliable funding. Safe, affordable childcare alternatives are rare, limiting mothers’ ability to pursue work or further education. This perpetuates the cycle of poverty and reliance on subsistence livelihoods. 

4. Girl Child Education & School Dropout Rates 

South Africa faces serious dropout rates: by age 15, ~3% are out of school; by 17, nearly 9%; by 19, about 46% have dropped out  

Take Note: Only half of first graders are likely to complete Grade 12; roughly 48% of youths don’t finish secondary school and the scales are tipped precariously towards girls dropping out. 

Female-specific causes include family responsibilities and unplanned pregnancies. Girls are often forced to leave school to support younger siblings, care roles, or earn income. 

It’s not all bad news. 

The Department of Education’s initiatives, such as the Girls’ Education Movement (GEM), aim to keep girls in school by addressing safety, curriculum relevance, and gender-based violence—but progress remains slow  

5. Reproductive Health Education & HIV/AIDS 

South Africa still has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates: ~20% among 15–49-year-olds, with women disproportionately affected. 

Young women, often with less power to negotiate safe sex, are particularly vulnerable. Reproductive education is thus vital: studies link early sex ed with higher condom use and fewer HIV infections. 

Some help exists: NGO & UN Interventions 

Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) runs rural outreach programmes emphasizing HIV testing, antenatal support, and sexual health education. 

The UN (e.g., UNAIDS) supports large-scale campaigns and school-based programs to reduce teenage pregnancy and HIV—in rural areas, these efforts remain under-resourced and unevenly implemented. 

6. Government Support for Mothers 

Legal supports include maternity leave and child support grants (for children under 14), plus maintenance laws enforcing financial responsibility. While these are important legal frameworks in principle, they do lack in implementation with many women still carrying the burden of child childcare alone. 

Mobile platforms like MomConnect have achieved impressive scale, yet rural women still contend with infrastructural barriers like clinic distance, transport costs, and erratic staffing of these rural clinic outposts.  

What can we do?  

Rural South African women and mothers carry the enormous burden of maternal health uncertainty, food provision, childcare duties, girls’ education, and reproductive safety—often under conditions of infrastructural neglect. While progress is happening too many vital support systems remain patchy or underfunded. 

To create real change, multi-dimensional investment is needed: 

• Health Infrastructure: Strengthen rural clinics with trained midwives and reliable supplies 

• Nutrition Support: Provide consistent food aid and agricultural support to bolster household food security 

• Childcare Establishment: Expand stable, accessible ECD and childcare centres 

• Education Continuity: Scale up programs like GEM, with transport subsidies and family support 

• Sexual Health Education: Integrate comprehensive programmes in schools and communities 

• Supportive Policies: Ensure effective implementation of maternity leave, child grants, and healthcare coverage 

Ultimately, empowering rural women is fundamental—not just for mothers and daughters, but for the health and resilience of entire communities. 

Here are four reputable charities focused on the upliftment of women in rural Southern Africa, each with a strong track record in areas such as health, education, economic empowerment, and reproductive rights: 

The Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED)

• Focus: Education and empowerment of girls and young women in rural Africa 

• Where: Active in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, and Tanzania (Southern Africa) 

• Impact: Over 6 million girls supported with education; thousands of young women trained as leaders and entrepreneurs 

• Website: www.camfed.org 

Mothers2Mothers (m2m)

• Focus: Preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV and improving maternal and child health 

• Where: Operates across Southern and Eastern Africa, including South Africa, Lesotho, and Mozambique 

• Impact: Employs HIV-positive women as community health workers and mentors; has reached over 15 million women and children 

• Website: www.m2m.org 

WORTH (part of Pact Africa)

• Focus: Women’s economic empowerment through savings groups, literacy, and entrepreneurship 

• Where: Active in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, and other countries 

• Impact: Helps rural women form self-run savings groups to fund businesses, education, and health needs 

• Website: www.pactworld.org (search “WORTH” under Programs)

Sonke Gender Justice

• Focus: Gender equality, reproductive health, and ending gender-based violence 

• Where: Based in South Africa, with projects across Southern Africa 

• Impact: Works with men and women to shift gender norms and improve access to reproductive healthcare and rights 

• Website: www.genderjustice.org.za 

By donating to one of these charities and helping with the very real and practical upliftment and support of women in South Africa, you can help them weave a tapestry of hope. A tapestry that reflects our wonderful country, our rich heritage and the immense value that empowered women bring to a society.  

Also read our article on Worthy Causes that do more than just hand out pamphlets.