• 21.8% of South African women hold a driver's licence, compared with 40.1% of men
    Blog

    The licence gap: why so few South African women drive

    Fewer than one in four South African women holds a driver’s licence. For men, it is two in five. That gap shapes how women get to work, how safely they travel, and which jobs are open to them.

    The numbers

    Statistics South Africa’s most recent gender and transport report found that in 2020, 21.8% of women held a driver’s licence, compared with 40.1% of men. Black African women had the lowest rate of any group, at 13.4%, up from 9.6% in 2013.

    The national licence register tells the same story. By December 2025, South Africa had 16.5 million driving licences on the NaTIS system, and the Road Traffic Management Corporation reports that holders are split 61.1% male and 38.9% female. That is roughly 10 million men and 6.4 million women.

    What the gap means day to day

    Without a licence or a car, women depend on others to move. In 2020, taxis were the most common way for working women to commute (33.6%), while men were far more likely to drive themselves to work: 41% of male commuters were car drivers, 11.8 percentage points more than women. Among students in post-school education, more than 47% of women travelled by taxi, compared with 34.7% of men.

    Stats SA links limited transport to reduced access to learning, jobs and everyday life, and notes that women face added risk walking to stops, waiting at ranks and travelling, particularly late at night.

    A jobs issue, not only a transport issue

    The licence gap sits alongside a jobs gap. In the second quarter of 2026, the official unemployment rate was 37.5% for women and 30.3% for men, and only 54.9% of women were in the labour force, compared with 64.4% of men.

    A licence opens doors that stay closed without one, including professional driving itself, a field where women remain under-represented.

    What SheCab is doing

    SheCab was founded in 2021 to give women transport they can trust, driven by women. Today, 32 professional women drivers are on the road with us.

    We want to grow that number. SheCab plans a programme, with partners, that takes women from learner’s licence to paid, professional driver:

    • Licence support: funding for learner’s and driver’s licences, and lessons, for women from under-served communities.
    • Professional driver training: defensive driving, customer care, first aid and passenger safety.
    • A paid pathway: graduates can earn as vetted SheCab drivers in airport, corporate and scholar transport.

    Partner with us. We are looking for corporate social investment partners, SETAs, driving schools and vehicle partners to fund and grow this programme. Contact us at info@shecab.co.za.

    Sources

  • shecab, GBV, Women for change
    Blog

    5,578 Women Murdered in One Year: South Africa Shuts Down to Say “Enough”

    shecab, GBV, Women for change
    Image by women for change

    South Africa is facing a crisis that demands national attention and global solidarity.

    On 21 November 2025, thousands across the country will participate in a National Shutdown Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Femicide, organized by Women For Change and supported by over 850,000 petitioners on Change.org.

    This is not a protest in the streets. It is a symbolic silence. A withdrawal of labour, spending, and movement to highlight the devastating impact of GBV on South African society.

    The Numbers Are Not Just Statistics

    In 2024, 5,578 women were murdered in South Africa—a 33.8% increase in femicide.To make this number impossible to ignore, Women For Change created The Unburied Casket:

    We demand that Gender-Based Violence and Femicide be declared a National Disaster. Not tomorrow. Not at another summit.

    This is not just a women’s issue. It is a national emergency.

    What Will Happen on 21 November

    Participants are called to:

    • Stay home from work, school, or university.
    • Avoid spending money for the day.
    • Wear black, and change profile pictures to purple.
    • Join a 15-minute silent standstill at 12:00, lying down wherever they are to honour the lives lost to GBV.

    This shutdown coincides with the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, amplifying the message to both national and global leaders: GBV must be declared a national disaster.

    In Solidarity: SheCab Will Not Operate

    As a women-led transport service committed to safety and empowerment, SheCab will suspend all operations on 21 November in solidarity with this movement. We stand with survivors. We stand with change. We stand still.

    Let this day be remembered not for what we did, but for what we refused to accept.

    🔗 Resources:

  • Blog

    For Women by Women, Happy Women’s Day

    August 9, 2025

    On this Women’s Day, we pause to recognize and thank the many women who form the heart of our community, the women who drive, support, and use our service every day with courage and care.

    Across South Africa, women face many challenges, including the daily realities of insecurity and violence. Yet, the women who drive for us, whether full-time or part-time, show incredible resilience and professionalism. They balance the demands of work and family, often driving to support their loved ones or providing extra income. Others drive simply because they find joy and independence behind the wheel.

    These women are more than drivers, they are caregivers, friends, and protectors on the road. Their kindness, patience, and calm presence help create a safer environment for all passengers, especially women who rely on safe transport to reach work, school, or home.

    Behind the scenes, many women work quietly and diligently in administrative roles, supporting the daily running of the service and ensuring that everything operates smoothly. Their dedication is a vital part of this community.

    And to the thousands of women who choose to travel with us, your trust inspires us every day. Together, all of these women contribute to a shared goal: creating safer spaces and building a supportive network where women can move without fear.

    Today, we honor all of you, the women who drive, support, and travel, recognizing your strength, your care, and your important role in making every journey safer.

    Thank you for your resilience, your kindness, and your commitment.