Gender representation and corruption in Ekurhuleni post-2021: Between inclusion and institutional resistance

Abstract

This study investigates the evolving relationship between gender representation and anti-corruption governance in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) following South Africa’s 2021 local government elections. Using a qualitative case study design, the study draws on 20 semi-structured interviews with EMM councillors conducted in 2024 (45–75 minutes) and triangulates these accounts with analysis of municipal records, policy frameworks, performance audits, integrity reports, and media coverage related to Ekurhuleni’s governance post-2021. Interview transcripts were analysed thematically, informed by feminist institutionalism, governance network theory, and critical dialogic accountability, to assess whether increased women’s representation after the 2021 elections has translated into stronger integrity practices. Findings indicate that numerical inclusion has not consistently shifted decision-making authority: patriarchal informal norms, coalition dynamics, and clientelist networks continue to shape access to committees, procurement oversight, and information flows. Participants associate women’s participation with stronger integrity discourse and community-facing accountability efforts, yet they also describe institutional resistance that limits substantive anti-corruption reform. The paper concludes with recommendations for strengthening gender-responsive accountability mechanisms in metropolitan governance.