As South Africa commemorates Women’s Day on 9 August 2025, the country continues to reflect on the strides made, and the work still ahead, in achieving gender equality. Women’s Day honours the powerful legacy of the 1956 march against pass laws, while aligning with the global Generation Equality campaign that aims to achieve gender equality by 2030. This year's theme calls for urgent and sustained action to dismantle structural and cultural barriers to women's advancement.
At RS South Africa, commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is not limited to a single day. It is embedded in the business, from the leadership table to grassroots development. One of the women helping to lead that change is Ayanda Kotobe, Finance Director, whose journey embodies resilience, purpose, and transformative leadership.
Ayanda currently heads up the finance department at RS South Africa, with a mandate that spans Finance, Legal, Taxation, Governance and Controlling functions. “My key role is to assist in ensuring that RS employees have jobs and that they remain employed,” she explains. “That includes ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, making sure people are paid on time and accurately, and supporting the local team in implementing our strategic objectives.”
As a Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)) with a BCom Honours in Accounting from the University of Johannesburg, Ayanda brings technical excellence to her leadership. But it is her values-driven approach that sets her apart: “I work alongside a talented team to drive operational excellence within the South African market, delivering strategic insights that support sustainable business growth.”
The phrase “Women’s rights are human rights” holds deep professional and personal meaning for Ayanda. “Professionally, it means women are equal members of society and should be treated fairly,” she says. “Far too long, women have been ostracised from economic and democratic participation merely because of their gender.”
Personally, the issue strikes even deeper. “Being a woman in South Africa, considering the dark cloud of GBV and femicide we live under, this evokes a lot of emotion. It appears our laws recognise women’s rights, but society at large has not embraced these. Women continue to be killed, raped, and their rights trampled on.”
As a Black female leader in a predominantly male sector, Ayanda has had to navigate deeply entrenched biases. “Early in my career, I worked largely in male-dominated industries where the structures and culture often favoured white males,” she notes. “This was not always intentional exclusion, but it was systemic.”
She continues: “I cannot say I have completely overcome these barriers, but mentorship, sponsorship, and access to platforms where I can share my voice have helped. More industries are opening to female leadership, and that gives me hope.”
For Ayanda, one of the biggest misconceptions about women in leadership is the idea that they lack assertiveness or confidence. “Apparently, this is because women are perceived as more emotional or distracted, especially if they have families,” she says. “But the issue is not confidence, it is the conditions and narratives that continue to question it.”
Changing this will require action at multiple levels: “We need to reform education, corporate systems, and leadership programmes to actively produce more women leaders. And we must empower the next generation through mentorship and visibility.”
True gender equality, Ayanda argues, cannot happen without equity. “We are not all starting from the same point. As women have historically been left behind, we cannot just aim for equal treatment, we need to tip the scales intentionally to level the playing field.”
This includes rethinking recruitment and compensation systems. “I would rewrite the rule around how roles are recruited and compensated, specifically eliminating pay gaps tied to previous salary history. Equal pay for equal roles should be non-negotiable.”
Two women continue to inspire Ayanda: Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Mpumi Madisa. About the former: “She rose to the highest levels of leadership, locally and globally, while staying grounded in her identity as a Black African woman. Her leadership was about creating space for others.”
About the latter: “Mpumi shattered glass ceilings as the first Black woman CEO of a major JSE-listed company. She leads authentically and uplifts others. She reminds young women that we are not how we start or where we start.”
Men, Ayanda says, have a critical role to play in accelerating gender equality. “They must not only support the idea of gender equity, but they must also be accountable to it. This includes advocating for women, challenging bias, sharing caregiving responsibilities, and redesigning systems to be inclusive by default.”
To her younger self and the next generation of girls, Ayanda offers this powerful message: “Don’t underestimate the power of your network. Hard work is not always enough, you need sponsors who will open doors. Your network is your net worth.”
She adds: “The higher I rose, the fewer people I saw who looked like me. That’s why my purpose is now bigger than my own success. I want to be a force so that young Black women coming after me have someone visible to look up to.”
“Women’s Day is a moment of deep introspection,” Ayanda reflects. “It is about connecting, reflecting and continuing the work of inclusion. It is not just a celebration; it is a reminder that the journey continues.”
She concludes: “Women belong at every table where decisions are made, but we must first level the playing field. Gender equality is everyone’s responsibility, and the future depends on it.”
At RS South Africa, we recognise that achieving true inclusion takes action. We celebrate the incredible contributions of women like Ayanda, not just on Women’s Day, but every day. Together, we are committed to building a workplace where opportunity is equitable, leadership is diverse, and every woman’s voice is heard.