It’s Women’s Month in South Africa, when we like to celebrate the breakthroughs in boardrooms, the strides in science and the rising voices in our communities. But it’s also a time to pause and pay tribute to women who are too often overlooked yet quietly carry more than we can imagine.
Single moms.
In 2024, nearly half of South African households – 42,4% – were headed by women, based on StatsSA’s general household survey. Many of them single. Many of them doing the job of two, while earning 78 cents for every rand earned by men, compared to 89 cents in 2008. This is according to the Stellenbosch University Women’s Report 2024. And they’re still showing up at school concerts, standing in pharmacy queues and trying to be “enough” in a world that keeps moving the goalposts. If that’s you, you’re not doing it wrong; you’re doing the impossible. And you’re not alone.
Let’s be clear, if you’re struggling to make ends meet, it’s not because you’re “bad with money”. Prices have gone up. School fees. And as much as love holds a family together, it doesn’t pay the bills.
But I’ve also learnt from the women I admire most that you’re not waiting for a knight or perfect circumstances. You’re finding ways, even if it means stretching R400 into a weekend of memories instead of meals at a mall.
You’re teaching your kids that joy isn’t about flashy things. It’s the spaghetti dinners you cook together. It’s choosing between ice cream and a movie and realising that the best fun doesn’t come with a price tag.
You may also carry a quiet guilt – about the absent parent, the things your child might not have. That guilt often leads to trying to fill the gaps with gifts, treats and saying “yes” when you’re already stretched thin. But what your child needs most is you. And you’re already giving them that in full.
That’s why I want to say this with great respect: Please look after yourself, too.
You’re allowed to have a plan that includes your health, your retirement, your peace of mind. A budget isn’t a punishment. It’s a map. It says: I’m taking control. Even if the numbers are tight, the act of writing them down can be powerful. It’s hope on a spreadsheet.
Even a small emergency fund can be the difference between panic and peace. And while medical aid may feel like a luxury, access to care shouldn't be.
If you’re owed maintenance, fight for what’s fair. Get legal help. If you need help with the school run, ask. If a student can help babysit for a small fee, or if you and a friend can pool for a sitter, do it. Your well-being isn’t a luxury. Rest isn’t selfish. Protecting your mental health is just as important as paying the bills because you can’t pour from an empty cup.
If your will and life cover are not in place, speak to someone. If you’re not saving for your child’s education yet, know that small steps now are so worth it later.
A financial adviser may be a plan. Financial empowerment is not about perfection, it’s about progress.
Your kids may not remember your every sacrifice one day. But they will remember that you were there, and your attitude. That you loved them with everything you had. And that’s the kind of legacy no money can buy.