By Zuko Komisa
- The inaugural 1Life Women’s Life Confidence Index reveals that 57% of surveyed South African women feel empowered to make key decisions regarding their financial future.
- Despite strong decision-making confidence, 38% of respondents identify insufficient income as the single greatest barrier to genuine financial independence.
- Money Coach Hayley Parry from 1Life’s ‘Truth About Money’ joined Kaya Biz with Gugulethu Mfuphi to unpack the gap between financial self-assurance and long-term security.
South African women exhibit strong self-assurance in managing their personal finances, yet genuine financial autonomy remains elusive for many.
According to the inaugural 1Life Women’s Life Confidence Index which surveyed nearly 1,000 women nationwide 57% of respondents reported feeling mostly or entirely empowered when making critical decisions about their financial futures.
However, decision-making confidence has not translated into true financial freedom.
The findings highlight a persistent structural constraint: 38% of participants cited inadequate earnings as the primary hurdle preventing them from establishing long-term financial stability.
Addressing the disconnect between decision-making capability and financial reality, 1Life emphasized the ongoing challenge faced by consumers:
“South African women are confident, but they’re not yet financially free.”
To explore practical solutions for bridging this gap, Money Coach and Facilitator of 1Life’s Truth About Money initiative, Hayley Parry joined Kaya Biz with Gugulethu Mfuphi to provide expert perspective on how women can build resilience despite income pressures.
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