RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SUCCESSFUL MENTORSHIP OF WOMEN IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY: A CRITICAL LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract Women remain underrepresented in the South African construction industry despite legislative and policy efforts aimed at promoting workplace equality and transformation. The literature indicates that women experience multiple barriers to career progression, including gender discrimination, male-dominated organisational cultures, limited professional networks, inadequate career-development opportunities and insufficient mentorship. This critical literature review examines recommendations for strengthening mentorship of women in the South African construction industry. Unlike conventional discussions that focus primarily on the existence of mentorship programmes, this review critically considers the organisational and institutional conditions required for mentorship to produce sustainable career outcomes. Literature on mentoring, women in construction, career development and gender inclusion was critically examined, with emphasis on South African evidence. The review proposes recommendations directed at construction organisations, professional bodies, educational institutions, government and individual professionals. The findings suggest that mentorship should be transformed from an informal and individualised activity into an institutionalised career-development mechanism. Key recommendations include establishing national and organisational mentorship frameworks, developing trained and accountable mentors, integrating mentorship with professional registration and career progression, creating cross-organisational mentoring networks, strengthening sponsorship and leadership development, integrating mentorship into university–industry partnerships, and introducing measurable accountability mechanisms. The review concludes by proposing a multi-stakeholder mentorship framework based on access, development, exposure, sponsorship, inclusion and accountability. Such an approach could strengthen the participation, retention and advancement of women in South African construction.