Democratisation is a multi-dimensional process that occurs within a particular context in any country. The context is normally determined by, among others, the policy framework of the country concerned. This also applies to South Africa's democratisation process, the context of which is derived from the Constitution. The progress of the South African democratisation process can be assessed through growth, development and consolidation of the critical aspects of South Africa's democracy, which are espoused in the country's 1996 Constitution. These aspects include the founding provisions of this Constitution and the Bill of Rights, which include equality. The milestones that have been undertaken to address the issue of equality, in general, and gender equality, in particular, can be used to assess the extent to which the South African democratisation process has progressed in this regard. Prior to the introduction of democr