Abstract
About 15% of South African households lack access to electricity from the mains, most of which are found in the rural areas and informal settlements. This energy poor population consist 57% women and 43% men; hence, women are more energy poor than men in the country. Energy poverty has led to gender poverty as women and girls are faced with the task of collecting and using firewood and other unclean energy sources to meet their households’ energy needs, which exposes them to challenges such as health hazards, premature deaths, time poverty, etc. mainly from the indoor air pollution. The challenges facing grid extension to unelectrified areas contribute to energy poverty and consequently, gender poverty for women and girls. Hence, there is need to explore modern, clean, reliable and affordable electricity through decentralised renewable energy sources, with accompanying policies, in order to mitigate energy and gender poverty in South Africa.