Women need greater representation at local government level to address service delivery problems, Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) chairperson Brigalia Bam said on Tuesday.

Addressing a conference outside Pretoria on the participation of women in elections, Bam said she was encouraged that in the April election the gap between male and female representation had continued to narrow.

However, she urged political parties to remain committed to this achievement, as the local government election in 2011 was fast approaching.

"The issues of service delivery are closer to our [women's] hearts," she said.

Bam said there was an increasing number of women running households and in rural areas, the plight of access to service delivery was a continual burden. This included access to water, sanitation, clinics and schools.

She said the quota system of 50/50 representation, which the IEC endorsed through persuasion, was one area where political parties could create gender parity.

"We need a mobilisation that is not just quota, but related to issues. I really wish we could find the way to deal with culture, power, tradition patriarchy and attitudes.

"The quota system is like affirmative action, it can speed up things."

IEC senior electoral operations manager Michael Hendrickse agreed that some political parties had stepped up their efforts to create gender parity and were not just "paying lip service" to the quota system.

"There is no law that applies, but we are moving more towards gender parity. They are striving towards it."

The number of women in government positions has increased from 29,03% in local government elections in 2006 to 37,61% in the general election held this year.

The number of men has decreased from 70,97% in 2006 to 62,39% this year.