She told the defence department's women's conference at Swartkop Air Force Base near Pretoria on Tuesday that many women able to join the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) did not do so due to a lack of communication.
"Many women who could join and do well in the various services are not doing so, in part due to the fact that there is not enough communication about the real work that is done in the military."
The perception women had of the armed services was often limited to negative and violent images from films and news coverage.
She said the defence department's gender strategy was based on social justice, human dignity, advancing human rights, and fighting inequality.
The pace of gender empowerment remained slow, she said.
"To date, gender integration has not yet reached [the required levels] we had anticipated, particularly in the higher echelons of leadership in the SANDF," the minister said.
"We are still struggling to meet some of the representation targets of 40% at the entry level and 30% at higher levels as prescribed by [the defence department's] gender policy."
Women 'reprimanded' for pregnancy
On January 29 this year, women at the South African Infantry School in Oudtshoorn were reprimanded for being pregnant.
A commanding officer called in at least seven women instructors at the base and reprimanded them "heavily" for falling pregnant. The women were told they were a disgrace to the defence force and would be transferred to other units as they were "unwelcome" at the base
In a letter written to Mapisa-Nqakula, the South African National Defence Union (Sandu) called on her to suspend the commanding officer, failing which it would help the women approach the Equality Court.
​A pregnant trainee at the base committed suicide allegedly as a result of the treatment, the union claimed. – Sapa