VOICES OF WOMEN: Progress Analysis Report

28 AUGUST 2012

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1. INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND The Voices of Women (VOW) Project was initiated by the Parliamentary Millennium Programme (PMP) and Create Africa South, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), to provide marginalised women with a platform to share their experiences of South Africa’s democratic dispensation. Collaborating with Provincial Legislatures and Local Government, workshops were held in each of the nine provinces between 2007 and 2009. Based on the theme “what democracy means to me”, women were asked to write stories, convert these stories to pictures, and to sew the pictures onto cloth. Hereafter, each woman’s story, their cloth and their picture were framed together for display in a series of provincial and national exhibitions. In addition, where stories highlighted social, political or economic concerns, submissions were drawn up on behalf of that particular woman, and recommendations made for parliamentary action. It is these submissions that are the subject of this analysis. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate whether any progress has been made by Government to deal with issues raised in the 3 Voices of Women Reports, whether the recommendations made are still relevant, and to highlight any monitoring mechanisms tasked with tracking Government progress with respect to issues raised by women in all 3 VOW reports. 1 For the purposes of this report, departments or portfolios will be clustered together as follows:

• Social and Public Services – This cluster will include submissions for Social Development, Health, Home Affairs, Human Settlements, Public Works, Transport, and Public Service & Administration.

• Socially Vulnerable Groups – Submissions for this cluster includes women, children, youth, and people with Disabilities.

• Finance –The featured department in this cluster is Finance.

• Trade and Economic Affairs– Submissions here speak to issues dealt with by the Department of Labour, Trade and Industry and Economic Development.

• Education & Recreation – This cluster includes Basic and Higher Education, Arts and Culture, and Sports and Recreation.

• Resources and Inter-governmental Matters – Included in this cluster are Co-operative Governance, Environmental Affairs, Rural development and Land Reform and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Tourism)

• Justice, Security and Constitutional Affairs – the justice cluster consists of Correctional Services, Justice and Constitutional Affairs)

An important reason for taking a clustered approach is the fact that many challenges are interrelated, therefore an improvement in one area might mean improvement in others, and vice versa. Thus a persistent problem of inaccessible roads may mean an inefficient emergency health provision, despite improving the quality of medical care. Government interventions must take this into account as it affects the effectiveness and impact of programmes that are implemented.

1 Voices of Women Report: Volume 1 (2009)

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Giving full effect to a “People’s Parliament” challenges Parliament to seek creative and useful ways of engaging with citizens. This project, by giving women an opportunity to voice their aspirations, frustrations and wishes, attempted to do just that. In line with Parliament’s mandate to facilitate public participation, it is also vital that these inputs are filtered into the legislative process and ensure meaningful engagement by the committees of Parliament. 2. GOVERNMENT PROGRESS Progress made by Government departments with regards to challenges raised in the Voices of Women Reports is not only important for effective public participation, but for overall development of South Africa. As stated in South Africa’s latest Millennium Development Goal Country Report (2010) “Any development effort that excludes women is poised to suffer major setbacks. Women are the majority of the population and they influence decisions at a crucial level of the economic unit, namely the family, so their inclusion is a matter of necessity and informed national self-interest and not an act of generosity.”2

2.1. Social and Public Services The following section will focus on social development issues and the delivery of public services. A lack of access to basic services, insufficient infrastructure, as well as distance from valuable services and resources, are further exacerbated by an inability to generate income. Given South Africa’s high unemployment rate, it is even more important that basic services are not only available, but that they are also efficient. 3 Health Issues Identified:

• Access to health facilities – long distances and inaccessible roads (No tarred roads, therefore it is difficult in medical emergencies to be helped).

• Ill-treatment by health professionals.

• The difficulties of people with disabilities in accessing health facilities due to inaccessible buildings and availability of appropriate transport.

• A “Rural Development Plan” needs to be developed to deal with the serious lack of infrastructure in rural areas.

• Non-availability of doctors.

• The absence of emergency medical assistance at night in inaccessible areas.

• The lack of mobile clinics.

2 Millennium Development Goals: South Africa Country Report 2010, page 21 3Lawson, D. 2007

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Government Intervention: In January 2012 the Department of Health published “Human Resources for Health: South Africa”, which outlines the context of staff shortages in the health sector, sets the priorities for re-engineering Primary Health Care, provides objectives and identifies activities for the following strategic priorities:

• Intelligence and Planning (Data and planning systems to ensure health related data is captured, secure and is usable for statistical analysis)

• A workforce for New Service Strategies to ensure value for money (Including the introduction of District Clinical Specialist Teams; School Health Services; Municipal ward-based Primary Healthcare Agents)

• Upscale and revitalise education, training and research (The training, expansion and retention of the health workforce)

• Academic Training and Service Platform Interfaces (Academic medicine and training colleges will be created, and those that exist, must be maintained) Professional Human Resource Management (This process will involve an audit of the workforce; a review of HR structures, policies and procedures; and an audit of attitudes and perceptions)

• Quality Professional Care (A strong focus will be on oversight over professional training and practice; protecting the public from malpractice; ensuring a quality training environment, as well as working environment; on-going development of new technologies and clinical interventions; guidance and protocols for clinical best practice)

• Access in Rural and Remote Areas (A strategy with special financing mechanisms, staffing norms, and other adjustments specific to rural and remote areas) 4

In its 2011 annual report, the Department reported that provinces had produced their draft 10 year Service Transformation Plans (STPs) for 2010 - 2020 (All except the Eastern Cape and Western Cape). This will assist in long-term planning for the health sector. The Department has also implemented a project management approach to key strategic projects to ensure that there is successful delivery of health facilities and appropriate provision of good quality service. 5 Its Infrastructure Support System Programme includes an integrated national Project Management Information System (PMIS) which will enhance the oversight, monitoring and reporting of progress on health infrastructure projects in all nine provinces. At the time of reporting, the PMIS process was at the tender phase. In March 2012, however, the Department announced that it would use “Post Vision Technology’s online project portfolio management software, Project Portfolio Office (PPO), within its health infrastructure unit to strengthen the ability of officials to manage their infrastructure programmes and projects more effectively.”

4 Human Resource for Health (2012) 5 Department of Health Annual Report 2010/11

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The Department’s HR Strategy recognises the inequitable distribution of health professionals between the rural and urban areas, and the private and public sector. The eighth HR Strategic objective is to focus on access to health-care in rural and remote areas. The Department will revive District Health Services with a view to improve both sustainable rural development and urban renewal. In creating a uniform Primary Health Service, the Department will assist provinces to implement and monitor issues of disability. In its August 2012 presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities, the Department of Health confirmed the following interventions with regards to people with disabilities:

• Access to psychological and rehabilitation therapists;

• Creating better physical access to health facilities;

• Provision of assistive devices including wheelchairs, hearing aids and artificial limbs.6

Beyond this assistance the Department conceded that the needs of persons with disabilities extended beyond the health domain, therefore an inter-sectoral approach is adopted. The Department collaborates with the following department on this matter: Social Development; Women, Children and People with Disabilities; Basic Education; National Treasury; Higher Education; Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) and the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS). 7 Relevance of Recommendations: The HR Strategy developed by the Department deals adequately with issues raised including expanding services to rural areas, ensuring enough competent health professionals, with an emphasis on improving infrastructure in rural and other inaccessible areas. However, South Africa’s health service is still in critical need of revival, and the country’s health outcomes underperform countries in the region with less investments and inputs. The following challenges remain critical:

• The PC on Health can engage the Department on its model for dealing with infrastructure and health personnel shortages in the rural areas. A combination of strategies could be used to ensure that medical services are available 24 hours, including making health facilities available closer to rural communities, and increasing the availability of paramedics and ambulances in rural and informal/ peri-urban areas.

• The PC can also suggest that the Department provide provincial departments with support in regulating the availability of medication.

6 Presentation to the Portfolio and Select Committees on Women, Children and People with Disabilities: The Role of the Department of Health in Giving Effect to UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 21 August 2012 7 Department of Health Annual Performance Plan 2012/13 – 2014/15

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Human Settlements Issues Identified:

• Provision of more housing;

• The process for allocating houses should be reviewed, and should be more transparent and accountable;

• Housing backlogs: o Monitoring of contractors and review of building regulations to ensure that

good quality houses are built. o Monitoring of recipients of Government housing to ensure the Government

houses are not rented out;

• Maintaining an accurate database management to ensure that the rightful owners receive houses.

Government Intervention: The Department of Human Settlements has managed to shorten the application for housing from 20 months to 11 months. In terms of its programme ‘Housing Policy, Research and Monitoring’ the Department intends to develop policies based on sound research, and to monitor the implementation of housing policies and programmes.8 One of the programmes identified by the Presidency as a strategic priority is the provision of low cost housing, with the intension to double the rate of housing provision in order to meet the Millennium Development Goal with regards to informal settlements.9 In addition, the Department’s Sustainable Human Settlements and Basic Services Task Team (SHSBTT), was set up to agree on norms and standards for basic services necessary for the successful delivery of affordable housing. To further improve the delivery of houses and improve the property market, the Department, together with provinces and municipalities intends to do the following:

• Upgrade 400 000 units of accommodation in informal settlements;

• Facilitate 80 000 affordable social and rental housing units of accommodation in well located areas;

• Facilitate improved housing finance opportunities for 600 000 lenders in the affordable housing market;

• Release 6 250 hectares of public owned land for housing development. 10 In terms of ensuring an equitable process for allocating housing, the Department will establish an identification verification mechanism that will be linked to the Home Affairs database. In addition the Department reported that missing applications had been dealt with, and that their archiving system was in line with best practice.

8 Outcome 8 Delivery Agreements (2012) 9 The Presidency: Medium Term Strategic Framework (2009 - 2014) 10 Department of Human Settlements Annual Report 2010/2011

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Relevance of Recommendations: While on paper the Department seems to have initiated action especially with regards to the monitoring of implementation, there seems to be very little evidence that there is progress in the implementation of plans. The following recommendations highlight the challenges that still exist:

• The PC and SC for Human Settlements could request that the Department report on specific objectives, activities and outputs regarding measures taken to curb mismanagement, fraud, and non-delivery.

• Given the Department’s admission that their annual budget is not enough to provide all the housing necessary to those who need it, the Portfolio Committee could suggest to the Department that it not only rely on an increased budget from National Treasury, but that it consider alternative funding methods (e.g. Public Private Partnerships).

Home Affairs Issues Identified:

• The process for rectifying incorrect information (date of birth, names, and surnames) identity documents is difficult and unclear;

• The risk of fraud (identity theft; duplicate marriages);

• Availability of service in inaccessible areas;

• Unfriendly staff. Government Intervention: The Home Affairs National Identification System (HANIS) uses secure measures such as live capture of data and fingerprint verification to safeguard the process. In addition, the Department has also initiated the National Population Registration Campaign to ensure that the identity of all South Africans is secured. The key strategy here is to ensure that birth registration becomes the only entry point into the National Population Register. Citizens are encouraged to register their babies within a month of their birth, and to apply for an Identity Document once they turn sixteen (16) years old. According to its 2010/2011 Annual Report, the Department of Home Affairs reported that out of 1 086 901 births of children, 946 031 were registered before their first birthdays. The registration of 87% of births is above the Department’s own target of 70% of registrations, showing great progress. Therefore challenges of incorrect birthdates and names are minimised by ensuring a closed system, which also protects citizens against identity fraud.11 With regards to the registration of children under special circumstances, the Births and Deaths Registration Amendment Act (Act 18 of 2010) was signed into law in December 2010.

11 Department of Home Affairs Annual Report 2010/2011

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The Act makes provision for the registration of children by persons other than their parents, as well as the registration of abandoned and adopted children. These amendments would make it easier for those who look after children that do not have birth certificates, to register them. The correction of birth dates can be done with the Department provided the applicant has proof (like a birth certificate). In addition, should the error be on the part of the Department, the change will be done free of charge, failing which, a fee will be payable. Developing a nationwide footprint is a key strategy for the Department. As a result, it embarked on establishing stakeholder forums, and out of 282 municipalities, 254 Home Affairs Stakeholder Forums have been established. Through these forums the Department managed to deploy mobile services to rural and other inaccessible areas. They have also disseminated information on the Department’s services, and encouraged communities to make use of these. In September 2010 the National Department approved a Human Resource Plan that aims to ensure capacity within the Department for core business, especially the capacitation of front office staff. There was a commitment to fill 1 076 positions in the 2011/2012 financial year to this end.12 Relevance of Recommendations: The Department has to a large extent started to deal extensively with the challenges highlighted in the VOW Reports. What remains a challenge is the implementation of policy as prescribed by relevant legislative mandates. Thus:

• The Portfolio Committee Home Affairs could recommend to the Department that there be consistent monitoring of service delivery and customer care at all its delivery sites. This should be done with respect to incidents of fraud as well as quality of service.

Social Development Issues Identified:

• Alcohol and drug abuse, its link to violence and abuse, and how police handle reported cases of domestic violence

• The Food Emergency Scheme should be extended as families struggle to provide for the basic needs of their families;

• Social support for those children that do not qualify to receive a child grant (over 15 years), but are still of school going age (between 15 and 18 years)

• The inefficiencies of the foster care system to monitor the treatment of children by their foster parents, and to ensure that the grant allocated to them is used to take care of them.

12 Department of Home Affairs Strategic Plan 2010/11 – 2012/13

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Government Intervention: There has been a steady increase and expansion of the social security net in the last few years. In their 2011/2012 Performance Plan the Department for Social Development indicated that the old age grant had increased at an annual rate of 14% since 2007, to a total appropriation of R34.1 billion for the 2010/2011 financial year. This was attributed to the lowering of the retirement age for men from 65 years to 60 years. Between 2004 and 2012, there has been a 136% increase in the allocation of foster care grants. The Department has undertaken to encourage adoption as the preferred method for permanently placing children with families. During the 2010/2011 financial year, the child support grant cost the State R30.6 billion, at an average of just below R30 000 per year provided to parents and care-givers. Children receiving the child support grant are projected to increase by 1.5 million for the 2013/2014 financial year. 13 Social welfare in South Africa provides extensive support for the country’s poor, even though it may not reach all those who need it. However, there are currently no plans to revise the qualifying age groups for grants. Current efforts are focused on ensuring that those that already qualify receive support. An evaluation of the impact of the grant on the lives of children was undertaken in 2011. The study set out to determine whether the grant reduced poverty and the vulnerability of children in poor households; whether the grant allowed for those in these households to participate in productive economic activity, and whether the introduction of the grant reduced high risk behaviour in recipients such as transactional sex and alcohol and/or drug abuse. 14 The Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act (Act No70, 2008) provides for the introduction of programmes for the treatment of substance abuse, including the establishment of treatment centres and provides for those who have been evaluated as needing assistance, to be committed to a treatment facility or detained in prison. However, this Act is not operational given that regulations to implement it have not been finalised. 15 Relevance of Recommendations: The recommendations given for this portfolio have largely been dealt with in the last few years through legislation and planning. The following are issues pending that still need to be addressed:

• The Portfolio Committee for Social Development should implore the Department to draw up regulations for the establishment of treatment centres for substance abuse. Since the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act (Act No 70, 2008) provides for the detainment of those who need treatment for substance

13 Department of Social Development Annual Performance Plan 2011 -2012

14 Child Support Grant Evaluation, Department of Social Development, 2010

15 Department of Social Development Annual Performance Plan 2011 -2012

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abuse, operationalising this law would go a long way in reducing abuse and violence related to substance abuse.

• The PC on Social Development could further advocate that the Department of Social Development extend the child support grant to all school-going children; and where this is not possible, formulate alternative strategies to support “over-age” school-going children.

Public Works Issues Identified:

• Inadequate number of schools, health centres and other infrastructure such as street lights;

• Inaccessible roads;

• No sustainable plan for comprehensive rural development. Government Intervention: In its annual report 2010/2011, the Department of Public Works speaks of its collaboration with the Department of Basic Education and the Independent Development Trust (IDC) in the eradication of mud schools. In addition, it cites the following bridge building projects in areas where residents find it difficult to access services due to flooded rivers:

• Nquqhu river crossing, which is positioned between Mqhanqeni and Maqwatini villages. (A minimum of 300 pupils cross the river to school on daily basis and the community members cross the river to social and economic amenities).

• Port St Johns Ntafutufu bridge;

• Daluhlanga bridge in Umzimvubu Municipality;

• Bailey bridge constructed across Lefukufuku river in Tsomo;

• Macoza pedestrian bridge in King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality in Umtata;

• Cezu pedestrian bridge in King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality in Umtata; The Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) focuses extensively on the construction and upgrade of roads. In addition the Department has a programme on fixing potholes, and employs 500 unemployed youth (who are paid a stipend of R90 per day) in municipalities where it has been implemented for a period of six months. The Department’s Rural Development Programme aims to dispose of State-owned immovable assets in rural areas for developmental purposes.16 Beyond these interventions, the Department’s annual performance plan 2012 – 2014 is not clear on any other interventions dealing with the issues highlighted above.

16 Department of Public Works Annual Report 2010/2011

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Relevance of Recommendations: While the Department of Public Works seems to be adequately implementing its mandate for asset management, there seems to be an inadequate focus on the creation of new infrastructure, especially in those areas that need it the most. Asset management and maintenance means that existing infrastructure is preserved, while little effort is focused on the construction of new assets. Previous recommendations made are still relevant, the following is added:

• The PC on Public Works can suggest to the Department that it forge closer cooperation with the Department of Rural Development in order to prioritise rural development programmes, and accelerate their implementation.

• This Department can also be encouraged by the PC on Public Works to work closely with the Department of Human Settlements for adequate urban renewal planning. This Department desperately needs to align its programmes with the strategic priorities of a developmental State.

2.2. Finance and Public Accounts

South Africa has high rates of inequality, recording a GINI Coefficient 17 of 0.5. Women are often paid less than their male counterparts, are found in industries that pay less, or, in the absence of available child care support, women are unable to work the long hours that men can due to their household responsibilities. Women also bear the responsibility of ensuring that their families have enough to eat and that the needs of children are taken care of. This leaves women vulnerable to the price fluctuations of essentials including food, electricity and other living expenses. 18 Issues Identified:

• Inflation and rising Costs;

• Strict lending practices;

• Lack of support/ cushioning for the poor against adverse economic pressures. Government Intervention: The South African Reserve Bank introduced inflation targeting in the year 2000, as a means of protecting the poor against a rapidly rising cost of living. This strategy has been reasonably successful, and the following diagram shows inflation over the last few years.

17 A measurement of inequality based on distribution of income in a country

18 Blackden & Wodon (2006)

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Figure 1.Consumer price inflation: Targeted inflation19

The National Credit Act (Act No 34, 2005) was put in place to encourage responsible lending. In some ways, it has curtailed the ability of the poor to access loans; however, it also prevents those who cannot afford it from potential indebtedness. Some banking institutions have found low risk ways of catering to a low end market and making funding available to them. Despite this, financial services for the poor remain largely unavailable. The National Credit Regulator therefore was established under the Act, and is tasked “to promote the development of an accessible credit market, particularly to address the needs of historically disadvantaged persons, low income persons, and remote, isolated or low density communities.” 20 Relevance of Recommendations: Given that the poor are often affected more severely by market fluctuations, it is imperative that our monetary policy encourage stability. While our Reserve Bank has managed this with some success, food price fluctuations are still a reality and more needs to be done to cushion the poor from these fluctuations. Recommendations made previously still apply, with the only addition being that other social and economic measures must be taken to further shield the poor from rising food prices and to reduce their exposure and vulnerability to adverse economic fluctuations.

2.3. Socially Vulnerable Groups Women undeniably shoulder the burden of housework, health-care and child rearing responsibilities in most households. These realities present a particularly problematic dimension to resolving issues of poverty, health, and education. Therefore in addition to dealing with the structural causes of poverty and lack of access, governments also

19 South African Reserve Bank (2012) Inflation Targeting Framework

20 National Credit Regulator (2012) About the National Credit Regulator

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have to devise interventions to deal with the social exclusion of women and the structural realities that produce skewed policy outcomes for women versus their male counterparts.21 Issues Identified:

• Unequal status of men and women in society;

• Women are still victims of violence;

• Lack of capacity building for women

• Lack of youth development programmes;

• Development opportunities for persons with disabilities are lacking; Government Intervention: South Africa has a Department dedicated to women, children and people with disabilities. The Department’s role is to monitor the implementation of Government policy and ensure that the interests of vulnerable groups are mainstreamed in all their programmes. Thus far the Department for Women, Children and People with Disabilities has focused its attention on building institutional capacity, and reviewing legislation conducive to women’s empowerment. The Department’s monitoring mandate, however, has not been fully implemented. To deal with the inequality experienced by women pursuing leadership positions both in the public and private spheres, the Department is introducing the Women Empowerment and Gender Equity Bill, aimed at ensuring parity. On the rights and needs of persons with disabilities, the Department admits to not having done enough. The participation of persons with disabilities in public life and the private sector has been minimal, and the Department has not taken any decisive action in this regard. On a positive note, the Department has announced the establishment of a Gender Based Violence Council to deal with violence against women, children and persons with disabilities.22 To deal with issues of youth, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) was established. The NYDA currently focuses exclusively on the economic participation of youth, although it has been criticised for the ineffective implementation of its mandate, and what has been classified as fruitless expenditure. Relevance of Recommendations: While the Department for Women, Children and People with Disabilities is relatively new, it was expected that its establishment would lead to rapid improvements in the lives of women. However, the Department has taken some time to become functional, and has only recently shown signs of substantively dealing with those issues most significant to women’s lives.

21Blackden, C. M. & Wodon, Q. Eds. (2006)

22 Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities Strategic Plan 2012/13 – 2016/17

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• The PC on Women, Children and People with Disabilities should encourage the department to speed up key legislation aimed at improving the lives of women. The PC can continue to consistently monitor the Department’s progress with regards to fully implementing its mandate to monitor other departments and ensure the streamlining of gender issues in all relevant programmes of Government.

2.4 Trade and Economic Affairs One of the biggest challenges facing women today is their equal participation in the economy. Many poor women are located in the informal and rural sectors, which notoriously pay less, and have less secure tenure. While education is a major determinant of employment prospects, in South Africa (and the world over), educated women find it more difficult to secure employment than their male counterparts. Given women’s social and familial role as home maker and child minder, it is often more difficult for them to take advantage of business opportunities that might become available. It is also women’s lack of access to markets, assets, and capital that prevents them from becoming full participants in the mainstream economy.23 Labour Issues Identified:

• Unemployment;

• Inadequate Skills Development programmes for women;

• Lack of Funding for starting small businesses;

• Inaccessibility of this Department to people at the grassroots.

• Unfair labour practices Government Intervention: The Department of Labour initiated a campaign to popularise wage increases and improvement in the conditions of employment for domestic and farm workers, sectors where many women find employment. In 2011 the department undertook a media campaign to publicise domestic & farm worker’s wage increases to encourage compliance; this campaign’s impact was not measured. The Department inspects workplaces to ensure that working conditions are appropriate, but also assists in settling labour-related disputes. It also requires private businesses to submit Workplace Skills Plans, ensuring the development of their staff. Targets are set within the Department for the employment of women and youth, ensuring that the Department itself complies with employment equity laws.24

23 Global Private Sector Leaders (2012)

24 Department of Labour Annual Performance Plan 2011 - 2012

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In its performance plan 2011-2012, the Department aimed to register job seekers on the Public Employment Services System – these individuals are assessed and profiled, for purposes of being placed or referred to job opportunities. The Department planned to have registered about 2000 companies on ESSA by the end of March 2012. Training programmes and employment opportunities were planned to be made available to 50 000 women and 100 000 youth by the end of March 2012; about 55 000 of these opportunities for women and 150 000 for youth are planned to have been made available in the 2012 – 2013 period. Persons with disabilities were also included in the Department’s training efforts, where about 600 learners with disabilities were recruited for training in 2011-2012. While there are adequate plans to deal with labour issues in the VOW submissions, it is not clear as to the progress of implementation for these programmes. The Department also does not seem to have an extensive marketing strategy to inform the community about programmes and opportunities available, nor is there a plan in place to extend the Department’s reach in terms of provision of services. Relevance of Recommendations: Given the lack of progress report from the Department, and therefore little basis for a positive analysis of the Department’s performance, the previous recommendations are relevant, with the following additions:

• The PC on Labour could implore the Department to improve its communication strategy, and to actively encourage communities to participate in skills development opportunities offered.

• An effort must be made to extend as many services as is needed, especially to rural areas where opportunities are already minimal. The Department should be encouraged by the PC on Labour to develop a programme that focuses specifically on rural communities.

Trade and Industry Issues Identified:

• Unemployment;

• Little access to business funding;

• Trade and industry services not accessible to all;

• There is little focus on Rural development

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Government Intervention: The department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has committed to the creation of decent employment by encouraging inclusive growth. To this end it has up scaled the implementation of the second Industrial Policy Action Plan, which aims to set South Africa on a more labour-absorbing growth path by investing (through industrial incentive programmes) in labour intensive industries. 25 To address women’s specific challenges, the DTI established the Gender and Women Empowerment (GWE) unit to promote the following:

• Gender - sensitive policies and programs for trade and industry

• Implement Women Specific Programs

• Foster networks, linkages and partnerships for strategic opportunities- UN

• Lobbying and policy advocacy Thus far, the DTI has approved and started to implement a National Strategic Framework on Gender and Women Empowerment in accordance with its strategic objective to “facilitate broad-based economic participation through targeted interventions to achieve more inclusive growth”. Of the Department’s eight (8) programmes, one focuses on Empowerment and Enterprise Development, aimed at facilitating inclusive equity, growth and job creation by creating an enabling environment for competitive local and provincial economies. This sub-programme transfers funds to the following institutions:

• National Empowerment Fund (funding);

• South African Women Entrepreneurs’ Network (networking opportunities);

• A Khula Enterprise Finance networking platform (networking opportunities);

• The Industrial Development Corporation’s Isivande Women’s Fund (funding). There are currently 17 projects to the value of R26.8 million that have been supported to assist women access finance through the Isivande Women’s Fund. Other projects said to benefit women included the Bavumile Skills Development Programme which has supported close to 80 women in the Northern Cape and the Eastern Cape. The intervention focused on the clothing and textile, and arts and craft sectors. Also, a Techno-Girl workshop was held for 100 girl learners from 10 schools in the five districts of the Limpopo Province. The 2010/2011 ceremony for the annual Technology for Women in Business (TWIB) Awards were held in Gauteng and was attended by over 600 women in business from across the country. 26

25 Department of Trade and Industry: Medium Term Strategic Plan 2011-2014

26 Department of Trade and Industry Annual Report 2010 - 2011

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The DTI’s annual report indicates that funds accrued from the National Lottery Fund as enabled by the Lotteries Act, could be accessed by communities for developmental purposes. Infrastructure development for rural communities would be given priority, as well as any project that would contribute to uplifting the living standards of the poor. Relevance of Recommendations: While these interventions are a useful start, they do not present a particularly coordinated approach. Given the scale of unemployment, especially amongst women, interventions designed for women should take the realities of women’s lives into consideration. The following recommendations are suggested:

• The PC on Trade and Industry should encourage the DTI to initiate an intensive marketing strategy, to inform communities about the work of the DTI and to ensure that women know about the opportunities available to them.

• An effort can be made to make services available to those in remote areas Economic Development Issues Identified:

• Funding for development programmes is unavailable;

• Business finance is inaccessible;

• Women lack the assets to run business effectively;

• Market opportunities for entrepreneurs should be made more accessible; Government Intervention: The Economic Development Department (EDD) launched the New Growth Path as a tool for accelerating job creating, with the aim of creating 5 million jobs by 2020. While the plan speaks of addressing key development goals of women, there are very little women-targeted interventions. The South African Micro-finance Apex Fund (Samaf) provides access to funding for micro and survivalist businesses in order to grow their income and asset base. The fund claims to focus on sectors that are ordinarily left out of the mainstream economy, including women. 27 Relevance of Recommendations: The EDD’s focus on women is inadequate. There does not seem to be a coordinated effort to mainstream gender throughout economic development programmes. Previously submitted recommendations are still relevant, with the following additions:

27 Economic Development Department Annual Report 2010/2011

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• The PC on Economic Development can lobby the EDD to develop a more comprehensive strategy for assist women to participate in a meaningful way in the mainstream economy. This strategy must be accompanied by relevant programmes and interventions that take into account women’s particular needs.

EDUCATION & RECREATION Basic Education Issues Identified:

• Not enough schools available for disabled persons;

• Limited schools; thus learners forced to commute/ walk long distances to and from schools;

• Access to quality education in rural areas is inadequate;

• There is limited access to Adult Literacy programmes in the rural areas;

• Teenage pregnancy in schools is problematic Government Intervention: The annual report for 2010/11 as well as the annual performance plan 2012 – 2013 of the Basic Education Department makes no mention of any interventions for the disabled except in mentioning a current court case launched against it by the Western Cape Forum for Intellectually Disabled, for the inadequate provision of educational opportunities. To deal with some of the infrastructure requirements in the provinces, the Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Delivery Initiative (ASIDI) plans and targets were finalised, and the frameworks for accessing the infrastructure grant for provinces was also finalised by National Treasury.28 For the financial year 2011/2012 spend for this project amounted to R8.6 billion, with a total infrastructure spend of R26.9 billion. 29 One of the department’s programmes focuses on improving the quality of rural education delivery. There were 450 schools targeted for intervention at a Rural Schools inter-provincial meeting in February of 2011, and many of these schools are reported to have shown significant improvement. Multi-grade teaching has also been introduced, to deal with the specific context of the rural education environment. Umalusi has developed and finalized the National Senior Certificate for Adults (NSCA), to cater for the Adult Literacy sector. The Kha Ri Gude mass literacy project aims to increase adult literacy by providing an additional 2 million adults an opportunity to become literate in the medium term.

28 Department of Basic Education Annual Plan 2010/11

29 Department of Basic Education Annual Performance Plan 2013-2014

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The National Education Evaluation and Development Bill, 2011 was introduced, and deals partly with regulations for learner pregnancy and other health related matters. Relevance of Recommendations: While there is some attempt to deal with key challenges in this sector, most of the department’s efforts seem to be focused on the core business of delivering on the mandate of providing mainstream education services. Those needs that seem to fall outside of this mandate, are not dealt with systematically. Recent failures in this sector allude to challenges in delivering even the basic mainstream curriculum. The previous recommendations remain relevant in this instance. Higher Education Issues Identified:

• There is a lack of appropriate training institutions, especially for rural and peri-urban areas;

• Higher education should be free. Government Intervention: The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) provides the bulk of the Department of Higher Education and Training’s (DHET) loans to students in tertiary institutions. During the 2010/11 financial year recipients of loans increased from 153 000 to 191 372. In August 2011 a Ministerial Committee for the Review of the Funding of Universities began its evaluation on the effectiveness of the current funding framework, and to outline the scheme’s funding requirements for the next ten (10) years. A committee was also established to review the provision of student accommodation, and the recommendations of this evaluation will be implemented in the 2012/2013 financial year and beyond. The recommendations included a comprehensive infrastructure plan to ensure the delivery of quality higher education, with specific focus on improving historically disadvantaged institutions. 30 To ensure Universities have the capacity to take in more students, institutions have agreed on enrolment targets for the next three years, increasing the DHET’s University Education Programme from R24.3 billion to R27.4 billion in 2014/15. The DHET will monitor university enrolment by focusing specifically on graduate outputs. In order to grow and expand the vocational and training the DHET will increase spending from R4.4 billion in 2011/12 to R4.8 billion. This will ensure that the department can implement an examination system for the further education and training colleges and adult education and training centres. On skills training the DHET will focus its spending on artisan development and specialised technical training.

30 Department of Higher Education 2010/11

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With regards to interventions specifically focused on women, the DHET established a Ministerial Oversight Committee to make recommendation on the transformation of the post school education and training system. A research report is planned for the 2013/14 reporting period. 31 Relevance of Recommendations: Despite the fact that there are slightly more women than men in tertiary institutions in South Africa, and women fair better with regards to education attainment, in communities where poverty is widespread, women tend to have less desirable education outcomes. Whether this is due to early marriage, pregnancy, or household responsibilities, it seems women in poorer households require additional support to access the higher education sector, and to achieve the appropriate outcomes. 32

• The PC on Higher Education can interrogate the Department’s planned report on transformation, and monitor the implementation of the recommendations emanating from that report.

Arts and Culture Issues Identified:

• Only certain struggle heroes are commemorated, there are many people that served their communities who need to be remembered;

• There should be planned arts and cultural activities provided for young people;

• There are few opportunities for traditional dance groups to make a living from their craft;

• Communities still have many economic frustrations and little access to opportunities to earn a living wage, which can spark xenophobic attacks;

• There is still discrimination according to language in communities. Government Intervention: The Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) has a programme on Heritage promotion and preservation which aims to preserve South African history by identifying sites, people and ideas that played a pivotal role in the liberation struggle. To promote linguistic diversity DAC is in the process of finalising the South African Language Practitioner Bill aimed at elevating the status of language professions. This it hopes will assist in entrenching and honouring all eleven (11) official languages across the country in the long term. 33

31 Department of Higher Education 2012 - 2013

32 South Africa MDG Report (2010)

33 Department of Arts and Culture Annual Performance Plan 2012

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The department recently held a national dialogue on nation building, in an attempt to create a unified vision for South African citizens. Also, in April of 2011 a National Consultative Summit was held to discuss the role of the arts, culture and heritage in the economy. Relevance of Recommendations: While the DAC has identified strategic priorities to address some of the challenges highlighted, this department does not have sufficient, concrete, replicable projects that have been initiated within communities. The following recommendation is therefore proposed:

• The PC can lobby the DAC to work closely with their provincial counterparts to implement projects at the grassroots, where they can have the most impact. These would include projects that focus on nation building, the arts and cultural performance as a career or means of income, and honouring heritage and history.

Sports and Recreation Issues Identified:

• The Department should assist women to become involved not only in participating in sporting activities, but also in the sports economy;

• Participation in sports should be encouraged in all communities, and facilities should be made available for this;

Government Intervention: A key programme of the Department of Sports (SRSA) is Mass Participation, which aims to increase the number of people involved in sports. This programme is further divided into a school sports project, and a community mass participation project. The community mass participation project has a special emphasis on women, and “…works to sustain the legacy associated with the 2010 FIFA World Cup, by initiating projects focusing on mass mobilisation, capacity- building and the provision of facilities…” 34 The project also seeks to revive recreation programmes in communities. A Mass Participation Grant was created to promote participation in sports within communities and schools, and about R426 million has been allocated to provinces.

34 Department of Sports and Recreation Annual Report 2010/11 (page 17)

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Relevance of Recommendations: There has been a significant focus on developing and improving sporting facilities in communities. It is expected that by 2016 the programme will support 283 community sports councils, hubs, and clubs by providing them with equipment, clothing, and framework blueprints. The department must however, ensure the full implementation of their strategic plans. The SRSA has improved in its focus on women in professional sports, and in promoting sports games played by women and women’s sports teams. The department has however, not articulated any plans for involving women in the “business of sports” in any way, or in encouraging the sports sector as a viable arena for economic participation for women. Thus, previous recommendations are still relevant. RESOURCES AND INTER-GOVERNMENTAL MATTERS Whether it is in rural agricultural communities, mining cities, or fishing towns, women often have restricted access to resources or to using them as a means for economic participation. This may be due to women’s time constraints, or the gender role perceptions in society that restrict women to certain types of work, and specific and “female-appropriate” industries. Also, some concerns may fall through the cracks due to a lack of coordination between the three spheres of government. Cooperative governance and traditional affairs Issues Identified:

• Basic service delivery is not of the same quality for rural communities and informal settlements, as it is in urban areas;

• There are not enough public participation opportunities for communities.

• There is a need to improve relations between communities and leaders within those communities (traditional leadership, ward councillors and other government officials)

Government Intervention: The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) has developed the Municipal Systems Amendment Act (2011), which aims to align the administrative and human resource management systems of municipalities with those in provincial and national governments. The bill makes it compulsory for municipalities to hire appropriately skilled staff, and imposes uniform systems and procedures. It is envisioned that this will improve service delivery as well as performance management across the spheres, and ensure that the same level of delivery is available in rural, peri-urban, informal, and urban areas.

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The department acknowledges that communities must participate in governance issues more actively, and has a Municipal Systems Improvement Grant to be used to (amongst other things) “strengthening the ward participation systems in local government”. 35 The department reported that all capacity building sessions had been completed in all nine provinces on community-based planning for ward committees. On ensuring that wards are functional, only two provinces have adopted the provincial frameworks for the ward funding model (Limpopo and North West). Relevance of Recommendations: The department has introduced programmes that deal with the challenges mentioned by women participating in the VOW workshops. However, the programmes initiated are still in the early implementation phase, therefore the recommendations made in the VOW reports are still relevant. Water and Environmental Affairs In the second Voices of Women Report, recommendations are made for the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. The issue addressed to this department included:

• Cultural groups are unable to make a sustainable living from their craft; After the 2009 elections the environmental affairs and tourism portfolios were separated, and are now two different departments. The issue is addressed under the Arts and Culture portfolio, and recommendations given are adequate, and the same recommendations are applicable to the Department of Tourism. Tourism As a growing industry Tourism contributed 8.7% to the South African economy in 2009, and has been identified as being instrumental in government’s attempts to create sustainable jobs. The department plans to position South Africa as one of the top 20 destinations in the world with the aim of creating in excess of 225 000 jobs, and bringing about 15 million tourists to South Africa by 2020. Through its Integrated Tourism Planning the department will leverage Rural Tourism as well as Township Tourism as areas of growth and development. Within these avenues for economic participation, heritage and culture will be a central feature. This is with the view that tourism development will galvanise infrastructure development to create unique visitor experiences. 36

35 Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Annual Report 2010/11

36 Department of Tourism Strategic Plan and Annual Performance Plan 2010/11 – 2012/13 Review

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Rural development and Land Reform To deal with the considerable needs of rural communities, and to develop sustainable and relevant programmes to address the infrastructure deficits evident in South Africa’s rural areas, it became necessary to create a Ministry specifically tasked with rural development. Poverty in South Africa has both a rural and a female bias, given that extreme poverty affects 57% of female-headed households compared to 49% for males, and has 60% prevalence in rural areas as opposed to 20% in urban areas. 37 Therefore this is an area of great significance in the development of women. Issues Identified:

• Development in rural areas is not at the same level as in more urban settings;

• There is a lack of access to resources and assets for women in rural communities.

Government Intervention: The Department for Rural Development have piloted two programmes on Small Towns’ Revitalisation, one in Prince Albert Hamlet (Witzenburg Municipality) and Dysselsdorp (Greater Oudtshoon Municipality) initiated under its Recapitalisation and Development Programme. On the issue of land reform, the department reported in its 2010/11 Annual Report that 48% of land reform recipients were women, while 51% of successful restitution claims were for women. In addition, the National Rural Youth Service Corps is a training project focused on capacitating youth in rural areas to find work. The department insists that 50% of these young people are women, and that 8 000 young people had already been trained. 38 Relevance of Recommendations: Given the massive lack of development in rural areas, it can be suggested that all recommendations made previously are still relevant. The following addition is made:

• It is suggested that the PC for Rural Development lobby the department to speed up implementation, and explore ways to fast track implementation of infrastructure as well as social programmes to rural areas. The need for additional support for rural communities should be explored, and a comprehensive strategy to adequately deliver to these communities.

37 Presentation: Dr A. Ponga, Gender expert from Regional Service Centre – UNDP “The MDGs and

Gender” 29 June 2011 38 Department of Rural Development and Land Reform Annual Report 2010 - 2011

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Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Issues Identified:

• Economic participation of women in agricultural settings;

• Promotion and support for cooperatives;

• Support for small scale farmers, and subsistence farmers. Government Intervention: As part of its efforts to improve communities’ capacity to produce food through mechanisation, the Department for Agriculture (DAF) plans to distribute tractors to the value of R50 million per province. 39 To improve access to markets, the department has implemented the “Zero Hunger Plan”, which, through government’s procurement processes, purchases food from smallholder producers and sells it at subsidised rates to the needy. With regards to capacity development, 31 474 members of the community (including women) were given training with the following: 40

• Agricultural Sector Education and Training Authority: 8 859

• FoodBev SETA: 3 334

• Forest Industries Education and Training: 3 891

• Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme: 7 127

• Colleges of agriculture: 973

• Universities/universities of technology: 7 250

• Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute: 40 The following policy documents have been completed by the department in relation to the department’s transformation obligations:

• An audit report on departmental processes pertaining to transformation-related programmes was completed;

• A draft document on the establishment of agri-villages in support of vulnerable workers on farms and in forestry and fisheries;

• Policy Framework for Women Empowerment in Agriculture; Forestry and Fisheries

• Gender Policy for the DAFF

• Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Sexual Harassment and Violence

A “Production Loan” exists for land and agrarian reform beneficiaries, women and the youth, self-help groups, cooperatives, farmers on communal land in the transitional stage from subsistence to emerging farmers, and household producers. 39 Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Strategic Plan 2010 - 2011

40 Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Annual Report 2010/11

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Relevance of Recommendations: The department has a few projects that deal with some important issues in the agrarian sector. What seems to be a persistent issue however, is communication with communities, hence the following recommendation:

• The PC should encourage the department to not only expand its most promising projects, but to communicate directly to women about available support. Women cannot make use of these opportunities if they do not know that they exist.

Justice, Security and Constitutional Affairs Gender based violence is an area of crime that has increased in the last few years. Whether this is as a result of an increase in reporting, or increased crime, it is not clear. However, violence against women is one of the most serious and widespread challenges faced by the South African woman today. Whether it is rape, domestic violence, or homicide, women are at the receiving end of much abuse. It is up to the justice system to ensure that women are protected and that when they are violated, that justice is done. Correctional Services Issues Identified:

• The justice system does not adequately punish criminals;

• Rehabilitation programmes are ineffective;

• The issues of the integration of released have not been dealt with adequately. Government Intervention: The Department of Correctional Services acknowledged in its Annual Performance Plan of 2011/ 2012 that it had inadequate partnerships for the delivery of rehabilitation programmes, a strategic area of focus. The White Paper of Corrections (2005) stipulates the Department’s legislative mandates including the obligation to develop its rehabilitation and social reintegration services, and to ensure that it has the capacity to promote public safety by effectively breaking the cycle of crime. As a result, about 28 527 offenders attended the pre-release programme, and there are about 29 corrections programmes in place. Related to the matter of rehabilitation is the issue of social integration in society by those who have been incarcerated. Through its Social Integration Programme, the Department was able to reduce parole violations by 9.5% in the 2009/2010 time period. During the same time period, victim involvement in parole hearings has been implemented, with 530 cases going through this process. In addition, a capacity building programme for parole boards has been initiated, with the aim of reducing inconsistent decisions, and ensuring appropriate decisions.

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To further enhance offenders’ chances of not reoffending, the Department has conducted skills workshops to increase offenders’ employability after release. 41 Relevance of Recommendations: The Department of Correctional Services has initiated programmes that address some of the concerns expressed in the VOW submissions. However, these concerns still persist, and the above mentioned initiatives seem more as pilot projects than programmes intended for national roll out. The following recommendation is added to previous suggestions:

• The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services can lobby the Department for Corrections to implement a monitoring system for all programmes to gauge effectiveness, and where useful, the Department should expand successful programmes.

Justice and Constitutional Affairs Issues Identified:

• There is light sentencing for criminals;

• Communities do not always know their rights, or the right procedure for law to take its course;

• Negative perceptions of the justice system should be dealt with;

• Legal constraints should be discussed with regards to the rights of women (termination of pregnancy and prostitution).

Government Intervention: The Department of Justice and Constitutional Affairs is tasked with administrating the law – that is, ensuring that the courts, and related institutions in the justice sector, operate optimally. For the financial year 2010/ 2011 the Department set aside R75 million for the capacitation of courts in the provinces. While the Department admits a disparity exists between rural and urban access to justice, it commits to prioritising spending on infrastructure in historically disadvantaged areas, with court buildings being completed in Ashton (Western Cape), Hankey (Eastern Cape) and Ekangala (Mpumalanga). It also completed 26 new small claims courts with assistance of Swiss funding. One of the outputs Identified by the Department is managing perceptions of crime in the country. How this is done however is not clear from the Department’s Annual Report 2010/11 or its Annual Performance Plan 2012/2013.

41 Department of Correctional Services Annual Report 2010/11

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The Department has had a strong focus on the improving efficiency in the administration of justice, and the following table shows its performance in this regard for the last few years. 42 Figure 2: Comparison of performance regarding criminal cases over the past five years

ADRM: Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism

The Public Education and Communication Unit located within the Department developed a communication strategy that was implemented at the beginning of the 2011/2012 period. Events hosted with the aim of educating the public about service delivery in the area of justice included the following: Launch of the Child Justice Act in Soweto; opening of a Thuthuzela Care Centre in Bellville; and the launch of small claims courts in Orange Farm, Riversdale and Sutherland. In a bid to ensure quality service delivery, the Minister, Deputy Minister and the Director General for the Department conducted a few unannounced visits to Masters’ Courts across the country. To deal directly with issues affecting women, the Department’s Chief Directorate for the Promotion of the Rights of Vulnerable Groups developed a National Policy framework for restorative justice, which included a communication strategy. They also developed a Service Delivery Improvement Plan for the enforcement of the Maintenance Act (Act No 99, 1998), and appointed 27 additional maintenance investigators. Between the 2009/10 and 2010/11 time period, the Department recorded a 6% increase in enquiries, indicating the public’s increased knowledge and understanding of their rights; as well as a 33% increase in payment attachment orders, signifying an increase in compliance with maintenance court orders.

42 Department of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Annual Report 2010/11

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Several imbizos were hosted on the issue of domestic violence, reaching about 3 500 people. A Domestic Violence Integrated Case Management Tool was also developed and piloted in two magistrates’ offices (giving few challenges), and will now be rolled out nationally. The financial year 2010/2011 saw an increase in new protection order applications, and cases withdrawn, while there was a decrease in the number of protection orders granted, and those that are finalised. An Interdepartmental Domestic Violence Task Team has consistently met to develop a strategy to improve service delivery on domestic violence at the level of the courts. 43 Relevance of Recommendations: Overall, the Department for Justice and Constitutional Affairs has made great efforts in addressing concerns raised, with some instances of success. Areas of improvement include:

• The PC on Justice and Constitutional Affairs could suggest to the Department that it intensifies its efforts at public education, and that it strengthen its engagement with communities to ensure that service delivery meets the expectations of the public.

• The Department could also be lobbied to monitor not only the outputs and outcomes of its programmes, but to closely observe their impact on the delivery of justice services to those that need and depend on it.

3. MONITORING GOVERNMENT PROGRESS A critical part of ensuring that planned programmes are implemented is putting in place effective monitoring and evaluation strategies. While evaluations are important in determining whether certain objectives were achieved, monitoring is an on-going process that allows for appropriate adjustments to be made in attaining set goals. Both these processes can be used for comprehensive and relevant planning. Established in 2010, the National Planning Commission (NPC)44 and the Department of Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation (PME)45 in the Presidency, are together tasked with benchmarking expectations and standards for improved policy and programme outcomes in Government. Their establishment is aimed at improving Government performance through developing long-term strategic plans for development (NPC), and championing a result-orientated approach across national, provincial and local government (PME). The Departments in the Presidency are meant to provide broad planning and monitoring over the Executive arm of Government.

43 Department of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Annual Performance Plan 2012/2013

44 National Planning Commission 2012

45 The Presidency 2012

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To adequately deal with challenges faced by women, the National Policy Framework for Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality was adopted in 2000. This National Gender Policy Framework sets out the country’s vision for gender equality and details the means by which this vision is to be achieved. The policy framework also proposes a process that no longer regards gender issues and gender equality as being peripheral, but which places gender issues at the very centre of the transformation process in all structures, institutions, procedures, practices and programmes of Government, its agencies and parastatals, civil society and the private sector. Several structures and mechanisms have been put in place following the 2009 National Elections, to track progress on the development of women, as listed below.

3.1. Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities

The Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities was established in 2009 to promote and protect the rights and human dignity of women, children and persons with disabilities. The Department’s role is to mainstream gender, and the rights of children and persons with disabilities. In addition, the Department monitors and coordinates our country’s international obligations and ensures compliance with commitments made. As already mentioned, being a new institution the Department has focused on building institutional capacity since inception, and has yet to adequately monitor programmes undertaken by Government. 46

3.2. Commission for Gender Equality

The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) is established through Section 181 of the Constitution (1996) as an independent entity for strengthening democracy. It is required to report to the National Assembly at least once a year. Section 187 of the Constitution stipulates that the Commission should promote respect for gender equality, and protect and develop its attainment, as well as monitor, educate, lobby, advise and report on issues related to gender equality. The CGE’s powers are assigned to it by the Commission for Gender Equality Act (1996), and include the following:

• In the interest of promoting gender equality, to monitor and evaluate policies and practices of organs of state, statutory bodies, public bodies, private businesses and institutions;

• To cultivate an understanding of gender equality and the role and activities of the Commission through developing, conducting and managing information and education programmes;

• To evaluate whether Acts of Parliament (existing or proposed), systems of personal and family law or custom, systems of indigenous law, custom or practices or any other law, will affect the status of women, and to make recommendations to Parliament in this regard;

46 Department of Women, Children and People with disabilities 2011

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• To recommend to the National and Provincial Legislatures, any new legislation that would promote gender equality;

• To investigate on its own initiative or due to a complaint, any gender-related issue;

• To maintain close relations with institutions that undertake similar work, and to facilitate cooperation in handling complaints;

• To interact with civil society to further the work of the Commission; • To monitor compliance to international conventions, covenants and charters

related to gender issues, and to submit reports to Parliament in this regard; • To conduct research on gender-related issues; • To consider recommendations, suggestions and requests made with regards

to gender equality as received from any source.

3.3. Gender Desks (or Focal Points) These focal points are based in Government Departments. The main task is to ensure the effective implementation of the National Gender Policy at an operational level. This in effect means that Focal Points are responsible for the formulation and implementation of effective action plans to promote women’s empowerment and gender equality in all policies, programmes and projects of Government Departments.

3.4. Portfolio and Select Committees on Women, Children and People with Disabilities

Following the national elections in May 2009, a new Ministry for Women, Youth, Children and Persons with Disabilities was created. This also resulted in the establishment of two new parliamentary committees, namely the Portfolio and Select Committees on Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities. The mandate of these two Committees broadly is to monitor and evaluate progress with regard to the improvement in the quality of life and status of women in South Africa, and achieving improved quality of life and status of women and gender equality across the social and racial spectrum in South Africa. These Committees do this by conducting oversight over the Executive, and by passing appropriate legislation. Moreover, the Committees form the backbone of the system of accountability for gender outcomes.

3.5. Multi-Party Women’s Caucus The Multi-party Women’s Caucus (MPWC) was launched on 18 March 2008, with the objective of creating a platform for highlighting women’s perspectives within the context of Parliament’s activities; influencing and focusing discussion on issues affecting women; acting as an advisory and consultative body representing the interests and concerns of women Members of Parliament, and engaging in empowerment issues with women in political structures outside Parliament and internationally.

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The MPWC acts as an advisory, influencing and consultative body through its representation of the interests and concerns of women MPs.

3.6. Civil Society

An important factor impacting on the promotion of gendered issues is the inclusion of civil society in political and legislative processes. A strong interrelationship between civil organisations working on women’s/ gender issues and policy makers is a viable conduit to securing that women’s issues are placed on the agenda. In emerging and new democracies there is, however, less contact and cooperation between policy makers and civil society, resulting in missed opportunities for women’s issues to be promoted. It is therefore important that civil society, and in particular women’s organisations, are supported and become support and lobby structures for women issues. As such, the role of civil society organisation in the National Gender Machinery cannot be over-emphasised. 4. CONCLUSION

The institutions that exist within the Executive and the Legislature give credence to the political commitment to improve women’s lives. In particular, Parliament remains the primary actor in overseeing Executive implementation, and holding accountable Departments, agencies and individuals tasked with advancing the empowerment of women. To effectively lobby, monitor and advocate for the rights and development of women, structures that are created to facilitate women’s empowerment must effectively coordinate their efforts. A lack of synergy and uniform planning and programming could render this “gender infrastructure” ineffective, especially in light of the resource concerns of most of these organisations. Real authority to affect change is also necessary to ensure that a women’s agenda is prioritised. It is important that there is an enabling environment to enhance women’s access to and participation in decision-making processes, and in so doing provide the platform for them to influence the gender-sensitive agenda. Members of Parliament have a particularly important role to play in applying a women’s human rights framework and advancing the gendered agenda through their legislative and oversight obligations. This means applying a gendered perspective to the monitoring, evaluation and analysis of all parliamentary business, as well as when engaging with Government departments and civil society. Parliament must also consider the impact of all legislation, policies, programmes and resource allocations on the lives of women and gauge whether a positive change in their lives will be effected through this Government intervention.

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