1 commission on gender equality presentation to portfolio committee 12 may 2010

1

Commission on Gender EqualityPresentation to Portfolio

Committee

12 May 2010

2

Introduction

Annual Report 2007/08

Annual Report 2008/09

Turn Around Strategy

POA & Budget 2010/2011

Overview

3

The Commission on Gender Equality was created in terms of Section 187 of the Constitution of SA, to strengthen and deepen constitutional democracy in South Africa.

The Commission on Gender Equality Act 39 of 1996 charges the CGE with a mandate to promote respect for, as well as promote the protection, development and attainment of gender equality.

Vision A society free from all forms of gender oppression and inequality

Mission Promotion, Protection, Monitoring and Evaluation of gender equality in South Africa

Introduction

4

Annual Reports

Programmes

2007/2008 & 2008/2009

Finance and Administration

Legal Services

Research

Public Education & Information

Annual Reports

5

Legal Department

The Strategic thrust- protection mandate/ assisting vulnerable people around gender rights violations/ more accessible than judicial systems and free/

The Department started this financial year with 136 files pending from the previous financial year.

The department opened 500 Complaints which make the total complaints handled 630

The department managed to close 429 files during this financial year and have 207 files brought forward to the following financial year (2008/09)

Gauteng and Limpopo opened the highest number of files 116 and 106 respectively

Northern Cape received only 10 complaints which is the lowest in terms of the 9 provinces

During this period the highest number of complaints that were received were maintenance and domestic violence 143 and 73 respectively

Programmes 2007/2008:

6

Programmes 2007/2008

281 Walk-in Complaints

Court cases monitored- 44 cases

Litigation- The CGE managed to litigate on 4 cases during the financial year, Mpanza, Pensionable Age, Shilbane and Sylvester vs Crossroad

55 Equality Court were monitored

Parliamentary office/ Gender mainstreaming of policy and legislation/ gender advocacy

10 submission were made to the Parliament 3 Presentations were made to the parliament 2 pieces of legislation were evaluated

,

7


Research Department Planned Achieved Not Achieved

Number of Research reports published

Widowhood studyRepresentation in private sectorGender mainstreaming in the curriculum

4 3 1

•Conduct gender mainstreaming research to inform parliamentary submissions and recommend policy changes

•Tabling and submitting research to parliament and request committee to share •our finding and recommendation

8


Widowhood Study

Aim of the study: Unravel the discriminatory practices of widows and widowers in the context of households, community, state and market.

Scope: Urban and peri-urban and rural areas in each of the nine SA provinces

Target audience: . NGO’s; FBO’s; Churches; commercial banks; Dept of Social Development; SASSA; Dept of Justice and Constitutional Development; Health;

Findings: Limited knowledge about human rights; widows’ rights; the right to dignity and freedom from exploitation and degradation; right to equality and freedom from expression and movement; which servicing departments to approach.

Recommendations: Educate the public about: widows rights to equality and freedom from discrimination; inheritance rights, property rights; right to culture; removal of societal stereotypes on widowhood; knowledge of and access to govt institutions providing services; focus on widowhood should target also the youth, due to early deaths as a result of HIV/AIDS.

9


Private Sector Study Aim of the study: Review progress on the development and implementation of gender

mainstreaming in the private sector Sample size and scope: 55 companies, ( ultimately 33 responded) spread over the

landscape of the 9 provincial offices. (see p. 15 of the report) Variety of industries targeted : agriculture; aviation, construction; Finance and Business; manufacturing; hospitality,

mining etc (p. 16) Research findings: • Women are still marginalised in the private sector• Challenges in the formulation and implementation of gender policies. None of the companies

had institutional gender policies• No specific programmes targeting women (27 of 33= 82% of companies) • 67% of companies had sexual harassment policies• Unavailability of data/records of reported cases; • Ignorance around international and national legislation governing gender equality in SA. • Recommendations: CGE to work closely with the EE COMMISSION; and popularize findings.

10


Gender Mainstreaming in the Education Sector

Aim of the study: To evaluate the extent to which gender equality is mainstreamed in the national curriculum especially with regard to combating social violence in schools.

Target audience: School governance and management; curriculum division; Gender Equity Directorate; Teacher Education

Findings of the study:No national policy of gender: provinces having their own policies. No integration of work within the directorates e.g Gender directorate has its own

programmes, e.g. Teenage pregnancy; Girls and Boys Movements. No programmes addressing violence in schools. Incidents of escalation of teenage pregnancy in schoolsProvincial Information disjointed. Recommendations: Information is disjointed, hence DoE to conduct its own audit;

Teacher Education to promote gender equity in PRESET and INSET programmes.

11


Public Education & Information

To promote awareness on gender rights to assist people to access their rights and to gain understanding of challenges of citizens

Bring about change to attitudes and behaviour with regard to regard equality

12


Public Education and Information

This department achieves the Commission’s strategic objectives through a series of interventions such as workshops, seminars, dialogues, seminars and information sessions.

These interventions are conducted through raising public awareness on gender equality through the six thematic areas as per the strategic plan 2008-2013, viz Gender and Poverty; Gender-based violence; Gender, Democracy and Good Governance; Gender, Culture, Religion and Traditional Practices; Gender and HIV and AIDS and the National Gender Machinery

A total of 528 interventions were conducted in 2007/2008. Apart from other interventions particular focus was given to Women’s month and the 16 days of Activism. In August 2007, a collaborative march was held with the office of the premier in KZN and Ethekwini

municipality in response to the Umlazi T- Section incident in which women were caned for wearing pants. The march was organised after a women was burnt to death.

The theme for the march was “KZN Cares and Protects Women’s Rights The highlight for this period was the National conference on Gender-based violence- “Assessing Progress

and Challenges. This conference was held in March 2008. Print and electronic media were used to raise the awareness on gender issues and gender equality In 2007/2008 a total of 60 radio interviews were conducted and 29 press statements were sent to print

media

13

Representation of the total number of Interventions-2007/2008

Activity Projected as per POA based on 9 provinces

Actual conducted Percentage conducted

Workshops 40x 9= 360 354 98.3 %

Campaigns 4x 9 = 36 46 127.8 %

Dialogues 4x 9= 36 58 161.1%

Exhibitions 4x9 =36 32 88,9%

Information sessions 38 Information sessions did not form part of planned activities. They were held in response to requests and/or as determined by environmental demands.

Total PEI interventions = 528

14

Representation of Interventions per Province – 2007/2008

Province No of Campaigns No. of Dialogues

No of W/shops No ofExhibitions

No of Info sessions

Western Cape 8 6 36 5 8

North West 5 6 35 3 4

Limpopo 4 5 40 5 2

Eastern Cape 6 6 41 4 5

North Cape 2 7 33 1 3

Free State 4 6 40 4 10

KZN 6 9 44 4 0

Gauteng 5 7 50 3 0

Mpumalanga 5 4 35 3 5

Total 46 58 354 32 38

15


16

Legal Services

The CGE opened 424 files Closed 403 At the end of the financial year the dept had 228 pending files The CGE started this financial year with 207 carried forward from the previous year Free state received 85 which is the highest number of files received in the province Limpopo and eastern cape received 73 complaints each Mpumalanga received 10 complaints which is the lowest 81 maintenance 48 gender discrimination Walk- in Complaints 538 Court cases monitoring 6 cases The CGE litigated on 4 cases

Parliamentary office

12 Submission were made to the Parliament

Programmes 2008/2009: LEGAL

17

Programmes 2008/2009:RESEARCH

Research Department Planned Achieved Not Achieved

Number of Research reports published 7 5 2

Number of Government departments Monitored

National 6 4 2

Provincial 54 31 23

Municipalities 18 12 6

Number of private companies monitored 55 33 22

18

Programmes 2008/2009:RESEARCH

Monitoring Mainstreaming of Gender in HIV/AIDS

Aim of the study: To establish the extent to which the South African state has put in place strategies, policies and programmes for elderly people, to be household-heads and carers of orphaned and vulnerable children infected by HIV/AIDS.

Scope and Target audience: The elderly in Mpumalanga; Free State and Western Cape. Govt depts of Health, Social Development ; SSASA; Local Government; the elderly and HIV/AIDS NGO’s in these provinces.

Research findings: The burden of care is still carried by women and girl- children. Limited support in terms of

space for sharing problems and strategies on how to help the affected and infected. Little evidence of gendered needs of women and men Absence of gender disaggregated data of the infected (govt and NGO’s) Government offers insufficient support to individuals and organisations (training, resources,

knowledge about the epidemic and the level of risk of being infected) The elderly’s strife to access disability grants in raising the affected childrenRecommendations: Civil society to lobby for govt to recognisze the elderly and give them

requisite support (grants); more public education about the disease; CGE to pursue its monitoring role

19

Programmes 2008/2009: RESEARCH

Monitoring and Evaluation responses to reduce Gender-Based Violence

Name of the project: Victims Charter Aim of the study: To assess the whether police stations and the courts

possess the necessary legal and administrative structures conducive to the realization of the rights of victims as specified in the Victims Charter.

Target audience: Courts and police stations in provinces (excluding the National –limitation of the study)

Achievements: Production of a report on the Implementation of the Victims Charter in the Departments of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ&CO) and the South African Police Services (SAPS)

Popularization of findings: Study sent out to the courts and police stations that participated in the study.

20

Programmes 2008/2009: RESEARCH

Gender BarometerAim of the study: Development of a monitoring and evaluation system, known as the “gender

barometer” to assess government’s (and private sector) response to gender mainstreaming, and gender budgeting.

Target audience: Currently government departments (national, provincial and local govt.). Administered to the Head of Department; the Office of the Political Head; the Gender Focal person; Finance Head and Human Resources manager

Development of indicators measuring: Creating and enabling environment: awareness of compliance obligations; organizational

culture and values; policy and decision-making processes; human and financial resources; Gender Transformation Enabling Mechanisms: policy analysis tools; capacity building;

Management Information Systems; Performance Appraisals;Integrating gender impact considerations in programs and projects: EE HR practices;

Skills Development; Procurement and Interdepartmental relations. Supporting Gender transformation through Business systems: institutional mechanisms;

M&E systems; policy review; reporting.

21

Programme 2008/2009: RESEARCH

Gendered Analysis of Land Reform Policy Implementation outcomes in South Africa Land Study

Aim of the study: To assess the extent to which land reform policy and implementation program has incorporated gender interest both at policy level and in implementation practice between the period 2006 – 2008/2009.

Departments: Land and Rural Development ; Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The study is complete and it is currently in the process of editing; formatting; printing and

to be disseminated to stakeholders in July 2010.

22

Programmes 2008/2009:PEI

Public Education and Information

During women’s month specific activities were held. Focus was on “ Women and legislative processes(50/50) in the light of the 2009 general elections

Partnerships were forged with national and community radio stations to increase awareness on gender equality.

Particular focus /emphasis was placed on human trafficking in the light of the upcoming 2010 Fifa world cup. All provinces conducted interventions on human trafficking.

A seminar called the ‘Women’s court’ where the Widowhood report was launched and the recommendations and findings were interrogated. This activity was conducted in collaboration with the OSW.

In 2008/2009 a total of 217 interviews were conducted; 23 press statements were sent to print media; 5 advertorials were published and 3 opinion pieces were sent to the media.

23

Representation of Interventions for 1 April 2008– 31 March 2009:PEI

Interventions Planned

Achieved Not Achieved

Percentage achieved

Percentage variance (actual against target)

Eastern Cape 27 27 0 100% 0%

Free State 27 20 7 74,1% 26,9%

Gauteng 27 10 17 37% 63%

KZN 27 24 4 82% 18%

Limpopo 27 2 25 7% 93%

Mpumalanga 27 20 7 74,1% 26,9%

Northern Cape 27 21 6 77.8% 23,2%

North West 27 13 14 48% 52%

Western Cape 27 11 15 41% 59

Total number of interventions 243 146 97 60,1 % 39.9%

24

CGE’s Turn Around Strategy

The purpose is to provide the Portfolio Committee with the following:

1) An insight into the challenges prevailing in the CGE

2) The Course of action we would be pursuing to deal with these challenges

3) To solicit inputs aimed at refining the aforementioned course of action

4) The Financial Turn Around Strategy will strengthen & support the CGE’s performance

25


Over the past few years, the AG has provided audit opinions on CGE’s conducting of financial affairs. These opinions have been predominantly negative as a result ofshortcomings in the following areas: – Control environment– Control activities– Risk management– Information and communication– Monitoring

26

Control environment– Organisational structure– Management and staff authority and responsibility– HR policies– Integrity and ethical values not developed or understood– Accounting officer not exercising oversight responsibility– Lack of competent staff

Control Activities– Inadequate segregation of duties to prevent fraud and misappropriation– Poor controls which compromise the integrity of the information systems– Poor authorisation procedures– Failure to achieve financial reporting objectives– Control activities not selected to mitigate risks– Policies and procedures related to financial reporting not well established


27


Information and Communication– Unavailability of information to implement internal controls– Pertinent information not identified and captured in an appropriate manner

and within requisite time frames– Communications not enabling the support and execution of internal

controls

Monitoring– Ongoing monitoring and supervision not undertaken– No reviews by internal audit or audit committee– Internal control deficiency not identified and communicated– Corrective actions not taken

28


Scope of Project Clean CGE Audit

Project clean audit endeavours to move the organisation from having received a disclaimer to having an unqualified audit in future by addressing:

– Control activities– Risk management– Information and communication– Monitoring

The three key activities which are being pursued cover the following 3 focus areas:

1. Finance2. Human Resource3. Governance and Business Process Improvement

29


Finance

Leases Fixed asset count Liabilities - Payroll Liabilities - sundry trade and staff creditors Current asset Petty cash Cash and bank Income expenditure Audit office and reporting Internal controls

30


Human Resource Employee personal records Payroll and related records Performance Management system Recruitment for critical positions Job evaluation and Organisational structure

Governance and business process Improvements Supply chain management Budget control Compliance to treasury regulations Month end policies Document management Capacity building within the Finance department

31


Anticipated Outcomes

The following are anticipated outcomes:1) Movement from disclaimer to qualified audit in year

one;2) Movement from qualified audit to unqualified audit in

year two;3) Sustaining of unqualified audit opinion in year three;4) Improved Organisational Performance.

32

POA 2010/11

Overview

Section 181 and 187 of the Constitution and the CGE Act is the guide toward the CGE to become the nexus of gender equality work in the country.

The CGE receives public funds which are used in line with the prescripts of the PFMA, efficiently, effectively and economically. Maximising the use of resources in a creative and innovative way to ensure quality, and will assist toward the conversion of a catalyst organisation… an enabler that facilitates the promotion, monitoring and protection of gender equality through networks, collaboration and partners.

The POA is mindful of CGE’s particular monitoring and oversight role and powers in designing programme interventions and responding to emerging issues;

33

POA 2010/11 Networks, partnerships and collaborative work shall be the KEY strategic

driver for 2010/2011. Promotion work will exclusively be done via other structures and strategic briefings. Wide solid networks with CSOs and CBOs and state networks will be initiated and sustained.

The CGE’s advocacy role will focus on surfacing the relevant issues requiring State responses, table these to decision makers and other relevant actors, monitor and report, and take further action as needed.

Research and monitoring will build and rely on strong relationships that need to be developed with HEIs and research agencies such as CASE and the HSRC.

Research and monitoring must develop and observatory of gender research that is being done on the country, the region and internationally. The Protection work of the CGE must be strengthened and systems, procedures and criteria need to be developed to do our legal work more efficiently.

34

POA 2010/11

Highlights of Projects per Thematic Area:Highlights of Projects per Thematic Area: Gender Equality & Poverty- Commissioner Abrahams

Gender Based Violence- Commissioner Shozi

Gender, Democracy and Good Governance- Commissioner Hicks

Gender, Culture, Tradition and Religion- Commissioner Shabodien

Gender HIV and AIDS- Commissioner Loyilane

Strengthening Constitutional Democracy and Gender Machinery-Commissioner Khutsoane

35

Conclusion

In order to ensure the deliverables, the CGE will require support from the following:

Commissioners Staff Portfolio Committee Auditor General Office Service Providers SCOPA

Thank you.

1 commission on gender equality presentation to portfolio committee 12 may 2010

Documents