PC Women, Children and People with Disabilities: Oversight Reports

Meeting report

Introduction
The Chairperson welcomed Members the Committee and acknowledged apologies from three Members who were absent, due to other important commitments.   The purpose of the meeting was the consideration and adoption of oversight reports and a previous minute.

Draft Report on oversight visit at Mitchell’s Plain Magistrate Court
The report was considered and adopted without any amendment. The Members of the Committee acknowledged that the draft report was a true of reflection of what they had overseen.

Draft Report on oversight visit held in Limpopo Province
The report was considered and adopted without any amendment.

Draft Report on engaging with children in constituencies
The report was considered and moved for adoption. It was adopted with minor amendments.

General discussion on engaging with women, children and people with disabilities
Ms E More (DA) said that the report on engaging with children in constituencies detailed what was happening to children. She expressed her concern that the issues raised in the report were not being addressed, and just remained in the reports.  Oversight reports pointed out burning issues. She wanted to know if the Committee would set a timeframe for a follow-up, so that the Committee could make a difference in at least one province, prior to the 16 days of activism.  Worryingly, the Committee was not planning to make a follow-up visit.

The Chairperson said that the Committee was looking forward to leaving a legacy. She asked Members what the Committee should do before, or after, submitting an oversight visit report.  When the Committee started engaging with children, it felt that it could identify some children from various constituencies who could be brought to Parliament as “Parliament children”. This would be funded by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). She not sure if that would be part of the legacy report.

Ms H Lamoela (DA) said that what was recommended by the Committee should be included in the legacy report. It could be amended. The Departments of Justice and Police should be included in the legacy report, because these departments dealt with violence and visible policing. The Department of Basic Education should be also included, because learners in the rural areas were extremely important. The Department of Social Development should be incorporated as well, taking into account some of its mandatory obligations, such as organising extramural activities and the monitoring of social grants.  Parents should be brought in the picture.  They had to control their children -- children should not dominate their parents.  In rural areas, there was very limited access to extramural activities, regardless of their importance in the lives of children.

The Chairperson drew the Committee’s attention to the police’s lack of skills in dealing with violence involving women and children. This was a major problem.  The police did not understand what they should be doing. There was a need to train police personnel.  However, she acknowledged that parents had a big role to play in raising and educating their children.

Ms Lamoela remarked that there was a need for rehabilitation centres in all the provinces. There were parents who wanted to send their children to rehabilitation centres.   However, this was very costly. The Department of Social Development and the Department of Justice should work hand in hand with the Department of Women, in order to address this issue effectively. The Portfolio Committee should set a target for resolving this issue, for instance, in the next five years.

Ms G Tseke (ANC) said the Committee had not had enough time to engage meaningfully with children in constituencies. She asked the Committee to make a follow-up, and to find a time to engage with them, as well as with all other concerned stakeholders. The departments concerned should share with the Portfolio Committee what they were doing to promote the wellbeing of children. She expressed her concern with regard to recreation centres or parks that had become areas in which crimes were committed. For instance, they were referred to as “Lovers’ Parks.” This was a serious problem that needed urgent attention.  It was the responsibility of every member of the community to breed well-mannered children, and should not be solely the responsibility of the government.

Ms Lamoela supported the view of Ms Tseke on the need to stop recreation centres and parks turning into “lovers’ parks.” It was important to involve parents on this issue.  Security guards should be recruited to guard against those who misused recreation centres or parks, with a well planned programme that could be coordinated or supervised.   There were more qualified people in the community who know how to deal with children, especially counselling, educating, and guiding them to take life seriously and to be valued members of community.

Ms S Paulse (ID) remarked that the Committee needed to hold school oversight visits, so as to have a clear report on various aspects including behaviour, safety and security, and access to other essential needs.

Ms C Mosimane (COPE) said that some children were exposed or introduced to drugs at a tender age. She knew of a child who had been sentenced to a prison term for using drugs, and when he came back home after completing his sentence, he had continued to use drugs. There was a need to follow up with these particular cases of drug abuse, and to commit them to rehabilitation centres.

Ms More said it was a pity that children with disabilities were stuck with their parents at home and were unable to attend schools. There should be special schools for them to access education.  In rural areas, it was difficult for them to go to school. The business community and donors should be called upon to intervene in this regard, and donate money that would assist the communities to build schools for children with disabilities.

Ms Lamoela said it was strange to apply “a means test”, which was usually used for indigent, but able, people. The normal means test should not apply to people with disabilities. The government needed to understand the complexities of disabilities and measure people with disabilities differently. Their essential and special needs should be integral aspects of testing their means -- but not financial means, or poverty. It was self-evident that one department could not meet their needs.  Departments should work together. Business people and community members should also be involved. Sponsors and donors were needed to provide financial support that would satisfy the needs of disabled children. The Committee needed to draft a clear guideline for the next term on how it should go about dealing with the issues being raised.

The Chairperson said that the transportation of disabled learners was appalling. Taxis would not stop if the drivers saw that it was children with disabilities who needed to be transported to their schools, because they think it would take time for them to board the vehicle. The transportation of children with disabilities should be emphasised in the report.

MS Lamoela suggested that the transportation of disabled children should be subsidised.

Adoption of Minutes
The minutes the meeting held on 5 March were adopted, with a minor amendment.

Closing remarks
Ms Lamoela announced that she would be retiring. She thanked the Members of the Committee for their cooperation, their commitment to serving people and their friendship.  She wished the Committee well in its effort to promote the rights of women, children and people with disabilities.

The Chairperson thanked the Members for making her work easy and, in particular, thanked Ms Lamoela for her huge contribution to the work of the Committee. She wished her success in her new endeavours.

The meeting was adjourned.