Department of Women in the Presidency 4th Quarter Performance 2013 & 1st Quarter Performance 2014

Meeting report

The Chairperson welcomed everyone to the meeting and immediately gave the floor to the officials from the Department of Women in the Presidency for the presentation.

Briefing on the Fourth Quarter Performance Report 2013/14

Ms Veliswa Baduza, Director General at the Department of Women in the Presidency, presented on the progress made for the period 1 January to 31 March 2014, including challenges confronting the Department in its pursuit of the 2013/14 financial targets as outlined in the Department’s Annual Performance Plan (APP).  The Department planned a total of 34 targets for the fourth quarter and achieved 29 targets (85%).  The total budget for the year 2013/14 was R198 312 million, including funds for the Commission on Gender Equality (CGE).  The actual expenditure amounted to R187 904 million (95% of the budget) representing a variance of R10 408 million.

Ms Baduza presented the performance for the various programmes. 

Programme 1: Administration

The purpose the programme was to provide strategic management and administrative support to the Department. Out of 12 targets planned for the fourth quarter, Programme 1 achieved 11 targets.  Programme 1 had a total planned budget projection of R89 970 million and the actual expenditure amounted to R83.6 million (93%).

Some of the achieved performance indicators were the reduction of the vacancy rate by 7%, the coordination of the annual stakeholder forum, the implementation of the Communication Plan, and the implementation of the Quarterly Risk Assessment Report to improve the risk management maturity level.  The planned target of conducting a staff satisfaction rate through survey with achieving a 60% satisfaction rate had not been achieved.  The survey was conducted, but the feedback from staff showed dissatisfaction related to the working environment and the enabling tools.  Management decided that the survey would not be conducted again until recommendations from staff on improvements had been received and implemented. 

Programme 2: Women Empowerment and Gender equality (WEGE)

The purpose of the WEGE programme was to facilitate and report comprehensively on the translation of national and international commitments on empowerment and socio-economic development programmes towards the realisation of women’s rights and the progressive realisation of equality.  Out of seven targets planned for the fourth quarter, Programme 2 achieved all seven targets.  Programme 2 had a total planned budget projection of R85 026 million and the actual expenditure amounted to R84 471 million (99% of the budget).  Some of the achieved performance indicators included the successful coordination of a number of programmes on the WEGE Policy.  The Department coordinated the participation and representation of rural women at the Japan-Africa Business Women Exchange Program Seminar and contributed to the conceptualisation of the exchange programme.  The National Gender Machinery (NGM) was convened as part of the Women’s National Consultative Forum attended by members of the NGM.  A number of initiatives for young women in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields were coordinated.

Programme 3: Children’s Rights and Responsibilities (CRR)

The purpose of the CRR programme was to promote, advocate and monitor the realisation of children’s rights trough government policies and programmes.  Out of 10 targets planned for the fourth quarter, Programme 3 achieved nine targets.  Programme 3 had a total planned budget projection of R9 541 million and the actual expenditure amounted to R8 762 million (92% of the budget).  Some of the achieved performance indicators included the awareness raising campaign on the prevention on violence against children which was held on 25 March 2014 in Diepsloot in partnership with the South African Police Service (SAPS).  The National Children’s Right Machinery was hosted during 27-28 March 2014 at Emperors Palace and a report on the implementation of the Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy was produced.  One of the issues discussed at the National Children’s rights Machinery was the vulnerability of children entering South African borders.  The target to launch the Child Friendly Cities/Communities Model was not achieved due to the intensive consultation and drafting of the Child Friendly Communities Framework.  The launch had been deferred to the first quarter of the 2014/15 financial year.

Programme 4: Rights of People with Disabilities

The purpose of the programme was to facilitate and report comprehensively on the translation of national and international obligations into empowerment and socio-economic development programmes towards the realisation of the rights of people with disabilities and the equalisation of opportunities.  Out of five targets planned for the fourth quarter, Programme 4 achieved two targets.  Programme 4 had a total planned budget projection of R13 775 million and the actual expenditure amounted to R11 070 (80% of the budget).  Two engagement meeting were held with the UNISA Inclusive Education Department on the development of training material for the Pontsho Disability Care Centre in Kgureng for children with intellectual disabilities, caregivers and parents.  Training was rolled out 12 and 13 March 2014.  The target set to have a report on the status of people with disabilities was not achieved due to the slow response to submissions from selected government departments and public entities. The target to support a number of transversal projects that mainstreamed disability was not achieved due to the unavailability of Special Schools during October and November due to year end school exams.  The Department developed a report on the Adequate Standard of Living for Persons with Disabilities and a report on the Status of Learners with Disabilities enrolled in Special Schools.  These reports would be published in the third quarter after it had gone through the proper channels.

Discussion

Mr M Dirks (ANC) said during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) it was made clear that the South African society should be radically transformed, both economically and politically. There was nothing ‘radical’ in the presentation and perhaps it was time departments realised what needed to be done.  He asked how all the workshops the Department conducted contributed to the radical transformation of society. He referred to children coming in across the South African border and the fact that the targets that addressed children living in South African communities had not been achieved.  The Department was failing the most vulnerable section of the population and he asked how the programme addressed children living on the streets.  The Department should cut across all government departments and address the issues that affected women.  As an example he referred to the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform and said it should be ensured that land would not only be restored to males, but that women should also benefit.

Ms Baduza said the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform had just issued a draft policy and the Department had given input on the policy.  In terms of the farm workers, the Department submitted that the policy was gender neutral and should specifically refer to female farm workers, as well as the wives of farm workers.  It also excluded females that did not necessary work on the farm lands, but in a more domestic setting and that had been addressed.

Ms L van der Merwe (IFP) said she had advocated before that the delegations that travelled to overseas conferences were smaller, because the Department never had much money from the onset.  R2.4 million of the WEGE budget was spent on an eight member delegation that travelled to a New York conference and she asked what each of these members did.  She asked if there were any unresolved matters from the turnaround strategy.  At the 2012 or 2013 SONA, President Zuma pronounced the National Council on GBV to be the main body that would address GBV.  In the past month, 75 000 women had been raped and she asked if the Department had any successes and what the future of the Department was in the transition process with the Department of Social Development.  She asked what the actual numbers of vacancies were and what issues were flagged by staff in the staff satisfaction survey.  She asked if there was a copy available of the survey administered to the public on their perceptions of the Department.  The Department listed the meetings and workshops as successes and she asked if there were any reports available to substantiate that.  She asked why Japan was selected for the exchange programme and what the Department’s financial contribution was.

Ms Modjadji Seabi, Deputy Director-General: WEGE at the Department of Women in the Presidency, said the Japan-Africa Business Women Exchange Program was an initiative that was attended by one woman that ran a chicken business in rural Eastern Cape and assisted by a chief director in the Department.  It was a seminar where the collaboration between South Africa and Japan was conceptualised.  It would be implemented in 2015 and would provide skills to women in business.  The seminar was an initiation meeting and the collaboration would be signed off.  Women already involved in business across the country that would participate in the program, would be identified by the Department in an equitable manner.

Ms Thandeka Mxenge, a Deputy Director-General at the Department of Women in the Presidency, said the turnaround strategy had specific objectives which were to improve the Department’s ability to achieve its targets and to receive a clean audit.  A number of projects were identified in the first phase which focused primarily on spending within the Department’s budget. Overspending was mostly because of compensation of employees and most of the overspending occurred within Programme 1. The strengthening of governance within the programme, assisted in striking a balance between the money available to the Department and the compensation of employees.

The Chairperson asked if spending most of the budget on compensation of employees was adhering to government policy, because this issue had been addressed by the Auditor-General.

Ms Mxenge said the Department managed to achieve the bigger picture objective of increasing the achieved targets and working towards a clean audit.  The audit findings were being progressively addressed, because the progress of the turnaround strategy needed to be assessed against what was prevalent at the time.  There was an audit plan in place to address the findings and this plan was being managed by the Audit Committee.  The Annual Report would show that targets achieved had increased over the years by at least 10%.  The Department had stalled on the skills audit, because it was being done with the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA). While the audit was in progress, the change in Administration happened and the skills audit needed to be done within the context of service delivery.  In light of the new mandate, the structure was being developed and the skills audit would be conducted.  A lot of work had been done on staff cohesion, because people needed to be motivated to do the work.  The AR would speak more clearly on progress made on performance management.  The current vacancy rate was at 13.2%, and it was a difficult target for the Department.  There had been resignations since the transition had been announced, because the Department had difficulty in countering offers made to staff by other departments.  The survey was conducted on a rating scale ranging from ‘satisfied’ to ‘not satisfied and it did not probe for reasoning behind the ratings.  Some of the concerns raised by the staff survey related to leadership and management, job satisfaction, non-conducive work environment, remuneration and some stated that prospects for promotion were very low within the Department.  A workshop was then held to facilitate an open setting for people to voice their concerns.  Because of insufficient staff, many felt they had to ‘do two jobs’ and was not adequately remunerated.  The Committee that visited the premises would remember that the working environment had not been very good, but a lot of work had since been done.  A copy of the survey administered to the public would be made available to the Committee.

Ms D Robinson (DA) asked what the status of the National Council on GBV was, because there had been problems with leadership and resignations.  The concern was the bodies were being set up, but it was turned into talk shops.  She asked how the money being spent on the initiatives actually related to action on the ground.  She asked for details around the trips to Japan and the United Nations (UN), what everyone was doing and if there was enough preparation done before these trips.  She asked whether reports were made available fast enough so that it could be clear what had been achieved.  She had an impression the Department was ‘top dressing’, because the staff structure showed many directors, but no field workers.  She asked if the overspending was evidence of work or if it just showed inefficiency.  She asked at what levels the vacant posts were filled and if the staff satisfaction related to their ability to transform social issues, or was it just related to perks like cars, high salaries and comfortable offices.

Ms Mxenge replied that the new structure of the Department was designed on a ‘pyramid’ model that focused on technical skills to address the top heavy structure. 

Ms Baduza said the Department looked at the renewed mandate and monitoring and evaluation in terms of the socio-economic empowerment of women and skilled staff was needed that would be able to analyse information. It would include economists and social scientists that could report back to South Africa on what the socio-economic status of women in the country was.  The President had given the mandate to do research on the status of women and to present that research by August 2015.  There had been a report published by the Mapungubwe Institute title The Evolution of South Africa.  This report had a section that focused on the status of women since 1994 and it would be good starting point for the Department.

Ms Baduza said when the Department visited the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW), reports were developed.  There was a standing request from the Presidency, that within seven days of return from any international visit, a report should be issued to the President.  That was the Department’s turnaround time frame for reports.  The Department also developed a report that would be shared with other departments and Cabinet.  The Department could come and present on the report, and could also include in that report what was planned for the next UNCSW.  There was also a discussion at the just concluded UNCSW on women and girls and HIV/AIDS which was a South African Development Community (SADC) sponsored resolution.  The Department split the delegation of four between this discussion and the bigger forum of African countries that discussed the UNCSW’s observations.  The CGE, in their oversight capacity also sent two delegates to oversee and monitor the discussions. The Department also hosted the UN Women Executive Director on women in the STEM fields also in this regard officials had clear roles in the discussions. The Minister would apply her mind, against the reviewed mandate, on where the National Council on GBV would be best placed.  The Minister had also asked the Department to compile a report on the Council that covered why the Council was established, what processes were involved, the membership, what had been achieved and to create a benchmark against similar organisations.  This had been completed and the Minister also wanted a report on any other structures in the Department to avoid duplicating efforts.  It became clear that the National Council on GBV had been established without funding and the reports with supporting documentation would be forwarded to the Minister so decisions could be made.  The Chief Executive Officer had been appointed on donor funding and a structure of this nature could not be sustained by donor funding and the Committee would get feedback as soon as the Minister had made her decisions.  

Ms C Dudley (ACDP) said the Department was in transition and perhaps the Department should clarify what the status of the transition was, particularly on children and people with disabilities.  She asked who did the research on the role of social security in protecting children’s dignity, because it was still perceived on the ground that the policy was negative in terms of young people and inspiring them to have babies. She asked if the Department had any input on the report by the Medical Research Council on violence against women and if the report would be presented to the Committee. She asked how many more young people would have benefited from STEM programmes if the programmes were coordinated locally, rather than overseas.

Ms Mxenge said the research was done with the Department of Social Development and the survey was administrated to a representative sample of women receiving child support grants.  The women were interviewed through national workshops in assistance with funders from the UN.  The survey was done confidentially and anonymously, and it was evident that the grant was useful and most would not be able to survive without it.

Ms Baduza said an inter-ministerial committee had been set up by Cabinet to look at the root causes of GBV and violence against children in the last Administration.  This committee was headed by the Minister of Social Development and the University of Cape Town (UCT) was commissioned to do structural determinant analyses on the root causes of violence against women and children.  The report had not yet been seen, but the Department of Social Development could come and present the report if it had been finalised.

Mr Toni said the Department also participated in a tour to Japan that focused on children with mental disabilities.  The Japanese used a concept model that ensured that children from schools for the mentally disabled were given economic opportunities.  The Department had since partnered with PP Cement and a school in Forest Town in Johannesburg where this model was being applied.

Ms M Chueu (ANC) said it was important that South African young people understood what other young people were doing in the world.  There was a journal published annually on the global performance of schools in terms of science and technology and how these students collaborated and competed internationally.  It was equally as important for South African children to be afforded the same opportunities.  When South Africa had been in isolation, it was difficult to know what happened in a country as near as Zambia.  She echoed the importance of sharing the outcomes of the survey to the Committee.  She asked how the people that went to Japan used their experiences to make an impact in terms of the alleviation of poverty, unemployment and inequality.  She asked where in Tshwane the Child Friendly Communities Model would be launched and if the programme would be continued with the Department of Social Development.  She also asked for details on the Programme 4 campaigns and what the overall impact was and what the future plans were.

Mr Toni said the Child Friendly Communities Model was there to assist municipalities in mainstreaming children’s rights.  The Department met with Tshwane municipality at no particular site, because it was expected that the municipalities would drive the process.  The development of the framework was done in collaboration with the Save the Children Fund to see how other countries were doing this.  The level of violence against children was quite alarming and this was a framework that could be used by municipalities.  The framework would move to the Department of Social Development as a function in the CRR programme.  The reports in questions were done, but it was not included in the presentation, because it did not directly speak to the targets in this quarter.  The Department worked with universities and Further Education and Training (FET) Colleges and the work done in the provinces spoke to the work done in terms of mainstreaming the rights of people with disabilities.  The reports would be forwarded to the Committee.  Most of the issues that impacted communities negatively, related in some way to people not understanding their rights and these reports could be communicated by the Committee to constituencies.  The APP template for government departments was restricting in some instances, because it did not allow for a story line.  The Department was busy compiling such a book that showed what was happening in communities and this information could also be presented to the Committee.

The Chairperson asked if there was an indication when the transition would be finalised so that it would become clear what the responsibilities of the Committee was.  Children were more and more sexually active at very young ages and often became teenage parents. In some cases pregnancies were because of sexual abuse.  In light of the transition, it was important to determine where these unfortunate children fitted in.  She asked how the transition would impact the staff in the current Ministry.

Ms Baduza said the Department was in transition and Mr Toni was part of the staff complement that would move to the Department of Social Development.  There had been a number of strategic meetings that focused on how the new functions would be integrated.  At the next meeting, the Department would be better able to explain the path going forward.  The Department was not delivering services, but rather monitored those delivering services.  There needed to be discussion and debate on sexually active children and the surrounding circumstances, which often involved abuse.  It was a debate that should focus on what radical transformations were needed, because it also touched on the moral regeneration of society.

Ms M Khawula (EFF) asked how close the Department worked with Social Workers to see how women and children in South African townships and rural areas were living. Sitting in Parliament and discussing policies and documents of the supposed work of the Department meant nothing if the Department did nothing for ordinary citizens.  She related an incident of a woman in Phongolo who was living in appalling conditions with her disabled son and 12 grandchildren that did not go to school. The situation was not unique, because that was how life was in most townships. She suggested that the Committee and the Department went and visited these places and find solutions on how to assist women and children by initiating programmes that they could make a living from.

The Chairperson said the Provincial Executive Committee, in collaboration with the Department of Social Development had already intervened in the case.  The woman would be getting a house and all their other needs would be assessed and catered to.

Ms N Marchesi (DA) wanted to know why invoices could not be processed within 30 days.  She asked what the status of the National Council of GBV was and what else the Department was doing to address violence against women.  The Department should perhaps consult with other African countries that were leading GBV issues.  She asked if the report on gender mainstreaming was available, what specifically was done and a breakdown of the budget allocation.  She also asked for a report on the successes and challenges of the CRR programme within municipalities and why the Ulwazi Ngabantwana database system had not been launched yet.

Mr Toni said the Department, when compiling reports; felt that the information received from departments and provinces was not accurate.  This was the motivation behind the Ulwazi Ngabantwana database, because the system helped departments and provinces determine clear indicators of what should be measured and what was planned.  The information would be readily available on the database from which reports could be developed which would fast track the process.  The report on the status of disabled people was supposed to have been submitted in 2010 and it was only submitted in 2013.  The periodic report that should follow that was supposed to have been submitted in May 2014, but would only be submitted in May 2015.  It was because of these types of delays that the database was developed.  Previously information was not segregated and the database was developed in collaboration with UNICEF and Statistics South Africa.  At the time the database was planned to be launch, the country was in the midst of elections preparations and the Minister could not fully commit to the launch.  As the functions were being moved, the database would be launched by the Minister of Social Development.  In discussions with the Minister of Social Development, it was decided that staff training needed to be done on retrieving web based information.

The Chairperson asked why the Ministry of Women in the Presidency, since the Minister was involved when the process started, could not be roped in so that the information was imparted.  This split could void all the good work done before the transition.

Mr Toni said the Department’s role was to ensure collaboration with all government departments, especially those that worked directly in the areas of women.  The National Macro Organisation of State Projects, assisted by the Presidency and National Treasury, was in the process of consolidating the move from the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities (DWCPD) to the Department of Social Development and the process should be completed by the end of September 2014.  All of the functions with its budgets would be transitioned and the Committee would be provided with a report at the conclusion of the process.

Ms Baduza said it was valid to say that the Committee as an oversight body had a right to call other departments to inform the Committee what they had been doing on the issues related to women.

Briefing on the First Quarter Performance Report 2014/15

Ms Mxenge said the Department planned a total of 30 targets for the first quarter and achieved 18 targets. The total budget for the year 2014/15 was R218 530 million, including funds for CGE. 

Programme 1: Administration

Out of 16 targets planned for the fourth quarter, Programme 1 achieved 12 targets.  Programme 1 had a total planned budget projection of R23 855 million and the actual expenditure amounted to R22 044 million.  Some of the achieved performance indicators were maintaining a 5% or less variance between projected spending and actual expenditure and achieving a 60.5% female representation in senior management position when the annual and first quarter target was 50%.  The Department established an internal whistle blowing mechanism in response to the target of championing for a number of anti-corruption initiatives.  The target to have 100% of invoices paid within 30 days had not been achieved.  An invoice tracking register had been implemented to monitor date of receipt of invoice up to date of payment.  An advisory committee for the development of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) had been set up to ensure quality control.  A total of 67 participants availed themselves in June 2014 to contribute without remuneration.  The Advisory Committee would operate at three levels, namely strategic advice, quality control group and oversight group.  The Department had not finalised the gender-based violence (GBV) baseline study.  The initial target to initiate and final this target by the first quarter was assessed to require at least 24 months and the target would be revised.

Programme 2: Women Empowerment and Gender equality (WEGE)

Ms Modjadji Seabi, Deputy Director-General: WEGE at the Department of Women in the Presidency, said out of seven targets planned for the fourth quarter, Programme 2 achieved three targets.  Programme 2 had a total planned budget projection of R20 491 million and the actual expenditure amounted to 20 606 million.  Two status reports on gender mainstreaming across different sectors and a report on the intake of young women in the STEM field had been compiled.  he Department did not achieve its target of coordinating its programme of mainstreaming the 50/50 principle into designated bodies.  The first quarter target had also not been achieved of reaching 5 000 women through advocacy interventions to empower women and to eliminate discrimination.  Only 3 700 women had been reached directly and more consultations would be undertaken in the second quarter.

Programme 3: Children’s Rights and Responsibilities (CRR)

Mr Mzolisi Toni, Deputy Director-General: CRR at the Department of Women in the Presidency, said out of five targets planned for the first quarter, Programme 3 achieved three targets.  Programme 3 had a total planned budget projection of R2 377 million and the actual expenditure amounted to R1 619 million (92% of the budget).  The target of reaching a number of municipalities targeted for mainstreaming children’s rights in line with the National Plan of Action for Children (NPAC) had not been achieved. The process of reconfiguration with the Department of Social Development affected some of the activities.  The Department presented the child Friendly Communities Framework as well as participated in the awareness raining campaigns spearheaded by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA).  The campaign focused on the distribution of social assistance materials to the community of Mmaditlhokoa that were affected by the protracted mine strike that lasted for five months.

Programme 4: Rights of People with Disabilities

Out of two targets planned for the fourth quarter, Programme 4 achieved one target.  Programme 4 had a total planned budget projection of R4 210 million and the actual expenditure amounted to R1 530 million. Toward realising the annual target of having the National Disability Rights Policy developed, a strategic dialogue on draft policy had been consulted.  The National Disability Rights Machinery convened in May 2014 to discuss draft Policy as well as the National Disability Rights Monitoring and Evaluation Policy Framework. The target to consult on the draft discussion document on the strategy to fast track the employment of persons with disabilities had not been achieved.  The strategy was currently in the draft phase and the target would be reviewed during the second quarter.

Discussion

The Chairperson excused herself. Ms Chueu stood in as Acting Chairperson for the remainder of the meeting.

Ms Robinson asked if the discussion could not be deferred to the next meeting due to other pressing commitments.

Ms Chueu said there would be other entities that presented at the next meetings and the Department would not be able to return.  She said the meeting would be wrapped up soon.

Ms M Matshoba (ANC) said the presentation always referenced ‘young’ women and she asked if the Department focused on the needs of older women as well.

Ms Baduza said the Department dealt with women across the board, including those with disabilities.  This would become clear when the Department presented a substantive presentation that showed the impact on the lives of women.

Ms Khawula said NPO’s and NGO’s received money from government, but was not actually assisting or using the money towards the empowerment of women or children.  She asked if these organisations were being monitored.

Ms Baduza said the Department of Social Development gave the NPOs and NGO the necessary accreditation and status to assist and the monitoring and evaluation of the organisation would also be conducted by them.

Mr Dirks asked if the Department had any programmes that spoke to children’s exposure to drugs or the dangers of tobacco use.

Mr Toni said the Department of Social Development ran a programme focused on the youth on the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse.  It was a broad programme, but the Department focused on the overall protection of children though the CRR programme and it included protection from the dangers and effects of drug abuse.

Ms Marchesi said the Department should bring along an outline of all the programmes they were involved in, as well as the budget allocations and outcomes.

Ms Baduza said the Department was in transition and had just gone through the strategic planning session where the approach to and delivery of the new mandate had been revised.  The current APP was also under revision because the mandate had change.  The intention was to come to the Committee before the end of September to present the revised APP.

Ms Matshoba said the Department should also focus on the prevalence of gangsterism, especially in the Western Cape.  Drug abuse and the exploitation of women and children often happened as a result of gang related activities.

Ms Chueu thanked the Department and said the remaining items on the agenda were deferred to the next meeting. 

The meeting was adjourned.