Interviews: day 2

Meeting report

The Chairperson welcomed all present in the meeting. She said that the purpose of the meeting is to interview shortlisted candidates to serve as Commissioners on the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE). Each candidate will be give 45 minutes to answer questions from the Members of the Committee.

Interviews

The following questions were asked to candidates:

The candidates were asked to tell the Committee about themselves, their background, qualifications and experience, and why they think they are the best candidate to be appointed to the CGE.

The candidates were asked to explain the powers and functions of the CGE.

They were asked to share their vies about customary law, whether they are familiar with section 11 of the CGE Act specifically looking at the custom of Ukuthwala which is being practised in some villages and is seen as violating the rights of young girls where they are forced to get married at young age with older men.

Candidates were asked what is expected of the Commissioner of CGE in terms of gender equality.

Candidates were asked why they are interested in gender issues. In addition, they were probed on the KZN virgin bursary case and how they would deal with such a case if appointed as commissioner.

They were asked whether all departmental budgets are engendered and/or, is the monitoring and evaluation tool assisting in ensuring that women are not only benefiting through social spending but also women are central in the economic activities of the country.

They were asked what they considered as necessary principles, practices and standards in order to ensure culture is supportive of gender equality.

Candidates were asked what their opinion is concerning sexual crimes against elderly women, and lesbians who are killed for their sexual orientation and their cases are not properly prosecuted, how will they deal with these issues if appointed as a commissioner.

They were asked what value they would bringing to the CGE. What the role is of a commissioner in reducing the inequality gap and how they plan going about it.

They were asked to give their opinion was on payment of VAT on sanitary towels, how they will work with other commissioners to ensure that VAT is excluded on sanitary towels.

They were asked whether the campaign of 16 days against women and children abuse was enough or rather to have that campaign for 365 days of the year.

Candidates were asked if the CGE has done enough to lobby the private sector to support women programmes, and what they will do to lobby the private sector if appointed as commissioner.

Candidates were asked how they plan to lead the commission ethically and address the injustices of the past.

Candidates were asked what promise they were giving to the Committee that they will fight for widowed women to access land and promote economic empowerment of women generally.

They were asked to explain the conflicting values of culture and the constitution which affect young rural women.

They were asked how they will prioritise the budget of the Commission which is very limited in many respects, which programmes they thought needed urgent attention.

They were asked what their view is on the CGE’s proposal of one women one hectare of land, were they aware of this proposal?

They were asked if they are able to work with people from different cultures and backgrounds, were they independent enough not to be influenced by politics when they have to take important decisions.

They were asked what their view is on the decriminalization of sex workers, is the CGE on the right track on this issue since it believes that sex work should be decriminalized.

They were asked how they would ensure that the commission is visible in the communities, especially rural areas.

Candidates were asked what they will do to prioritise women issues in rural areas but not encroach on chiefs’ duties and powers, how they are going to balance the two if appointed as a Commissioner.

Candidates were asked whether the Commission has done enough to change men’s attitude and educate them on issues of gender equality, this also includes the boy child to understand the issues of the girl child in terms of gender equality.

Candidates were asked what their opinion is on the issue of dowry (lobola) for the chiefs being paid by the community on their behalf.

Candidates were asked to fully disclose any judgements against them, and why the did not disclose such information in the application form.

Candidates were asked if there were any questions they wanted to pose to the Committee.

Candidates were thanked for availing themselves for the interviews.

Please refer to audio recording for the full interviews.

The Chairperson thanked Members for their cooperation. She informed them that deliberations will be done on Wednesday, 15 March 2017, and the report will be considered and adopted on Friday, 17 March 2017.

The meeting adjourned.