CGE report on learner pregnancy; CGE Q2 and 3 2024/25 Performance

Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities

04 February 2025
Chairperson: Ms L van der Merwe (IFP)
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Meeting Summary

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The Council for Gender Equality (CGE) presented its performance report for the second and third quarters of 2024/25, detailing its commitment to gender equality through advocacy, legal interventions, research and gender mainstreaming. It had achieved all its set targets, with some areas surpassing expectations. However, financial constraints remained a significant challenge, limiting the organisation’s research capacity and programme reach. Successes included participation in key conferences and engagements focused on gender-based violence, women’s economic empowerment, and compliance with international gender agreements. An internal audit was also underway to investigate irregular and wasteful expenditure from previous years.

The CGE also reported that its study on adolescent pregnancies had identified multiple barriers preventing pregnant learners from continuing their education, including stigma, lack of healthcare access, and parental opposition to contraceptive education. Efforts to address these issues included policy dialogues with key stakeholders, improved access to reproductive healthcare in schools, stricter enforcement of policies against sexual misconduct, and economic support for young mothers. Schools were also encouraged to foster a more supportive environment for pregnant learners through anti-bullying initiatives and catch-up programmes.

During the discussion, Committee Members raised concerns about gender-blind legislation, particularly the lack of provision for persons with disabilities. The issue of women’s access to communal land was also highlighted, with concerns that customary law continued to prevent women from owning land. Members expressed the need for more proactive teenage pregnancy prevention strategies, particularly targeting boys, and questioned the CGE’s approach to legal issues, the outsourcing of risk management, and monitoring the Thuthuzela Care Centres. Questions were also raised regarding the alignment of the CGE’s comprehensive sexual education programme with that of the Department of Basic Education.

The CGE said its legal standing had been strengthened with the approval of the Legal Practice Bill, allowing the organisation to engage in litigation. It also provided an overview of its gender mainstreaming efforts across multiple sectors and provinces, including partnerships with various government departments, higher education institutions, and industries such as mining and transportation.

The meeting concluded with the Chairperson stating that the Committee would engage further with the Department of Basic Education to address policies affecting pregnant learners. She also noted the importance of future discussions surrounding the CGE’s business model and funding sustainability.

Meeting report

The Chairperson said that the Committee and the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) could discuss the organisation’s business and funding model in future meetings. The Committee wanted to assist the CGE in that regard as best they could.

Adv Nthabiseng Sepanya-Mogale, Chairperson, CGE, said the Commission was reaching as many people as they could, given their limited resources. The CGE had one of the most difficult mandates of the Chapter 9 institutions, and they were constantly innovating to achieve that mandate.

CGE's quarterly performance reports

Dr Dennis Matotoka, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), CGE, presented the entity's performance reports for the second and third quarters of 2024/25. He said it remained committed to achieving a society free from gender inequality. The presentation highlighted the key actions taken and their impact on gender equality initiatives.

Emanating from the first quarter report, the CGE reported that an internal audit was investigating irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure from prior years. An overview of the organogram and staffing listed current staff and vacancies for positions like the Head of Department (HOD) of Policy & Research, Legal Services, and a provincial manager for the Northern Cape. Several vacancies were filled, including the CEO, personal assistant (PA) roles, assistant directors, and education officers.

He listed the key National Development Plan (NDP) and State of the National (SONA) priorities:

  • Monitoring the national strategic plan on gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
  • Women’s economic empowerment, especially in the informal sector.
  • Research on barriers to women’s access to land and workplace sexual harassment.
  • Compliance with international agreements -- the Beijing Platform for Action, and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
  • Social cohesion initiatives for LGBTQIA+ inclusion and economic empowerment.

Key successes and achievements included participation in the 81st African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights session, contributing to the first African Women Land Professionals Association Conference, and hosting a conference on 30 Years of Gender Equality since Democracy (September 2024).

Addressing the CGE's challenges, he said low funding remained a major constraint, affecting programmatic reach and research capacity. The Commission was developing a funding strategy to secure alternative financial sources for sustainability and regional expansion.

See full presentation attached

CGE Report on learner pregnancy

Dr Matotoka presented the report on factors leading to the school dropout of adolescent girls during pregnancy and post-partum in provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), the Eastern Cape, and Limpopo.

He said key factors leading to teenage pregnancy were:

  • Fear of stigma, and negative attitudes from healthcare workers.
  • Preference for fast-lane contraceptive services at clinics over school-based mobile health services.
  • Parental opposition to contraceptive access in schools, particularly in the Eastern Cape.
  • Limited knowledge about sexual health, lack of parental involvement, poverty, statutory rape, older sexual partners, teacher-student sexual relations, and substance abuse.

The study's conclusion was that multiple barriers prevented pregnant learners from staying in school, including individual, household, and school-related challenges. There was an urgent need for policy interventions to support adolescent mothers and prevent further school dropouts.

Progress in implementing recommendations had included policy dialogues with stakeholders, including the Department of Basic Education (DBE), in 2023. There were also parliamentary engagements, where the CGE presented findings to the Portfolio Committees on Basic Education and Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities. From a strategic perspective, the CGE had met with the DBE to ensure accountability in implementing recommendations.

Dr Matotoka reported on the key actions taken:

Parental and community awareness

  • Development of curriculum-aligned materials on parent-child communication (PCC).
  • Ministerial dialogues on early and unintended pregnancy, reaching over 1 000 learners.

Improved healthcare access

  • School-based sexual and reproductive healthcare services provided by trained professionals under the Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP).
  • Strict law enforcement against sexual misconduct in schools:
  • Strengthened protocols for reporting and managing cases of sexual abuse.
  • Disciplinary action streamlined for teachers involved in sexual misconduct.

Substance abuse prevention in schools

  • Implementation of awareness campaigns, screening programmes, and anti-substance abuse strategies.
  • Training on drug testing procedures for educators across provinces.

Economic support for teen mothers

  • Assessing the economic needs of adolescent mothers and ensuring access to financial support, such as child grants.

School environment improvements

  • Encouraging schools to adopt values of empathy and emotional support for pregnant learners.

Anti-bullying initiatives

  • Schools mandated to implement anti-bullying policies to protect pregnant learners.
  • Interdepartmental campaigns addressing violence, GBV, and bullying in schools.

Policy awareness and implementation

  • National and provincial education departments rolling out advocacy campaigns.
  • 19 000 copies of the national policy on learner pregnancy distributed to schools.

Academic support for pregnant learners

  • Development of catch-up programmes and remedial education.
  • Partnerships with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to support adolescent mothers through programmes like the "Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe" (DREAMS) initiative, which was USAID-funded.
  • Legal action.
  • The CGE was engaged in litigation in the Western Cape Equality Court against discriminatory school policies affecting pregnant learners.

Conclusion

Progress has been made in implementing the CGE’s recommendations.

The CGE would continue monitoring efforts to ensure sustained support for adolescent mothers and pregnant learners.

See full presentation attached

CGE's audit and risk report

Mr Nkosini Mashabane, Chairperson, CGE's audit and risk committee (ARC), presented the audit and risk report for the 2024/2025 financial year.

He said the Commission’s gender mainstreaming efforts were strategically implemented across various sectors and provinces, with a focus on integrating gender considerations into both public and private institutions.

In Gauteng, the CGE worked closely with the Water and Sanitation Forum, water boards, and catchment management agencies, ensuring that gender-sensitive policies were incorporated into water resource management and infrastructure projects. Additionally, partnerships in the higher education sector and local government helped to embed gender equality principles in institutional governance and policy frameworks.

In Limpopo, it collaborated with higher education and training institutions to promote gender-inclusive education policies and leadership development. It also worked with the mining sector, advocating better working conditions, gender equity in employment, and the protection of women’s rights in an industry often dominated by men.

In Mpumalanga, the CGE partnered with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Forestry South Africa to address gender-related issues within law enforcement and environmental conservation. The initiative sought to enhance gender sensitivity in policing and improve protection for women in forestry and rural employment.

In the North West, the CGE engaged with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), and mining companies to promote gender equality in municipal governance and extractive industries. These efforts focused on improving workplace safety, increasing female representation in leadership, and ensuring compliance with gender-sensitive labour laws.

In the Western Cape, the Commission worked with the Central Karoo District Municipality and Nelson Mandela University to integrate gender considerations into local governance structures and academic curricula. This partnership helped develop gender-sensitive policies and research initiatives aimed at addressing systemic inequalities.

In the Free State, it collaborated with COGTA and the taxi industry, recognising the critical role of transportation in economic access and safety for women. The initiative focused on addressing GBV in public transport and ensuring safe commuting options for women and girls.

In the Eastern Cape, the CGE engaged with technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges and the motor industry to promote gender equality in technical education and traditionally male-dominated trades. This included advocacy for equal training opportunities, scholarships for female students in automotive fields, and workplace policies supporting gender equity.

Finally, in the Northern Cape, it concentrated its efforts on the mining sector and the Polokwane Municipality, ensuring that gender mainstreaming was incorporated into municipal planning and resource allocation. The focus was on creating equitable access to employment opportunities and ensuring gender considerations in local economic development programmes.

Through these sectoral and regional engagements, the CGE aimed to create sustainable gender-responsive policies, foster inclusivity in traditionally male-dominated industries, and support the development of institutional frameworks that promote gender equality at all levels.

See full presentation attached

CGE's financial performance report

Dr Antoinette Ngwenya, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), CGE, said the Commission was committed to promoting gender equality and ensuring financial accountability. The 2024/25 financial year was aligned with the strategic plan (2025 to 2029) and the annual performance plan (2024/25). The Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) audited its financial statements for 2023/24, resulting in an unqualified opinion, with material findings on compliance.

Reporting on expenditure vs the budget up to 31 December, she said the CGE had spent R72.6 million by the end of Q3, exceeding the R70.2 million budget. National Treasury approved an additional R3.3 million in October 2024 for new activities.

The Commission had spent 103.5% of the Q3 budget due to surplus retention of R7.7 million from 2023/24, and non-cash depreciation costs of R1.7 million over nine months.

Statement of financial position

  • National Treasury owed the CGE R5 million, which was expected by March 2025.
  • The Commission was set to receive R7.7 million per month from January to March 2025.
  • It remained financially stable, with adequate funds for operations.

Statement of cash flow (as of 31 December)

  • The CGE received R70.2 million for the first nine months.
  • The remaining R7.7 million per month would be received in the last quarter.
  • No major investments had been made, except R469 000 for computer equipment.

Investigations and audit findings

  • Internal audit was investigating prior years’ irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure. This had been started in November 2024, with completion expected by February.
  • The CEO would implement consequence management based on the findings.
  • 42 audit findings had been reported; 35 (83%) had been resolved; and seven (17%) were pending internal audit and policy review.

Audit action plan (2024/25 for 2023/24 findings)

  • The CGE was addressing the compliance issues raised by the Auditor-General.
  • Focus areas include contract management and policy reviews.

Conclusion

  • The CGE remains financially stable, despite challenges.
  • Investigations and audits are ongoing to improve financial compliance.
  • The Commission continues to engage with National Treasury to resolve outstanding financial matters.

See full presentation attached

Discussion

Ms C Mkhonto (EFF) commented that while the Act was gender-blind, it should have included a provision for persons with disabilities.

She agreed that access to communal land was a challenge, and praised the CGE for focusing on this issue. Women struggled to access land due to customary law, and women still did not own land in the country.

She questioned the risk registers, and whether outsourcing this was a risk in itself. She asked why assistant directors of policy and research had been appointed for only 12 months instead of permanently, as those were critical positions. She inquired whether their contracts could be renewed after 12 months.

She suggested that the Committee hold a joint meeting with the Portfolio Committee on Social Development, as there had been complaints that teenagers were being expelled from rehabilitation centres for minor infractions and not receiving adequate help.

She argued that the teenage prevention strategies were reactive, and needed to be proactive. She added that the strategies did not focus enough on boys.

Ms R Adams (ANC) drew attention to the report on adolescent pregnancy presented to the Department of Basic Education in 2023. She asked what progress had been made in each of the provinces since then, and how this progress had been tracked. She mentioned that the CGE had appeared in Parliament to discuss the report with the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education on 14 November 2023. She asked what the key outcomes of that meeting had been. She noted that on 5 December 2024, the CGE had held a strategic engagement with the DBE, and inquired about the progress in implementing the recommendations.

She asked for more information on the campaigns run by the CGE on bullying, corporal punishment and adolescent pregnancy, and whether they had been successful.

She highlighted the litigation in the second and third quarters, and questioned how the CGE had resolved its legal standing and when it planned to reinstate legal practice clinics.

She requested more information on the gender mainstreaming sessions in the second quarter -- specifically who the sessions had been conducted with, and their outcomes.

She commended the CGE for conducting 11 gender and development training sessions, and asked what lessons had been learned and how these could be applied to other programmes.

She asked who the gatekeepers were that the CGE had mentioned in their report.

What were the seven audit findings that needed to be addressed?

She said the CGE’s role was to advance gender equality, and questioned what the audit and risk committee expected from the CGE.

Ms E Spies (DA) highlighted rural outreach initiatives, particularly those targeting farm workers. She asked which areas had been reached, what platforms and strategies had been used to reach them, and how progress had been tracked.

Regarding the CGE’s comprehensive sex education programme, she wanted to know how it intersected with the DBE’s comprehensive sex education programme. She requested more information on the programme and the extent of interdepartmental cooperation.

She requested a more detailed report on the recommendations regarding sexual and reproductive healthcare services. It was unclear whether these services had been effective, and she asked what metrics had been used to determine success. She inquired about any challenges faced and how the CGE planned to scale up these initiatives.

She also commented that it had not been communicated to the Committee that there was a vacancy for a planning manager. She asked for clarity on the role and its responsibilities.

Ms T Chauke-Adonis (ANC) raised concerns about the segregated data on GBV and adolescent pregnancies. She asked what metrics had been utilised to collect and compile the data.

She said that there had been a blind approach to learners with special needs and disabilities. She asked how the CGE planned to mitigate systemic barriers faced by persons with disabilities and the LGBTQIA+ community. What interventions and support mechanisms have been put in place to deal with the issue of corrective rape.

She inquired about the intended and actual outcomes of the CGE’s roadshows.

She referred to the Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs), and asked about their role in providing psychosocial support and protective materials, how the centres worked with the CGE and the Department of Health, and their targets and deadlines.

She questioned what bottlenecks the CGE faced in meeting its objectives and mandate.

Ms A Khanyile (DA) drew attention to the Q2 and Q3 targets, and asked for clarity on the number of targets achieved versus those not achieved.

She highlighted concerns regarding perpetrators escaping the country after being charged. She questioned whether the CGE could verify whether these perpetrators were South African or foreign nationals, and whether they had been apprehended.

She expressed concern about the rates of teenage pregnancy. She asked if the CGE had implemented educational programmes in communities about statutory rape as a preventive measure, rather than arresting men after the girl had given birth.

Ms J Petersen (PA) noted that the report stated that support was being provided to teen mothers so they could continue with their schooling. She asked what that support entailed.

Dr K Letlape (ActionSA) raised concerns about the number of staff in the CGE, given the budgetary constraints. He asked if the CGE had a financial sustainability plan and whether it could be transformed from being top-heavy. He argued that more funding needed to be allocated to community projects.

He asked how the CGE could engage communities to assist with teenage pregnancies. He said that there were barriers between communities and institutions. He requested a demographic breakdown of adolescent pregnancies to facilitate the identification of causal factors.

He hoped that the CGE had set the following year's annual performance plan appropriately, and had not simply made it easy to overachieve on targets.

Ms M Rweqana (MK) expressed concern about the high rate of teenage pregnancies. She wondered about the content of sex education in schools, as teenage pregnancies remained prevalent. She suggested that the curriculum needed to be reassessed.

The Chairperson said that commissioners had been conducting oversight visits at police stations and shelters, and inquired whether this was still the case.

She asked if commissioners in certain provinces were engaging with schools where teenage pregnancies were high. She noted that teenagers often lacked access to support.

She sought clarity on the role of the CGE in the upcoming Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), and its budget implications.

She questioned how the CGE could litigate, given that its case with the Legal Practice Council had not been resolved.

She highlighted concerns about the CGE’s top-heavy structure, and emphasised the importance of discussing its business model.

CGE's response

Adv Sepanya-Mogale said that the visits to hospitals had been a programme run by the Department of Correctional Services, which was why they had consulted with various portfolio committees. A report has been written on the programme.

She confirmed that the CGE would be hosting an event for the CSW, and that the budget had accounted for the event. She added that the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) had sponsored a venue for them.

She said that the CGE had the largest mandate of all Chapter 9 entities, and had managed to operate effectively with only five people per province. She added that audit fees had been reduced from R6 million to just over R2 million.

She acknowledged the staffing limitations in each province, making outreach challenging.

She agreed that the CGE faced serious bottlenecks due to funding, with most of the R90 million budget allocated to programme staff.

Dr Matotoka confirmed that assistant director positions were now permanent. He explained that the CGE had developed a tool to assess programme effectiveness, and said that the legal practice bill had been approved by Cabinet, allowing the CGE to engage in legal work.

Regarding the TCCs, he said that in KZN, it was unclear who was responsible for their proper running. He suggested that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) needed to be responsible for running the TCCs, which were a vital service for survivors.

The Chairperson concluded that the Committee would be communicating with the DBE regarding adolescent pregnancies.

The meeting was adjourned.

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