Committee Programme

Documents handed out:
Committee programme

MINUTES
Ms S Vos (IFP) said that the proposed workshop was a priority and added that the committee should consider meeting with organisations like Nicro and the National Network on Violence Against Women.

Dr J Benjamin (ANC) requested that the committee investigates the issue of statutory rape and its legal status. The Chairperson agreed and added that when they met on the issue the committee could also include the Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Children, Youth and Disabled Persons.

Ms Vos added that the committee should also inquire into whether the

Maintenance Act was being implemented, for instance, whether maintenance

officers are being appointed. The committee could make enquiries whilst visiting

Chief Magistrates during their study tour.

Mr L Suka (ANC, E Cape) added that the delegation undertaking the study tour should enquire from MECs what programmes are in place to improve the quality of life and status of women. He requested to be included in the delegation.

Ms R Southgate (ACDP) asked that the committee joined in the programme of activities on International Women's Day.

Dr Benjamin requested that the committee should consider holding public hearings with regard to the Budget, and that they should call all relevant departments.

Ms N Botha (ANC) replied by suggesting the committee called for the hearing programmes of all committees and that it should also consider talking to Chapter 9 institutions and the national machinery, for instance, the Office on the Status of Women.

The Chairperson agreed that the committee had to start finding answers at the national level.

Ms N Botha cautioned that the committee had to keep in mind that not every province would have a committee on the Status of Women, and that the committee had to co-operate with provincial structures and the provincial committees as well as the Office on the Status of Women.

Mr Suka moved: That the committee agree in principle that they should visit the provinces and that they had to develop a clear plan in that regard. The committee had to meet with national structures to see what was already on the ground and where there are no structures the committee had to pay local visits.

The committee concurred.

Mrs Vos said that there had to be a clear understanding of the terms of reference for the committee. The committee has to be seen as focusing on checking on whether what Parliament is producing is working - the mechanisms for implementation on the ground.

The Chairperson summed up that the committee agreed in principle that they would go to the provinces and that they would work with the National Departments.

Ms N Ntlabati (ANC, Free State) said that with regard to the Budget the focus has to be on mainstreaming, therefore a holistic approach, not just on small amounts put aside for women.

Several members enquired about the financial position of the committee. The clerk reported that she had requested the exact figures from Finance Section, but that she had found the figures unrealistic. She then wrote to the head of Finance Section, Mr L H Klassen, as well as the officer responsible for the calculations, to recalculate the amount left at the committee's disposal.

The committee requested the clerk to make enquiries again.

Dr Benjamin urged that the committee should make a strong submission for a new budget, so that the budget could be increased for the new book year.

Mr Suka added that the committee needed access to its own researcher. Ms Q Mahlangu (ANC) said that the committee had to look at other avenues of getting a

researcher. Cedaw could fund one, for instance.

The Chairperson said that in the meantime the committee could ask for research assistance from Regis House.

Ms Botha said that there was an urgent need for a workshop on gender in legislation, not only for the members of the committee, but for parliamentarians in general. She suggested that the Women's Empowerment Unit do the training.

The committee concurred.

The committee adjourned at 10:45 until 12:30 on 6 March 2000.