Topics for Discussion, Budget Vote Preparations, Meeting Attendance

Meeting report

General Announcements
The Chairperson indicated that the minutes from the United Nations trip were still to be produced.  She added that the issue regarding the funding of such trips had been addressed. The institution behind trips would be responsible for the funding.

Ms M Meruti (ANC) indicated that the Justice Committee had identified the need to have joint meetings as different committees tended to call the same institutions to present exactly the same issues.

It was agreed that wherever possible arrangements would be made to have joint meetings.

Attendance of meetings
Ms Meruti aired her displeasure at the number of members not attending, and noted that some had not sent through their apologies. She added that the Committee could not continue to function in such a manner.

The Chairperson commented that Committee meetings were not merely for Members to attend and listen to, but were intended to resolve issues.

Ms M Nxumalo (ANC) suggested that time be set aside on an agenda to address the non-attendance.

Ms C ZIkalala (IFP) suggested that the non-attendance issue be addressed in the management meetings as there appeared to be a lack of seriousness amongst the Committee Members.

The Chairperson indicated that there was a need to reassess the objective of the Committee. She added that Members were deployed to the Committee not out of choice but out of necessity. The Committee, like other parliamentary committees, was very important for all South African women and members needed to be aware of this. There was very important work needing attention from the Committee, in particular legislation and gender considerations by government departments. The Chief-Whip needed to know what was happening. She noted that of the 30 Members, only four were present.

Ms Nxumalo commented that members represented the interests of their electorate, not just themselves. Women’s issues permeated all institutions and structures in South Africa, and society in general. Members had to report back to their constituencies. In terms of activism, women were vibrant yet they showed a lack of interest in the Committee, which essentially sought to further those issues that were brought up in activism.

The Chairperson commented that much had been achieved in the Committee, such as the awareness of trafficking of women and children, which was brought up from the United Nations and emphasised in parliament. The Committee had been assessing the activities in the provinces and had empowered them how to effectively deal with their budgets. The importance of the Committee was clear, yet members debased it by their non-attendance.

Ms Meruti suggested that some of the apologies be rejected if there was not have a valid reason for not attending. She pointed out that a one-hour meeting on Tuesday was insufficient to consider all issues and therefore the Committee would have to use the Friday meetings. All members had to represent this Committee’s issues in other parliamentary committees, and had to attend and take it seriously.

Ms Nxumalo commented that some Members appeared to choose the committees they wanted to attend or considered most important.

Mr D Mabena (ANC) commented that the lack of attendance signified divided attention in parliament and a lack of seriousness amongst the Members.

Adoption of minutes of 19 February
The Chairperson indicated that the minutes from the previous meeting needed to be considered and issues raised needed to be implemented.

The Chairperson indicated that the issue of the woman abused and molested at a taxi rank had been addressed and a statement had been made in the media.

Mr D Mabena suggested that Committee ensure that severe action was taken against the perpetrators of the molestation and abuse.

Ms Zikalala commented that the taxi association SANTAGO would be meeting with the National Department of Transport to address the issue. The President of SANTAGO gave an assurance that the perpetrators would be brought to book. SANTAGO also apologised to all South African women on behalf of the taxi association. Nonetheless SANTAGO needed to be brought before the committee in order to stress the gravity of the issue.

Scheduling of Meetings
Ms C Zikalala (IFP) aired her concern over Tuesday committee meetings being held during lunch hour, as there was simply not enough time to address issues

Budget Issues and matters to be considered by the Committee
The Chairperson indicated that the Office on the Status of Women and the Commission on Gender Equality would soon be presenting their budget vote reports to the Committee. She added that the Committee needed to prepare for the presentation as well as other presentations by various Departments on their budgeting for women’s issues.  The Committee would also need to use the Debbie Budlender report in preparation for assessing the departmental gender-responsive budgeting.

The Chairperson commented that the Committee also needed to consider the reproductive health of women working in particular occupations. A letter was written requesting the inclusion of the issue in the agenda for the UN visit. The letter was regrettably late and the issue could not be included as the agenda had already been drawn up in consultation with all stakeholders.

The Chairperson commented that women’s education also needed to be considered in the reproductive health initiatives.

Mr Mabena commented that the focus on gender balance needed to include a focus on the girl child. Girl children had long been discriminated against in terms of  careers and professions such as engineering and accounting. The government needed to focus on young women, in particular on historically disadvantaged individuals.

The Chairperson indicated that there was a need to focus on sexual abuse of children. She added that there was need for more focus on both the girl and boy child.

Ms Meruti suggested that reports by departments and guests should be called for in good time to ensure that the Committee had enough time to prepare for the presentations.

Ms Meruti commented that there were increasing reports of women who were using protection orders to abuse their husbands. This was another issue needing to be addressed through the Committee.

The Chairperson commented that statistics provided in documents and reports needed to be put into context to gain a thorough understanding. She added that there was a need to consider the outcomes when assessing money spent by departments.

Mr Mabena commented that there was a need for family education that addressed such issues as spouse abuse, as this created an unhealthy living environment for the children growing up in the household.

The Chairperson noted that some Members seemed to have problems differentiating between the Women’s Caucus and the Joint Committee. This Committee did not only address women’s issue, but gender and children’s issues as well.

It was agreed that the issues raised by Members would be included for discussions. 

The meeting was adjourned.