LOCAL SUBMISSIONS COMMITTEE, ELSIES RIVER
1. Introductory paragraph: Purpose
a.
To regulate municipal elections; to amend certain laws; and to provide for matters connected therewith including gender sensitivity and the participation of women at all levels of municipal elections as candidates for election to office, as staff and as voters.2. chapter 1: Definitions
a. Literacy should be included in definitions and should refer to
a.1 the diverse levels of literacy, including illiteracy, amongst voters
a. Language should be included and should refer to
b.1 sign language, braille, graphic illustrations and symbols
b.2 inclusive of other official languages.
b. Media should be included and should refer to
c.1 Diverse and appropriate forms of media to advise voters of different language and literacy ability and to ensure access to
c.1.a. gazetted information
c1.b. changes and/or additions to such information
c.1.c notice of intention to change legislation and
c.1.d. invitation to comment on said legislative changes
c.1.e. notice of revote
c.1.f postponement of voting
c.1.g. relocation of a voting station, mobile voting stations, and all other relevant information; and to the
c.2. Code of conduct for political parties and the public media organisations and institutions
3. Chapter 2: Voter’s Roll
a. Add 5.(3) Should new or altered demarcation of wards (boundaries) place a registered voter in a different ward from that in which the voter originally registered, then the municipality must automatically transfer and advise the voter
4. Chapter 3: Appointment of local representatives
a. Add to 12.(1) …. an employee or other person …. and shall ensure a minimum 50% women representation of all staff and at all levels of employment
Part 2: Parties contesting election and submission of party lists
a. Add to 13. (2) point (d) must comply with the Local Government Municipal Structures Act (1998) with specific reference to a minimum 50% women
candidates on their
ward and proportional lists for nominated councillors.
b. Add to 14. (a)(ii) a party list consisting of not less than 50% women
c. Add 14.(c) A party that fails to meet the 50% women candidate requirement will automatically forfeit participation in the election
Part 3: Voting materials
a. Add to 23. (b) ...taking into account the election in which the ballot paper is to be used, the constituency, and disabled voters.
Part 6: Appointment of presiding officers
a. Add to 27... is to be conducted, with the required deference to gender balance.
b. Apply a. To 29.31.33.35. and in all appointments of staff and officials
Appointment of additional persons
a. Add point (c) An institution must be gender sensitive and must have employed
50% women at all levels of employment for at least 2years prior to the appointment.
General provisions concerning the appointment of officers
a. Add to 37. (1)
(c) suffers from mental deficiency
(d) had been found guilty of a criminal offence during the past 18 months, or
Is serving a current sentence for such a criminal offence ..
Appointment of agents
a. Add to 39. (1) and (2) ...a number of agents that shall include not less than 50 % women
5. Chapter 4: Observers and Voter education Providers
Accreditation of observers
a. Add to (41) ...to observe an election. and must effectively contribute to the status of women and gender sensitivity to qualify as a fully accredited observer that promotes free and fair elections
Add 41(3) (b) (iv) and subscribe to relevant laws and principals that govern the 1.
1.upliftment of the status of women and
2.gender sensitivity.
Accreditation of persons providing voter education
a. Add to 43.(3) (c) ; point (iv) subscribe to the relevant laws and principals that govern
1. upliftment of the status of women and
2. gender sensitivity
Schedule 1
Electoral Code Of Conduct
Purpose of Code
a. Add to 1.
(c) promote and affirm the role of women
(d) Ensure gender sensitivity
(e) Ensure geographic, particularly rural and informal settlement, support for a fair and free election
Public commitment
a. Add to 4.(l) (b) Ensure the involvement of women and promote gender sensitivity
Role of women
a. Add to 6.(d) .. and actively seek to place women in decision making positions at all levels of local government activities.
Role of the media
a. Add: 8.1.
1. The media must ensure fair representation of facts
2. Promote the status of women
3. Show gender sensitivity
Motivations
This submission claims validity for its demand that the 50% minimum quota for women at all levels of Local Government be promoted, pursued and implemented, on the fact that South Africa ratified CEDAW and has put in place machinery to enhance the status of women and to promote gender sensitivity.
The National Constitution provides for a non- sexist democracy and the government has confirmed its intention to develop women. Local Government is based on inclusivity and the continued exclusion of women at the facet of government that delivers services to the community is unthinkable. South Africa has an inherent and lawful affirmative policy and this policy must be seen to function in relation to women at all levels of governance.
Most South African households are headed by women, and most children are raised by single- parent women. Women entrepreneurs are the majority in the informal business sector. Women access the cities and town infrastructure in terms of their own and family health and other services on a daily basis. They negotiate the transport systems and all the other daily services that relate to local government. Women's earnings through formal, informal and domestic work place money in the coffers of local government and/or contribute to the viability of the community that they live in. Despite this enormous contribution to, and access of local government resources, women are fewest in decision- making positions as officials and as councillors in all municipalities.
If matters are left to the whim and goodwill of men in power the status quo will not change and women will remain minors in the sector of governance that directly affect the quality of their lives.
Currently we note that in those sectors such as libraries, clinics and day hospitals that are predominantly staffed by women and accessed by women, that budgets and resources are drastically cut. We note that the childcare services on which many working women that support not only themselves, but also children, men, and extended families and others in their communities, depend are critically reduced.
We further note that it is women who volunteer their services to ensure that health care is extended to, and reach, Aids, T.B, Cancer and other seriously ill or old people. There is no compensation or facilitation for them despite the consistent work that they do. They can be seen walking the streets in rainy weather and in the hot sun to tend to their charges.
We note that women who do honest trade at civic centres and day hospitals, selling chips and food to clients and to patients, are treated with disdain and that no provision is made for affordable kiosks that would lend dignity to their trade and protection to them and their clients.
We note that the contribution of Municipalities to develop entrepreneurship in communities and particularly amongst women is insignificant.
We note that the partnerships between municipalities and communities, and particular with women have been one-sided and benefited the Municipality without significantly changing the quality of women's lives.
The liberation of women and their inclusion in power structures and decision making has to be actively and consistently implemented so as not to deviate from the course South Africa has begun.
If this does not happen then women, the poorest of the poor, despite their contributions to society, will remain exploited and their activities under resourced and non profitable.
This will only change when sufficient capable women come into power. For women to come into power the glass ceilings must be smashed and the playing fields must be levelled because we are dealing with institutionalised gendered obstruction to the political and economic development of women.
It is imperative that legislation makes adequate and unequivocal provision for the enhanced status of women and applied affirmative gender equality.