Women, Youth, Children and People with Disabilities

2011-12-31

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QUESTION 3868

Mrs SV Kaylan (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) Whether she will reply to (a) all outstanding parliamentary questions and (b) the points contained in each question before parliamentary questions lapse in accordance with Rule 316 of the National Assembly, if not, in each specified case, (i) why not and (ii) which questions, by its allocated number, will not be replied to; if so, what are the relevant details in each case;

(2) Whether it is the policy of her Ministry that she submit to the mechanisms of parliamentary questions as a measure of constitutional accountability to the National Assembly; if not; why not, if so, what are the relevant details?

REPLY:

(1) (a) If the Honourable member was interested in the work of this Ministry and Portfolio Committee, she would know that I always attend Portfolio Committee meetings and account through them to Parliament, including answering questions.

(i) Not applicable

(ii) Not applicable

Yes, this is why I account to Parliament because I respect the Constitution.

QUESTION 3799
Mrs D Robinson (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

Why has her department only spent 34% of its disabilities budget, as indicated in her department's annual report for 2011?

REPLY:

The expenditure trends of the disability budget are reflected in the 2010/11 annual report in the income expenditure section as an under spending. This was due to the fact that the Unit was under staffed at senior and middle management level at that time.

QUESTION 3740
Mrs D Robinson (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(a) Who are the members of the National Council for Child Abuse, (b) how have these members been selected, (c) who will chair this council and (d) what (i) are the intended outcomes of this council, (ii) is the time period within which the specified outcomes are intended to be achieved and (iii) measures have been out in place to achieve the specified outcomes;

What is the budget for (a) establishing and (b) maintaining this council?

REPLY:

(1) The Department has not established a National Council for Child Abuse;

(2) Not applicable

QUESTION 3583

Mrs D Robinson (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) Whether any officials in her department (a) have been investigated, (b) are currently under investigation and (c) have been charged for alleged (i) corrupt or (ii) fraudulent activity; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) Whether any disciplinary action has been taken against employees of her department for (a) fraud and /or (b) corruption; if so, (i) how many instances of disciplinary actions have (aa) been finalised and (bb) not been finalized and (ii) in each case, (aa) what sanctions have been meted out and (bb) how long has it taken to finalise such disciplinary actions;

(3) Whether she has found that her department has adequate investigative capacity inclusive of manpower and infrastructure in respect of disciplinary proceedings; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

REPLY:

(1) No;

(2) Not applicable

(3) Yes, there is adequate Human Resource capacity to handle disciplinary matters since critical posts were filled, especially in the support services environment.

QUESTION 3580

Mrs C Dudley (ACDP) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

What steps has she taken to (a) improve the knowledge and understanding of staff in law enforcement agencies with regard to the Domestic Violence Act, Act 116 of 1998, and (b) ensure effective implementation?

REPLY:

The relevant authority to respond to the question would be the Sexual Offence and Community Affairs (SOCA) Units of the NPA and South African Police, hence the honourable member is advised to seek further details from the Department of Justice and the Department of Police.

QUESTION 3537
Mrs D Robinson (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

Whether she intends taking any steps to ensure that institutions of (a) basic education and (b) higher education have sign language interpreters to afford the same opportunities of deaf persons in order to reduce the drop out rate of deaf persons which has resulted in a 70% unemployment rate among the deaf; if not, why not; if so, what (a) steps and (b) are the further relevant details?

REPLY:

Sign language is critical in assisting deaf people to communicate with the world around them. The department is currently conducting an audit of special schools to assess the needs of learners with disabilities in these education institutions.

QUESTION 3536
Mrs D Robinson (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) Whether she intends putting any plans in place to commemorate the International Day for Persons with Disabilities on 3 December 2011; if not, why not; if so, what outcomes are envisaged in this regard?

REPLY

The International Day of People with Disabilities was celebrated on 03 December 2011 in Bloemfontein. A plan was put in place through the launch of the Disability Awareness Month and a partnership was established with the provinces of the North West and the Free State to co-host both the launch and the celebration. The envisaged outcomes of the International Day of People with Disabilities were the following:

The roll out of the National Accessibility Campaign;

The Economic Empowerment Programme through collaboration with the whole sale and retail SETA, South African Disability Development Trust and North West Department of Social Development, with special focus on skills development;

Promotion of the 2% representivity of disabled people in workplace.

The celebrations were successful and inter-action between the Department and the disability sector has been satisfactory.

QUESTION 3457
Mr MH Hoosen (ID) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

What amount in orders has been placed, with each specified travel agency that has been contracted by her office, (a) in the 2010-11 financial year and (b) during the period 1 April 2010-11 up to the latest specified date for which information is available?

REPLY:

For the Minister's office (Minister and Staff) the orders issued for travelling (i.e. rented vehicles, air transport and accommodation) amounts to R1, 276,508.17.

QUESTION 3452

Mr GG Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) (a) How many copies of each annual report that was produced by (i) her department and (ii) the entities reporting to her were commissioned for print in the 2010-11 financial year, (b) how many copies were actually printed and (c) what were the (i) total and (ii) individual costs of printing these reports;

(2) (a) who printed each specified report, (b) how was the specified printer decided upon and (c) on what date did the specified printer deliver the report to the specified entity;

(3) Whether any of the specified reports that had been printed were found to be unsatisfactory; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, in each case, (a) which reports, (b) for which entity, (c) by which printer, (d) what action was taken and (e) what were the costs?

REPLY:

The Annual report for the 2010-2011 financial year was printed by Nation Beat Service provider. The matter is currently under investigation and the outcome of the investigation will determine what steps, if any, need to be taken.

QUESTION 3354

Ms BC Blaai (COPE) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) With reference to her reply during her department's Budget Vote debate in the national Council of provinces (NCOP) on 21 June 2011, what support has her department provided at Thuthuzela care centre (a) in (i) 2009 and (ii) 2010 and (b) during the period 1 April 2011 up to the latest specified date for which information is available;

(2) Whether the support that is being provided is of an ongoing nature; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

REPLY:

Since 2009, the Department for Women, Children and People with Disabilities has been working in collaboration with the National prosecuting Authority on the Thuthuzela Care Centres programme in terms of providing technical support to ensure the mainstreaming of gender equality not this programme.

The Minister participates in the launch of the new Thuthuzela Centre and therefore profiles the role of the centres as important in addressing gender based violence by the support provided to the victims.

The Department for Women, Children and People with Disabilities is responsible to ensure the mainstreaming of gender in government departments including the Thuthuzela Care Centre programme by monitoring and evaluating the level of gender mainstreaming of the programmes that are implemented.

QUESTION 3351

Ms BC BLAAI (COPE) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) Whether, with reference to her reply to question 2527 on 21 October 2011, the sample audit of schools for learners with special needs has been finalized; if not, why not; if so,

(2) Whether the report of the audit is available to the public; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

REPLY:

The Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities has decided to conduct a full scale audit of special schools. The audit instrument was developed and distributed to focal points as well as monitoring and evaluation units in the Premier's offices. In addition to this, the Department will be working with community development workers through Departments of Public Service and Administration and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs respectively in order to collect data from special schools. The analysis and development of a report with recommendations will be made available before the end of the financial year.

The data collection is currently in process and the report will be made available when it is finalized.

QUESTION: 3312
Mrs D Robinson (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

With reference to her official trip to Chicago from 24 to 28 October 2011 in which she is leading a delegation of business women, (a) what is the total cost budgeted for the trip, (b) the breakdown of the budget in terms of (i) flights, (ii) hotel accommodation, (iii) security and (iv) all other cost associated with the trip;

What (a) are the names of the (i) officials and (ii) businesswomen who will be accompanying her on the trip, (b) what is the (i) nature of their business and (ii) reason for accompanying the Minister and (c) criteria used in selecting the delegates;

(a) in which hotel(s) will the delegated be stating and (b) what is the star rating in each case;

How is the trip envisaged to the benefit of women, children and people with disabilities?

REPLY:

(1)(a) The total cost budget for the official trip of the Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities to Chicago from the 24 - 28 October 2011 in which she led a delegation of business women is known to the Department of Trade and Industry as the custodian of the Outward International Mission.

(b) The itemised costs for the mission incurred by DWCPD are as follows:

(i) R64, 916.00 for flights and travel;

(ii) Hotel accommodation was arranged and secured by the South African Consulate-General's office as part of the package for the Outward International Mission (IOM) of the Department of Trade and Industry;

(iii) No security;

(iv) Other related costs were for ground transport arranged by the Consul-General's office in Chicago

(2)(a) Three officials and three women entrepreneurs accompanies the Minister.

(2)(b) These were women in farming and arts and crafts.

(ii) Department of trade and industry (DTI) Outward International Mission on USSA Business Woman forum held in Chicago, gave women the opportunity to network, negotiate partnerships and twining programmes and inter-country projects.

(2)(c ) Their businesses and interests.

(3)(a) Delegates stayed in the hotel where the conference was held.

(b) The rate is not known to us as it was negotiated by the Consul-General as part of the package of the conference.

They managed to meet their counter-parts who are in the same line of Business where they experienced and exchanged international business standards and global practices. They also had an opportunity of negotiating possible deals with some of their counter-parts.

QUESTION 3245

Ms BC Blaai (COPE) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

Whether she has found her department had hired suppliers who are not complying with tax legislation; if so, what (a) is her department's policy in this regard, (b) steps has she taken in this regard and (c) are the further relevant details?

Reply:

One supplier for the department was initially found as not having complied with tax legislation in 2010/11.

(a) The policy of the department is that all suppliers that register in the

departmental database, must submit their tax certificates before

any order is issued to them;

(b) & (c) The supplier that did not submit a tax clearance certificate

was subsequently requested to submit the certificate in order to

correct the anomaly;

QUESTION 3244

Ms BC Blaai (COPE) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

Whether her department has identified the official or officials who had redirected R6.3 million in savings on capital expenditure to programmes where her department had overspent in contravention of the National Treasury; if not, why not; if so, what disciplinary action has she taken against the official or officials?

Reply:

Accounting Officer.

The over spending under current budget was due to the expenditure incurred by the department for activities that were unavoidable e.g. National Women's Day. The under spending on capital was because the anticipated move to the new building could not take place within the 2010/11 financial year. The resulting effect was that the capital under spending augmented the over spending under current expenditure.

The Department, through the Accounting Officer approached Treasury to request for condonement which Treasury duly granted the request in the letter I read to the Portfolio Committee. No disciplinary steps had been taken against any officials, suffice to mention that I as the Minister issued a firm instruction to the Department that the Accounting Officer should never to seek condonement after the fact. I also insisted that now that there is proper budget management system and all critical posts have been filled, I expect that no such incident will occur again.

QUESTION 3125

Ms BC Blaai (COPE) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

Whether all legislation for which her department is responsible has been fully implemented; if not, (a) which provision of Acts have not been fully implemented (b) why have they not been implemented in each case, (c) when will each provision be fully implemented and (d) what will be the cost of implementing each provision?

REPLY:

As the Honourable Member Blaai would know, especially in the context of numerous discussions at Portfolio Committee level on the matter of the mandate of the department, I must re-emphasise that the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities' mandate is to monitor other government departments to ensure the mainstreaming of gender, children's rights, and disability considerations into all programmes of government and other sectors. As such, the Department is not responsible for implementing legislation.

QUESTION 2952

Mr BC BLAAI (COPE) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) What was the rate of mother-to –child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (a) 2009 and 2010;

(2) Whether her department has identified the reasons for the increase in the child mortality rate despite the prevention of mother-to-child transmission programme; if not, why not; if so, what are the reasons?

Response:

(1) South Africa's HIV and AIDS epidemic has had a devastating effect on children in a number of ways. There were an estimated 330,000 under-15s living with HIV in 2009, a figure that has almost doubled since 2001.HIV in South Africa is transmitted predominantly through heterosexual sex, with mother-to-child transmission being the other main infection route.

The national transmission rate of HIV from mother to child is approximately 11 percent. This indicator refers to the proportion of children, in a given period, who are HIV positive.

South Africa is currently the country in the world with the largest number of people living with HIV. Many children are HIV positive or have become ill and died due to AIDS. The majority of children are infected before and during the birth process and some later through breastfeeding – in other words, paediatric HIV is driven by the adult epidemic.

The Western Cape consistently has the lowest HIV prevalence rate (1.2% in 2010), while prevalence is highest in KwaZulu-Natal (4.1%). Across South Africa, 438,000 children under 15 years (2.8%) are estimated to be HIV positive in 2010

Most HIV infections in children under 14 years occur at birth or shortly thereafter. Given the rapid expansion of the PMTCT programme over the past decade, it seems surprising that prevalence should continue to increase.

The rapid roll-out of the ART programme since 2002 has meant that increasing numbers of infected babies have received treatment and survived – as illustrated in the 2010 trend. National ART take-up amongst newly-eligible children under 15 started at a low of 2% in 2002, rising to 37% of eligible children in 2007/08.8 The sudden rise in prevalence rates from the age of 15 represents new infections through sexual activity amongst teenagers. In 2010, 18,522 (just under 2%) of 15-year-olds were estimated to be infected – down from 30,329 (3%) in 2002.

(2) Nine out of ten children infected with HIV were infected through their mother either during pregnancy, labour and delivery or breastfeeding. Without treatment, around 15-30 percent of babies born to HIV positive women will become infected with HIV during pregnancy and delivery and a further 5-20 percent will become infected through breastfeeding.

To prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, antiretroviral drugs are given to the mother before birth and during labour, to the baby following birth and safer infant feeding is also promoted. This approach can almost eliminate the risk of transmission from mother-to-child. Unfortunately, prevention of mother-to -child transmission (PMTCT) services fail to reach most women in resource-poor areas.

The important approach is to ensure greater access to the drugs that can prevent mother to child transmission, appropriate testing, efficient linkages to care and treatment, and support for the families and communities that provide the material, social, and emotional foundation for a child's development.

QUESTION 2951

Mr BC BLAAI (COPE) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

Whether all the victims of sexual violence are tested for (a) human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and (b) sexually transmitted infections at Thuthuzela Centres; if not, why not in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?

Response:

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development is the lead department in offering the integrated services, with other Departments such as Health, South African Police Services and others, to all the victims of sexual violence in Thuthuzela Centres. It is therefore advised that the honourable member should direct the question to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development for further information.

QUESTION 2784

Mr BC BLAAI (COPE) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(i) With reference to her reply during the department's Budget Vote debate in the National Council on Provinces (NCOP) on 21 June 2011, (a) how many victims of sexual violence who had been taken to Thuthuzela Care Centres refused to lay a charge against the perpetrator or perpetrators and (b) what are the main reasons that were given for refusing to lay charges;

(ii) Whether the staff at the centres encourage each victim tom lay a charge; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Response:

Thuthuzela Care Services (TTC's) are led, coordinated and managed by the Sexual Offense and Community Affairs (SOCA) Unit in the National Prosecution Authority (NPA). SOCA Unit is therefore responsible for all management responsibility of the TTCs within the inter-departmental team and is therefore in a position to submit statistics per request.

The Honourable member is kindly advised to contact NPA to obtain detailed information on the question.

QUESTION 2783

Mr BC BLAAI (COPE) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

What are her department's remedial plans with regards to the challenges that are faced by women farmers?

Response:

Government uses gender mainstreaming approach in addressing challenges that are faced by Women Farmers. The DWCPD's role in this regard is creating the space and platform for women to voice their concerns and challenges and share best practices in meetings, workshops and summits. The challenges identified are then communicated with the relevant stakeholders and government departments to address.

The Department will monitor the response and delivery of these departments and report to the President and Parliament.

QUESTION 2527

Ms BC Blaai (COPE) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

Whether her Department has taken any steps to promote schools for children with special needs; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

REPLY:

Yes, Government's policy position is that all children should enjoy equal access to education, including alternative modes of schooling and equity in education provision at all levels. This requires that the specific needs of all learners experiencing barriers to learning and participation are met within a single educational system, with appropriate assessment, placement and learning programme planning.

The Education White Paper 6 of 2001 on Building an Inclusive Education System makes provision for the review of all existing policies and legislation for general, further and higher education and training towards an inclusive education system.

The role of the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities therefore focuses on advocating for the rights of all children to equal access to education by working with the Department of Education on the removal of barriers that hinder equal access and progress, supporting the education system with institutional development and monitoring progress in the attainment of equal access for all children to early childhood, general and further education, higher education and adult basic education. Concrete steps taken by the Department over the past year have included partnering with the Department of Education in conducting a sample audit of schools for learners with special needs.

The Department furthermore monitors the implementation of Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

QUESTION 2525

Ms BC Blaai (COPE) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

Whether her Department has any plans in place to initiate campaigns with various stakeholders to ensure that all women, especially women in rural areas, have access to land; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

REPLY:

The Department has to date held a national rural women's summit which was in collaboration with the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform as a key stakeholder and other organisations such as Women in Agriculture and Rural Development, Development Partners and other key stakeholders. The objectives of the summit was to create the space and platform for rural women to voice their concerns and challenges and share best practices with each other. The Department also had the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform participating during the National Women's Conference and committed to ensure that women have access to land. The Department is further embarking on Provincial Rural women's summits that will serve as another platform at local level to create space for women to engage with government.

QUESTION 2449

Mr M SWART (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

Whether (a) her Department and (b) entities reporting to it have (i) awarded any tenders and (ii) concluded any (aa) contracts and (bb) financial transactions with certain companies (names and details furnished) in each specified financial year since 2005-06; if so, (aaa) which company or entity, (bbb) what are the relevant details, (ccc) what was the value of each (aaaa) tender, (bbbb) contrary or (cccc) financial transaction and (ddd) what was the name of the companies who failed for each tender, contract or financial transactions that was awarded?

REPLY:

In the period 2005/06 to 2008/09 the Department was not in existence. In the period 2009/10 to 2010/11 the Department was incubated within the Presidency and therefore, did not enter into any contracts or went out on tender for any services but rather made use of the contracts entered into by the Presidency.

The Department invited tender proposals for the travel and accommodation services. (aaa) The tender was awarded to Tirisano Travel for a period of three (3) years from August 2011. (bbb) the tender was awarded for travel management services for the officials within the Department for official travel. (ccc) the companies that did not get the tender are as follows:

(i) Travel with Flair

(ii) Magic Travel Centre

(iii) BCD Travel

(iv) XL Nexus Travel

(v) Sandown Travel Kopanong

(vi) Atlantis Corporate Travel

(vii) Timity Travel

QUESTION

Ms BC Blaai (COPE) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

REPLY:

QUESTION

Ms BC Blaai (COPE) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

REPLY:

QUESTION

Mrs M Wenger (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

What amount was (a) claimed by and (b) paid to her for subsistence and travel in each month in the 2010-11 financial year?

Reply:

Ministers ad Deputy Ministers make subsistence and travel claims for expenses incurred while on official trips, which include, among others, international trips and those journeys away from their ordinary places of residence. These trips are undertaken to fulfil their ministerial duties, which include direct interaction with communities as a critical part of public participation programmes.

In terms of the above context, the Minister claimed and was paid the following amounts in 2010/11 financial year:

(a) Amount Claimed (b) Amount Paid

8^th November 2010 R1,374.97 R1,374.97

6^th December 2010 R3,536.05 R3, 536.05

23^rd March 2011 R4,329.93 R4,329.93

QUESTION 2370

Mr AD Mokoena (ANC) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

Whether (a) her department and (b) the entities reporting to her have implemente4d any energy-saving (i) practices or (ii) devices for buildings, offices and boardrooms in the 2010-11 financial year; if not, why not, in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?

REPLY:

During the 2010/2011 financial year which ended on March 2011, the

Department was still incubated in the Presidency at the Union Buildings and we

had only began occupying our new building at 36 Hamilton Street, Arcadia in May

2011.

QUESTION 2303

Ms M Swart (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) Whether the total budgeted amount for travel and subsistence was spent by her Ministry in the 2010-11 financial year; if not,

(2) Whether a portion of this amount was spent by another department; if so (a) what portion, (b) by which department and (c) why was the division of expenditure not noted correctly?

Reply:

(1) Yes, the total budget amount was spent by the Ministry in 2010/11; and

(2) No portion was spent by any other department.

QUESTION 2296

Mrs PC Duncan (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(a) What specific initiatives have been taken to facilitate and promote the participation of rural people with disabilities within the ITC industry as part of her department's outlined Annual Performance Plan 2011-12 KPAs and (b) how many (i) men and (ii) women in each province have benefited from threes initiatives?

Reply:

Please refer questions to the Department of Communications. We do not initiate projects, according to our mandate.

QUESTION 2295

Mrs PC Duncan (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

In each province, (a) how many girl children were assisted and (b) how was this project to coordinate and monitor the Sanitary Dignity Campaign for women and girl children received by (i) girl children and (ii) schools?

Reply:

(a) One thousand (1000) girls from each of the nine provinces are receiving a monthly supply of sanitary towels from the "Always keeping Girls in School Project" hosted by Proctor and Gamble in partnership with the Department of Basic Education and my Department.

(b) (i) the project is coordinated by my Department in partnership with the Department of Basic Education, who also identify the beneficiaries (girls). Proctor and Gamble is the donor.

(ii) schools are the distribution points where girls receive their monthly supplies and coordination and monitoring is done by Proctor and Gamble and Department of Basic Education.

QUESTION 2294

Ms PC DUNCAN (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

Whether, with reference to her department's Annual Performance Plan 2011/2012, the specified key performance areas (KPAs) for the development of rural women (details furnished), in key national departments within all the provinces that target 300 women have been achieved; if not, why not; if so, for each province and KPA, how many women have been (i) assisted and (ii) capacitated?

Reply:

With regard to the development of 300 rural women in key national departments the DWCPD organised a rural women's summit on the 13-14 May 2010 and the challenges identified have been used to inform the development of training programmes for rural women in this regard. The Minister visited the Alilali Kone crop and vegetable production farm, the Ditubatse mango atchaar production farm, Nguvamuni poultry and piggery farm. The Tshwaranang vegetable greenery project for the disabled and the Mamitwa Arts and crafts to assess their challenges including the financial management and marketing training requirements. 800 rural women attended the National Women's Conference that took place on 1-3 August 2011 where they were provided with information regarding the different opportunities that exist for women by various government departments. Further 9 provincial summits will take place during 2011 to offer the rural women an opportunity to share their challenges which will in turn be incorporated within a broader intervention strategy.

With respect to part (i) and (ii) of the question, the matter is still work in progress.

QUESTION 2269

Mrs BC Blaai (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

Whether any progress has been made in achieving Millennium Development Goals 3 and 4 which aim to (a) promote gender equality and empower women and (b) reduce the maternal mortality rate by 2015; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

Goal 3 of the Millennium Development Goals is to promote gender equality and empowerment of women. South Africa employs the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women [CEDAW] and the Beijing Platform for Action as touchstones for realising this goal, together with 7 other MDG's such as the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, achievement of universal primary education, reduction in child mortality, improvement in maternal health, combating of HIV/AIDS and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability and the development of global partnerships for development. These goals are interrelated and therefore have cross-cutting gender equality link.

(a) The South African constitution provides for the establishment of a sovereign and democratic state that is committed to the achievement of equality between men and women. A framework of policies and mechanisms have been developed such as the National Policy Framework for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment [NGPF] which promotes an enhanced and cooperative approach towards the achievement of gender equality within and across all sectors. The draft Gender Bill which is currently going through a consultation process will go a long way in advancing gender equality as it seeks to ensure that women's social, economic and political participation in all the 3 spheres of government is enhanced. It will further regulate other agencies and the state's obligation to promoting gender equality. Government has created Gender units and focal points in all government departments at the level of Director with direct reporting line to the Director General. This will make sure that gender is mainstreamed into all government processes and accountability for the achievement of gender equality firmly rests with Directors General. The establishment of the Ministry for Women, Children and People with Disabilities is another mechanism that has been put in place to ensure alignment and coordination of all government activities towards the achievement of gender equality and equal treatment of women arising from the constitution.

South Africa has demonstrated commitment to the achievement of representivity and gender parity in order to narrow the gap between men and women and the races. . In the public service women's representation at decision making levels currently stand at 36.00%, an indication that the target of 30.00 %set by the DPSA in 1995 has been achieved. Cabinet has, in 2009, adopted a recommendation that set the parity representation of women at 50%. The representation of women in decision making processes was increased significantly with the increase of representation of women in Parliament from 27.08% in 1994 to 44.00% in 2009. The representation of women in provincial legislatures has increased from 25.04% in 1994 to 42, 04% in 2009. The female share of seats in the 9 provincial legislatures has increased and currently women occupy 42.00% seats in provincial legislatures. Women's representation in local government was at 40.00% after the 2006 elections. These figures put South Africa amongst the leading countries in the world in terms of the numbers of women in decision making levels.

Parliamentarians, Executive members and government officials have been trained in gender mainstreaming by Palama. This 4-day well structured accredited comprehensive training course has been effective in addressing issues of patriarchy and the socialisation process particularly with regard to the way boy and girls are socialised as children. This training program has been helpful in addressing discriminatory attitudes and practices with regard to the role of women, their limited access to resources and the minor status that has been accorded to women. Due to its immediate impact on the ground, Palama has received requests from far-afield countries such as Zambia. Tanzania and Mauritius to be assisted with training of this kind.

(b) the matter of reduction of maternal mortality rate by 2015 is a matter that can best be answered by the Department of Health.

QUESTION 2243

Mrs SV Kaylan (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) Whether (a) she, (b) her Deputy Minister, (c) any specified officials and (d) any other persons have been issued with a government or official credit card during the period 1 April 2010 up to the latest specified date for which information is available; if so, what are the relevant details for her, her Deputy minister and each holder of a credit card in respect of the (i) name, (ii) job title, (iii) credit limit, (iv) outstanding amount as at the latest specified date for which information is available, (v) monthly expenses incurred for each month since receiving the credit card, (vi) reason for such persons being issued with a credit card and (vii) uses that such a credit card is intended for;

(2) Whether any such credit cards are over their credit limit; if so, (a) whose credit cards are over the limit and (b) what is the reason for the credit cards exceeding the limit;

(3) Whether any action has been taken against such pewrspns for exceeding their credit card limits; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

REPLY:

(1) (a) Yes, the Minister has been allocated a corporate credit card;

(b) No, the Department does not have a Deputy Minister;

(d) No other person have been issued with government credit cards.

(i) Minister Lulama Xingwana

(ii) Minister for Women Children and People with Disabilities.

(iii) Credit limit is R40,000.

(iv) The outstanding amount was R9,280.00

(v) June bill was R755,00, July bill was R8, 489.83 and August bill was R452.54.

(vi) According to section 9.1 of the Ministerial Handbook, where necessary a corporate credit card may be obtained in the name of the Minister only with the express authorization of the Director-General or relevant Accounting Officer. Annexure G of the Ministerial Handbook further give guidelines which comply with the directive of National Treasury.

(vii) Official entertainment and incidental expenditure that can be incurred while on official duty.

(2) The credit card is not over its limit.

(3) Not applicable

QUESTION NUMBER 2209

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 20 August 2010

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 23 OF 2010

Date reply submitted: 29 October 2010

2209. Mrs D Robinson (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) How many Thuthuzela centres have been built during the period 1 April 2010 up to the latest specified date for which information is available?

(2) Whether this project has received the promised funding from certain organisations (names furnished); if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW2716E

REPLY

(1) The Honourable Member should note with acknowledgement that, so far, the government has made sizeable progress in terms of the establishment of Thuthuzela Centres. During the period 01 April 2010 to date, no new centres were established, except to mention that, four centres which are already established will be fully operational in due course, in the period before the end of the current financial year. The four mentioned centres are in the areas:

a) Rustenburg in the North West, which is 75% operational;

b) De Aar in the Northern Cape;

c) Springbok in the Northern Cape which are also 75% operational, and

d) Kuruman in the North West which is 53% in operation.

Over and above that, there are few centres which are still in the process of being established, with the aim of being completed before the end of this financial year.

These are centres which will be situated at the Provinces of the North West, Limpopo, Kwazulu Natal and the Eastern Cape.

(2) With regard to the funding of the Thuthuzela Centers, so far the South African government has been receiving funds from the two organisations, the Danish Embassy and the USAID.

QUESTION
Mrs SV Kaylan (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

At how many (i) international and (ii) domestic hotels/guests houses was she accommodated during the period 1 April 2009 up to the latest specified date for which information is available and (b) what (i) was the (aa) name, (bb) star rating and (cc) city location of each specified establishment, (ii) was the (aa) duration and (bb) purpose of the stay in each case and (iii)(aaa) was the total cost of accommodation and (bb) is the breakdown of the accommodation cost in each case?

REPLY:

I have been advised not to respond to the question in view of security implications.

QUESTION 1959

Mrs SV Kaylan (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(a) How many (i) international flights and (ii) domestic flights were undertaken by her using (aa) military aircraft, (bb) chartered aircraft or (cc) commercial aircraft during the period 1 April 2010 up to the latest specified date for which information is available, (b) what class did she travel and (c) what amount did her department spend with regard to each specified flight?

RESPONSE:

(a)	(i)		(a), (aa)/(bb) (cc)	(b)	(c)
	19-22 Jan 2011			Business/First	R73193.00
	20 Feb-5 Mar 2011	Jhb-New York(return)		Business	R77362.00
	1-3 June 2011	Jhb-Namibia(return)		Business	R5921.00
	23-28 June 2011	Jhb-Greece & Tunisia via Dubai & Frankfurt		Business/First	R51570.00

(a)	(ii)		(a), (aa)/(bb) (cc)	(b)	(c)
	1-4 Nov 2010	Jhb-CPT(return)		Business	R7580.00
	2-3 Dec 2010	Jhb-Bloem(return)		Economy	R2808.00
	16 Dec 2010	Jhb-EL(return)		Economy	R4316.00
	21 Dec 2010	DBN-Jhb		Business	R2498.00
	27 Dec 10-3 Jan 11	JHB-EL EL-CPT CPT-JHB		Business Economy Business	R7976.00
	3-4 Jan 2011	JHB-EL(return)		Economy	R4342.00
	13 jan 2011	JHB-EL(return)		Economy	R4316.00
	1 Feb 2011	Jhb-CPT(return)		Business	R7293.00
	7-11 Feb 2011	Jhb-CPT(return)		Business	R7578.00
	15-17 Feb 2011	Jhb-CPT(return)		Business	R7293.00
	7-9 March 2011	Jhb-Kim Kim-CPT CPT-Jhb		Economy Economy Business	R7476.00
	14-16 March 2011	Jhb-DBN(return)		Business	R5034.00
	18-19 March 2011	Jhb-Bloem Kim-Jhb		Economy	R3085.00
	21-24 March 2011	Jhb-CPT(return)		Business	R7259.00
	3-4 May 2011	Jhb-CPT CPT-Dbn Dbn Jhb		Business	R10259.00
	6 May 2011	Jhb-CPT(return)		Business	R7301.00
	16-17 May 2011	Jhb-CPT(return)		Business	R7313.00
	5-9 June 2011	Jhb-Bloem Bloem-CPT CPT-Jhb		Economy Economy Business	R7288.00
	13-15 June 2011	Jhb-CPT(return)		Business	R7319.00
	20-23 June 2011	Jhb-CPT(return)		Business	R7319.00
	11-12 Jul 2011	Jhb-EL(return)		Business	R4447.00
	17-18 Jul 2011	Jhb-CPT CPT-DBN DBN-Jhb		Business	R10259.00
	20-21 Jul 2011	Jhb-CPT(return)		Business	R7319.00
	24 Jul 2011	Jhb-Dbn (return)		Business	R5249.00

QUESTION 1925

Ms GG Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

Whether she has employed a ministerial advisor; if so, (a) what are the duties of the Advisor, (b) at which level was the appointment made, (c) what id the salary level of the Advisor, (d) what is the duration of the employment contract entered into with the Advisor and (e) why was it necessary to appoint this Advisor?

REPLY:

Yes, a National Cabinet Minister may employ two Special Advisors.

(a) The appointment of Special Advisors to executive authorities is regulated by section 12A of the Public Service Act, 1994 and the dispensation approved by the national Cabinet in terms of section 12A. The current Special Advisor has been appointed in terms of the Public Service Act (section 12A(1):

· To advise the Executive Authority (Minister) on the exercise of performance of the Executive Authority's powers and duties;

· To advise the Executive Authority on the development policy that will promote the relevant Department's objectives; or

· To perform such other tasks as may be appropriate in respect of the exercise or performance of the Executive Authority's powers and duties.

(b) Senior Management Grade C.

(d) He is appointed on contract, linked to the term of office of the Minister.

(e) In order for the Minister to execute her responsibilities effectively, she requires the support of Special Advisors and in terms of paragraph 2 of the dispensation referred to above, the Minister may appoint two Special Advisors.

QUESTION 1882

Mrs D Robinson (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

Whether South Africa submitted reports to the Division for the Advancement of Women at least four years as required under article 18 of the Convention of the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women; if not, (a) why not and (b) when was the last national report submitted; if so, what are the relevant details?

REPLY:

South Africa does not submit the CEDAW report to the UN for the advancement of Women but instead to the UN CEDAW Committee.

South Africa submitted the 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th Periodic reports in January 2009, when the fourth report was due to the United Nations CEDAW Committee. The country is currently up to date with all reports to the Committee. South Africa also presented to the CEDAW Committee in January and a copy of the report is enclosed. The next country report is due in 2015.

QUESTION 1791

Mrs D Robinson (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

When does her Department expect (a) that the intervention plan to put an end to the practice of raping and murdering lesbians and transgender persons, as referred to in her reply to question 1449 on 22 June 2011, will be completed and (b) to start implementation of the plan?

Response:

(a) The Mandate of the Interim National Task Team of the Justice, Correctional Services and Police Services Cluster is to develop, implement and monitor a Joint Intervention Plan. The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, as the chair of the JCPS cluster, is the lead Department of the Task Team. The drafting of the plan is underway and must be consulted with NGO's. As part of the process, the time frames for the task team is in process of being developed and will be presented for approval to the Director General of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. Implementation of the plan will follow the approved time frames.

(b) It is worth noting that the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has started with initiatives on LGBTI issues before the matter was raised by Luleki Sizwe. In this regard the Chief Directorate: Promotion of the Rights of Vulnerable Persons of that Department is attending to related issues on an ongoing basis.

QUESTION 1776

Mr M Swart (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) Whether her Department has appointed a full-time chief financial officer; if not, why not; if so, (a) who is the person and (b) what (i) qualification and (ii) work experience does this person have?

Response:

1. Yes, the Department has appointed a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) with effect from 01 April 2011;

(a) Ms Bahumi Matebesi;

(b) (i) the CFO holds an MBA degree from Milpark Business College;

(ii) her recent career profile is as follows:

§ CFO at the Presidency;

§ Executive Manager: Financial Management at the Department of Labour;

§ Chief Financial Officer for the South African Nursing Council.

QUESTION 1722

Ms GG Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(2) (a) what was the actual budget increase each year, expressed as a percentage, for funds allocated to this sub-programme and (b) how is the increase for each specified financial year justified?

Response:

1. The Ministry did not exist in 2007/08, 2008/09. The expenditure for 2009/10 was R1,724 and this was mainly for the Minister's remuneration. The expenditure for 2010/11 was R27,572,800 with the following breakdown:

a. Compensation of employees was R12, 372, 627

b. Goods and services was R14,998,458

c. Machinery and equipment was R201,715

( the amounts shown above were for the departmental expenditure and were allocated to the Ministry because the payments were made from a suspense account in 2010/11)

1. (a) The budget for the Ministry in 2009/10 financial year was R1,724 million ( Minister's remuneration) and this was the only allocation under Administration therefore it comprised 100% of the total allocation under the programme. The budget for 2010/11 for Ministry was R1,836 million and this represented an increase of 6% against the 2009/10 budget. The allocation represented 6.4% of the total allocation under the administration programme.

(b) The increase is mainly for the inflationary salary adjustments as approved by Parliament between the two financial years for the remuneration of the Minister.

QUESTION 1451

Mrs D Robinson (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) (a) How much money was (i) budgeted for and (ii) actually spent on the Rural Women's Summit that took place on 13 and 14 May 2011 and (b) what were the outcomes of the Summit;

(2) Whether any plans or programmes will be implemented in rural areas to assist rural women as a direct result of the summit; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Response:

(1) The DWCPD held a two-day National Rural Women's Summit on the 13-14 May 2011 in Tzaneen, Limpopo. In line with the five national key priorities, the DWCPD also identified rural women's development as one of its priorities over the next five years. Given this, the Department has allocated a budget to address the issue of rural women's development. An amount of R1 million was allocated to the national consultative conference.

The total expenditure for the summit amounted to R 894 008 80. The money was used for transport and accommodation of rural women from five Provinces only. Four provinces were able to assist the DWCPD in a cost sharing exercise.

The money also covered conference package for 355 delegates. Limpopo Province transported and accommodated their 160 delegates. All government officials, development partners and NGOs that participated incurred their own accommodation and transport costs. The budget also covered sign language interpretation and interpretation in four languages.

In addition, 9 women-owned or managed farms were profiled on a video-taping to showcase them as best practice. This included a farm managed by a cooperative of people with disabilities.

Women presented their challenges for immediate attention and intervention as follows:

· There is an urgent need to address the funding needs for rural women, access to land and farming including farming equipment,

· Rural women farmers require tenure of land in order to ensure successful farming,

· Rural women require infrastructure e.g. roads, electricity, as well as water and sanitation, safety and security is lacking therefore livestock and vegetables are stolen sometimes.

· Social problems such asalcohol and drug abuse.

· Much awareness-raising is required in terms of the health and social needs of rural communities.

· Poor communication and language barriers, the dissemination of information is difficult.

· People with disabilities are more neglected in rural communities.

(2) Post the summit the DWCPD held a meeting with all relevant departments, which included the Dept of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Rural Development and Land Reform, DTI, Social Development, and Provinces, the aim of the meeting was to come up with a programme to address all the concerns. A Technical Task Team comprising these departments has been established. The intention is to take forward this process into all nine provinces. This is being currently initiated by the DWCPD. Furthermore, the team will also work on a strategy and implementation plan for rural women's development.

The DWCPD is also looking at a memorandum of understating with the following departments to agree on how to support women's projects:

¨ Department of Rural Development and Land Reform;

¨ Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries;

¨ Department of Arts and Culture;

¨ Department of Trade and Industry; and

¨ Department of Social Development

¨ Department of Health has signed an MOU with the Department .

The DWCPD is also currently setting up its monitoring and evaluation system for women's projects so that any challenges are identified and addressed on time.

QUESTION 1483
Ms GG Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(a) On how many occasions since 1 March 2010 did she hire a vehicle to transport her and (b) in each case, (i) what was the cost of hiring the vehicle, (ii) for what reason was the vehicle hired, (iii) for how many days, (iv) what (aa) make and (bb) model of vehicle was hired and (v) what total distance was travelled?

REPLY:

I will not respond to the question in view of security implications.

QUESTION 1450

Mrs D Robinson (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) What is the extent of the provisions made by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to accommodate and assist (a) visually impaired, (b) mentally impaired and (c) physically disabled voters during the elections;

(2) Whether these provisions are governed by any formal policy/legislation; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) What steps were taken to ensure that all IEC officials who were deployed at voting stations in the 2011local government were adequately trained to assist (a) physically disabled voters?

Response:

(1)

(a) Provisions made by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to

accommodate and assist visually impaired voters are the following:

To ensure the right to vote of all persons with disabilities South Africa constitutionally established the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) which is an independent organ.

Blind people were able to use Braille templates for casting their vote.

Although this template was not available at all polling stations, provision was made for visually impaired voters to be assisted by family members, electoral officials or party agents.

(1)

(b) Provisions made by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to

accommodate mentally impaired are the following:

In a case of mentally impaired people, Section 8(2) of the Electoral Act 73 of 1998 is very clear that:

The Chief Electoral Officer may not register a person as a voter

If that person-

· has applied for registration fraudulently or otherwise than in the prescribed manner;

· Has been declared by the High Court to be of unsound mind or mentally disordered ;

· Is detained under the Mental Health Act, 1973 (Act 18 of 1973); or

To accommodate the mildly mentally impaired people, necessary support was provided at polling stations to assist those who are in a state of being capable of making informed political decisions. The support was intended to address the challenge regarding persons with mental or intellectual disability where there are limitations around making decisions on who to vote for.

However, there were no categories of mental impairment considered separately by the IEC other than those people declared by the High Court to be of unsound mind or detained under the Mental Health Act as stipulated in section 8(2) of the Electoral act 73 of 1998.

(1)

© Provisions made by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to

accommodate

physically disabled voters during the elections are the following:

Where a person was unable to reach the voting station due to disability, section 33 of the Electoral Act (Act 73 of 1998) and the provisions of Chapter 3 of the Election Regulation provides that such a person need to be visited by members from the Electoral Commission.

In certain cases, some polling stations were chosen carefully to accommodate accessibility needs of persons with physical disabilities.

The Independent Electoral Commission made provision for voters with disabilities to vote on their own or to be assisted by a person of their choice where necessary.

2) Whether these provisions are governed by any formal policy/legislation; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

In South Africa, there is legislation that guarantees political rights to persons with disabilities. Article 29 (Participation in political and public life) guarantees people with disabilities political rights and the opportunity to enjoy them on an equal basis with others.

The existing legislation governing the provisions above is Act 73 of 1998, section 33 of the Electoral and the provisions of Chapter 3 of the Election Regulation.

The laws on special votes during municipal elections can be found in section 55 of the Local Government: Municipal Electroral Act, 2000 (Act 27 of 2000).

3) What steps were taken to ensure that all IEC officials who were deployed at voting stations in the 2011local government were adequately trained to assist (a) physically disabled voters?

17 May 2011 was the first time that voters were able to cast a special vote in municipal elections. This option was open to South African citizens from 18 years and older whose names appeared on the voter's roll. Special voting targeted people who could not be at the voting station due to disability or old age. The IEC ensured that those targeted people were visited by IEC staff at home on 16 or 17 May 2011.

The IEC made provision that South African citizens who require special voting could apply in persons or someone else could also submit their application on their behalf.

Regarding training of IEC staff, the IEC had different sessions with different organizations of people with disabilities e.g. with Deaf Federation of South Africa (DEAFSA) and the South African National Council for the Blind (SANCB). The South African Council for the Blind piloted the template.

The purpose of the training was to ensure that electoral officials are trained to meet the needs of each category of disability including physical disability. The training was meant also to support the ±560 councilors with disabilities who were standing for elections. The challenge in this regard was lack of accessibility in some stations.

QUESTION 1449

Mrs D Robinson (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) Whether her Department has implemented any measures to stop the practice of raping and murdering lesbians and transgender persons; if not, why not; if so, (a) which measures and (b) when were they implanted

(2) Whether she has found that the specific measures reduced these incidents; is not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Response:

The Department for Women, Children and People with Disabilities has joined the Justice, Correctional Services and Police Services Cluster in May 2011 and in that capacity is a member of a team that is currently developing an intervention plan on the matter of "corrective rape" and other issues related to lesbians, gays, transgender and inter-sexual persons. Once this plan has been finalised, the Department will act accordingly to address the relevant issues and will report on the effect any measures may have had.

QUESTION 1431

Ms BC Blaai (Cope) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) Whether her Department will table a detailed report regarding her attendance of the United Nations Gender Summit in New York on 27 March 2011; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant detail?

Response:

My Department never attended a United Nations Gender Summit.

QUESTION 1430

Ms BC Blaai (Cope) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) Whether her Department received any complaints from the Department of international Relations and Cooperation regarding the size of her department's delegation to the United Nations Gender Summit; if so, what are the relevant details; if not,

(2) Whether the delegation received accreditation prior to the summit; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) Whether she will make a statement on the matter?

Response:

(1) The Department never attended a United Nations Gender Summit in New York.

(2) The Department received full accreditation in all meetings it attended this year.

(3) The DWCPD has issued a number of statements on the country's participation in all the UN meetings we have attended. There is no need for further statements.

QUESTION 1429

Ms BC Blaai (Cope) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) Whether all the members of her delegation to the United Nations Gender Summit attended all the sessions of the summit; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Response:

No delegation from my Department attended a United Nations Gender Summit.

QUESTION 1275

Ms BC Blaai (Cope) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

Has the department completed its appointments to all posts; if not, why not: if so, what are the relevant details?

Response:

No. The department is finalizing interviews of all advertised posts for 2011 / 2012.

QUESTION 1273

Ms. BC Blaai (cope) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) Whether her Department had facilitated any access for rural communities to enshrined constitutional rights and development opportunities for women, children and people with disabilities in line with its strategic goal; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

REPLY:

(1) The DWCPD, in line with the five key national priorities of Government, has also identified the development of rural women as one of its key focus areas over the next few years. In this regard, the DWCPD is currently in the process of collaborating closely with the Departments for Rural Development and Land Reform; and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. In fact a memorandum of understanding is being drafted between the different ministers. The MOU will also cover people with disabilities and children. On these sectors, the department is also working closely with the departments of Education, Health and Social Development.

QUESTION 1157

Ms BC Blaai (Cope) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) Whether her Department had established any public-private partnerships to benefit women, children and people with disabilities as envisaged in 2010; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Response:

UN and Government

The Department is currently working with development partners such as UN Women, UNICEF and UNFPA on a number of initiatives. UNFPA plays a major role in assisting with technical expertise for the department on strategy. UNICEF provides support and technical assistance on children's issues. UN Women is also providing technical assistance in the Department on Women's empowerment and gender equality initiatives. The Department has signed Memoranda of Understanding with these partners. In most projects we work with departments in terms of substantive work, such as Social Development, Health, Education, Rural Development, Human Settlements, SAPS and Justice & Constitutional Development.

Private Sector

Procter and Gamble is one of the partners in the Sanitary Dignity Campaign project. ABSA has now partnered with the department on the campaign against gender-based violence. ACSA has partnered with the department in the disability sector.

QUESTION 1156

Ms BC Blaai (Cope) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) Whether her Department had overseen (a) any projects and (b) the implementing of (i) programmes and (ii) legislation intended to achieve equality for women; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;

Response: Yes. Programmes and legislation are clearly detailed in the strategic plan of the department which was tabled in Parliament on the 9^th March 2011.

(2) Whether a report on the national realization of women's rights is ready to be tabled in the National Assembly; if not, why not; if so, when?

Response: The report that was submitted to the CEDAW Committee in January 2011 on the realisation of women's rights is ready to be tabled to Cabinet and thereafter will be tabled in Parliament.

QUESTION 1155

Ms BC Blaai (Cope) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) Whether her Department has had any of interaction with the Commissioner for Gender equality; if not, why not; if so, what was the outcome of the interaction or consultation?

Response:

Yes,

We had a number of meetings to discuss various issues including the CEDAW report, CSW and various programmes of the National Gender Machinery (NGM). They have also participated in national gender programmes and initiatives.

QUESTION 1077

Ms BC Blaai (Cope) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) Whether her Department had developed and managed any projects for children's rights and responsibilities as one of the objectives set for itself in 2010; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Response: Yes

Child-Friendly Communities Model: The Concept Document towards the Piloting of the Model was developed in partnership with UNICEF. The Pilot Initiative will be done in partnership with the City of Tshwane. It will be implemented in the 2011- 2012 Financial Year where other Municipalities will be encouraged to use the Child Friendly Communities/Cities Model.

Children's Rights Protection and Development Programme for 2010 FIFA World Cup and Beyond: The Department was able to facilitate consolidation of the Strategy Nationally where all the Provinces and National Departments had strategies towards the Protection of children during the FIFA World Cup and Beyond. Through this Initiative, no major incidents of violation of children's rights were reported. It is then important to continue with the strengthening of the Strategy even Beyond the World Cup.

Commemoration and celebration of the International Children's Day and the Day of the African Child: This Programme afforded the Department to Launch the Children's Rights Protection and Development Programme for 2010 FIFA World Cup and Beyond on 1 June 2010.

Celebration of the National Children's Day on 6 November 2010: The Celebration of the National Children's Day was characterized by the Launching of the "Sanitary Dignity Packs Campaign" at Naaupoort Farm School, in Rustenburg. Children also shared their views on how to further promote and protect their rights. This Celebration was done in partnership with the host Province, North West and other Provinces.

QUESTION 1076

FOR WRITTEN REPLY:

Ms. BC Blaai (COPE) to ask the Minister of for Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) Whether she has found that her department, through its various initiatives, accelerated the Government's drive to achieve gender equality; if not, why not; if so, what bare the relevant details?

REPLY:

(1) Yes, the programmes and initiatives are all outlined in the Strategic Plan and Operational Plans of the Department.

QUESTION NO 1035

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 10 FEBRUARY 2011:

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 01 OF 2011

1035. Mr M Swart (DA) to ask the Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) Whether she has taken any steps to ensure compliance with the reporting provisions in terms of section 40 of the Public Finance management Act, 1 of 1999; if not, why not; if so, (a) what steps, (b) what results are envisaged to flow from such steps and (c ) when does she anticipate the specified results to manifest;

(2) Whether any steps are being taken to ensure that provinces comply with the requirements of her Department to enable the conditional grant funds to be allocated to technical schools; if not, (a) why not and (b) when will such steps be taken: if so, what (i) steps and (ii) are the further relevant details?

REPLY:

(1) The department has taken steps to ensure compliance with the reporting provisions in terms of section 40 of the Public Finance Management Act, 1 of 1999. (a ) and ( b) a chief financial officer has been appointed to ensure that the reporting responsibilities are carried out and the department is ready to carry out the first reporting on the annual financial statements that has to be submitted on the 31^st may 2011 to the Treasury and the Auditor General as well as the draft annual report to be submitted together with the annual financial statements. The department will also provide the monthly in year monitoring reports on the stipulated dates as per the Public Finance management Act.

( c) all the reports will be submitted within the specified timeframes an the department will comply with the requirements of section 40 of the PFMA.

(2) The department does not have any conditional grants in its budget vote, therefore there will be no need to ensure compliance with the conditional grants requirements.

QUESTION 1011

Ms. BC Blaai (cope) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) Whether her Department has investigated the sexual exploitation of young women and school girls in particular through online grooming and other information technology (IT) manipulation; if not, why not; if so, what was the outcome of these investigations?

REPLY:

(1) The DWCPD has the mandate to oversee, coordinate, and monitor and evaluate the impact of efforts towards addressing issues relevant to women and girls. This includes in the case of violence against women and girls, including that of sexual abuse and exploitation.

(2) Towards this end the Department works closely with the National Prosecuting Authority, in particular the Sexual Offences and Crime Unit (SOCA), the South African Police, in particular with the newly established Family and Children Units, as well as the Departments of Justice and Constitutional Development, Health and Social Developments to holistically address the issue of violence against women and girls.

However the DWCPD acknowledges the many challenges faced in trying to address the exploitation of young women and girls through IT means especially through the Internet, dating web sites, cell phones and Mixit. In this regard, the DWCPD is also working with the Department of Communications, and NGOs such as Genderlinks and the Film and Publications Board.

QUESTION 1010

Ms. BC Blaai (cope) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) Whether her Department (a) has formulated the strategic agenda of Government on (i) women's empowerment and (ii) gender equality and (b) was leading the drive to achieve the objectives of the said agenda; if not, why not: if so, what are the relevant details?

REPLY:

(1) The DWCPD has developed a draft national strategy and implementation plan titled "Rights, Empowerment, Equality and Dignity for Women, Children and People with Disabilities 2011-2014" which comprehensively covers a strategic agenda for each of the three sectors. The overall goal of the document is to promote the achievement of equality and eradicate discrimination against women, children and people with disabilities. The ultimate aim is to ensure that all people in South Africa, irrespective of sex, gender, disability or age, amongst the other listed grounds for non-discrimination in the Bill of Rights, are able to enjoy their fundamental freedoms, dignity, human rights and be empowered.

(2) The DWCPD is the leading driver of this document in that it is overall the coordinator of different stakeholders in meeting the strategic agenda of Government with regard to equality and empowerment of the three targeted groups.

Currently the DWCPD, through the Branch Women's Empowerment and Gender Equality is leading consultations on this document with stakeholders in the women's sector. To date the Branch has held one consultation on the document with the National Gender Machinery on 14 April 2011 in Pretoria. National Parliament was represented by Ms. Joy Watson, researcher for the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth, Children and People with Disabilities. The Branch is also undertaking provincial consultations in all 9 provinces during May-June 2011, beginning with Gauteng province on 5^th May followed by North West Province on 6^th May. Other provinces will be holding their consultations over the month of May and the beginning of June.

QUESTION NO 1009

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 25 MARCH 2011:

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 01 OF 2011

Ms BC Blaai (Cope) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and people with Disabilities:

Whether (a) the consolidation of the Children's agenda has been fully developed and (b) this agenda is now aligned with necessary frameworks and strategies in all three spheres of government to advance delivery as required by the Constitution and other international instruments; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

REPLY:

The Children's Rights struggle dates back during the times where South African Children suffered discrimination and incarceration under apartheid movement. It was clear that the need to address children's rights was urgent. A broad movement of children's rights advocates, activists and development workers came together, organising themselves against the worse conditions that children faced. Thereafter, the National Plan of Action was developed. The National Plan of Action for children was presented to the first democratic President of the Republic of South Africa on 16 June 1994 at Orlando Stadium.

That day, President Mandela pledged his government's commitment to South Africa's children. The pledge meant that the needs of children of South Africa would be paramount- that essentially, children would be put first.

It is very critical to indicate that, the National Plan of Action has been discussed and debated for years, by child rights advocates from NGO's, members of government, international agencies and members of civil society. This means that , government at all levels, NGO's and other stakeholders should work together to create a dynamic social, ;political and economic environment so that all our children can grow up to be healthy and active adults.

Responsibility to facilitate, co-ordinate and exercise oversight on children's rights work lies within the Department for Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Offices of Premiers, Offices of Mayors and Departmental Children's Rights Focal Points at the three spheres of government.

It is encouraging to mention that, at Provinces and Local government level, there are systems such as the Offices on the Rights of the Child in the Premier's Offices, Children's Rights Focal Points in Departments and at Municipality level. At the same time, the Department for Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Premier's Offices and Municipalities are coordinating children's rights Machineries, where government and the broader civil society organisations dealing with children are afforded an opportunity to interact and plan together in enhancing the promotion, protection and development of children's rights.

QUESTION NO 834

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 10 FEBRUARY 2011:

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 01 OF 2011

Mr GG Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

Whether (a) his department or (b) any of its affiliated entities have purchased any ticket for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011; if not, why not; if so, (i) what process has been followed to purchase these tickets, (ii) how many tickets have been purchased, (iii) for which matches, (iv) what has been the total cost of these tickets, (v) what are the reasons for purchasing these tickets (vi) to whom will each of these tickets be allocated and (viii) on what was the decision for the allocation of these tickets based?

REPLY:

The department has not purchased any tickets for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

We are prioritising the strengthening of these systems, especially in ensuring that, we align the institutional arrangements in line with the Department for Women, Children and People with Disabilities. More importantly, we need to encourage or foster a situation where children's rights focal points are more dedicated to children's issues, not the situation that is prevailing in many instances such as one person handling many other responsibilities other than children's issues.

Our intervention will clearly address the reviewal of the National Plan of Action for Children in South Africa. The Plan of Action will be designed in such a way that it addresses the five government priorities and twelve delivery outcomes, and this will be used as a strategy at all spheres of government to address the plight of children in the Country.

QUESTION NO. 622

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 7 MARCH 2011

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 04 of 2011

622. Mr DC Smiles (DA) to ask the Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) Which travel agencies or travel service providers does her Department use currently and (b) (i) how and (ii) when were they appointed in each case;

(2) What was the (a) budgeted amount and (b) actual amount paid to each specified service provider for Departmental travel expenditure in the (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10 financial years?

REPLY:

(1) Travel with Flair is used for the air travel and Phakisa-world is used for road transport management;

(b) (i) Travel with Flair was appointed through a tender process by the Presidency and Phakisa world was appointed by the Department of Transport as a transversal PPP contract where all other government departments were allowed to participate . The Presidency participated in the transversal contract. The Department for Women Children and People with Disabilities is currently making use of most contracts that the Presidency has initiated and Phakisa-world contract being one of them.

(ii) Phakisa-world was appointed on 14^th November 2006 and Travel with Flair was appointed on 13^th September, 2007.

(2) The Gender, Disability and Children ( GDC) was a unit in the Presidency in the financial years 2007/08, 2008/09 and 2009/10 , therefore, the budget and expenditure for the then GDC unit was reported as part of the Presidency expenditure.

(a) the budget amount for air travel and accommodation expenditure which Is a service rendered by Travel With Flair, for

(i) 2007/08 was R2, 056, 000 and the expenditure amount was R1, 866,011.38. Budget amount for 2007/08 for road transport expenditure which is a service rendered by Phakisa, was R 307 000.00 and the expenditure was R769 747.02.

(ii) budget amount for 2008/09 for accommodation and air travel rendered by Travel with Flair was R1, 763, 400.00 with expenditure of R3, 402, 876.52. Budget amount for 2008/09 for road transport provided by Phakisa was R205, 000 with expenditure of R258, 673.38.

(iii) budget amount for accommodation and air travel for 2009/10, a service rendered by Travel with Flair was R5, 471, 773.00 with an expenditure of R2, 945, 501.88. The budget for road transport rendered by Phakisa in 2009/10 was R84, 344.00 with an expenditure of R656, 752.25.

QUESTION NO 515

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 10 FEBRUARY 2011:

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 01 OF 2011

515. Mr GG Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

Whether (a) her department or (b) any (i) agency or (ii) institution which receives transfers from her department budget employs staff to perform the duties set out in the Minimum Information and Security Standards (MISS) that were adopted by Cabinet on 4 December 1996 or any subsequent version of the MISS; if not, why not, in each case; if so, in each case, (aa) how many and (bb) what (aaa) is the job title, (bbb) is the employment level, (ccc) are the academic qualifications, (ddd) is the salary and (eee) are the other benefits of each specified staff member?

REPLY:

(a) The Department for Women, Children and People with Disabilities has employed a security managers from 01/04/2011.

(b) (1)The Commission on Gender Equity does not have a security manager as yet.

(aa) One Security Manager

(bb) Director

(aaa) Internal Security

(bbb) Level 13

(ccc) M.Administration

(ddd) R 685 200

(eee) Senior management service benefits.

QUESTION NO 300

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 10 FEBRUARY 2011:

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 04 OF 2011

300. Mr G G Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

(1) How many documents have (a) her (i) ministry and (ii) department and (b) any (i) institution or (ii) agency which receives transfers from her departmental budget classified as (aa) top secret, (bb) secret, (cc) confidential and (dd) restricted under the provisions of the Minimum Information Security Standards that were adopted by the Cabinet on 4 December 1996 in the (aaa) 2005-06, (bbb) 2006-07, (ccc) 2007-08, (ddd) 2008-09 and (eee) 2009-10 financial years;

(2) What is the (a) name and (b)(i) rank or (ii) employment level of the official who decided on the classification at each specified public body? NW322E

REPLY:

(1) Only memoranda to Cabinet have been classified as secret.

(2) Director-General

QUESTION NO 149

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 10 FEBRUARY 2011:

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 01 OF 2011

149. Mr GG Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities:

What (a) statutory provisions, (b) regulations, (c) instruments and (d) practices govern the (i) classification, (ii) protection against the release or access, (iii) protection for other purposes such as preservation and (iv0 release upon request for access of (aa) documented information and (bb) undocumented information held by (aaa) her department or (bbb) any other entities who receive budgetary transfer from her Department?

REPLY:

The Department for Women, Children and People with Disabilities acts in line with the

provision of access to information Act. It does not have any separate regulations, policy

instruments or practices applicable to itself

2011-12-31

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