Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Budget Speech
Briefing
12 Jul 2024
Watch: Debate on Vote No 20 – Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities
BUDGET VOTE SPEECH – MAIN ADDRESS BY HOUNOURABLE MS. SINDISIWE CHIKUNGA, MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY FOR WOMEN, YOUTH AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
DELIVERED ON 12 JULY 2024, AT 14H00
·Honourable House Chairperson,
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee
Honourable Members,
I am honoured to present the 2024 Budget Vote 20 of the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities as the country marks the 70th Year of the Women’s Charter. This pioneering Charter was drafted by the founding members of The Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW), who included women activists such as Helen Joseph, Lilian Ngoyi and Dora Tamana, the pioneers of the struggle for women’s rights whose contribution will be venerated during the forthcoming August Women’s month.
Our democracy, which is now thirty years old, was born out of struggles waged with dedication and willingness by these pioneers. In doing so, they established the precedence and the tradition of fighting for justice and equal rights for all, which we continue to honour and follow. Indeed, 1994 marked a decisive break from the shackles of apartheid and ushered in a new South Africa, a South Africa founded on democratic values of human rights, human dignity, non-racialism, non-sexism and freedom for all.
As I present our 2024 Budget Vote 20, I draw further courage from the words of Mme Gertrude Shope when she posed the question, "Every generation has a responsibility to know what its mission is. Mine was to liberate the country; what is yours?" unquote.
Chairperson, I believe that the answer to this question must be to ensure that the fruits of liberation and freedom are enjoyed by all.
ON YOUTH:
Honourable Chairperson, the youth of this country represent our biggest endowment. Hence, this financial year, we are accelerating efforts to advance the socio-economic empowerment of young people.The empowerment of young people is at the heart of our department’s strategic objective. The department has developed the South African Youth Development Act – a framework legislation for youth development in the country. The allocated R2.9 million will be used to continue monitoring the implementation of the National Youth Policy across the three spheres of government.
It is worth noting that the department also amended the founding legislation of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) – the NYDA Act No.54 of 2008, to enhance the agency’s operational efficiency and good governance.
In our 2023/24 budget vote, we made a commitment to Parliament to move beyond advocacy and rally all-of- government and all-of-society behind our nation’s ongoing war on Youth Unemployment, low growth prospects and a visible sense of hopelessness amongst the marginalised.
To this end, on n the 21st of May 2024, the Deputy President, Honourable Paul Mashatile, officially launched the South African National Service Institute (SANSI), an institute that will be responsible for implementing an SANDF-led National Youth Service for South Africa.
The SANDF-led National Youth Service will rally all of government and all of society behind a de-siloed and nationally coordinated effort to reinforce our ongoing war on Youth Unemployment through value-chain-driven and sector-specific skills development, enterprise development, production brigades, and infant industries to power up South Africa’s re- industrialisation targets.
SANSI will also equip programme participants with character- building and leadership skills as well as technical skills in priority sectors of the economy, with high absorption capacity.
In addition, the Department working with various partners is implementing the 4IR Youth Employment Initiative, which trains youth in the 4th Industrial Revolution areas such as coding, robotics, cybersecurity, and cell phone repair. This will enable young people to fully participate, shape, and reap the benefits of the digital economy.
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN, YOUTH, AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.
Honourable Members,
Economics is about the power, access and ownership of resources. Therefore, the relationship of women, youth, and persons with disabilities to economic resources and their ability to secure them will be at the centre of our empowerment and equality agenda.
To this end, some of the department’s priority projects will be in the following sectors of the economy:
- In the Agricultural Sector: at the top of our Agenda is ensuring that Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities have access to productive land. Beyond agriculture, land is crucial for property development, access to credit, manufacturing, etc. To this end, the DWYPD signed an MOU with the then Department of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) to collaborate to unlock economic opportunities for WYPD in land and the agricultural sectors.
- Our Second Priority project is Green Economy: the department is developing skills in renewable energy and sustainable agriculture, supporting green technology entrepreneurship, and promoting market opportunities in environmentally friendly products. Recently, the department has placed women who are being trained under the Solar Mama Project in India on solar installation and they will use this valuable skill to contribute to their communities.
- As a Third priority the department will enhance participation in national and international trade by promoting market access for women-owned business, youth, and persons with disabilities, and leveraging intra- African trade agreements for increased market share.
- The Fourth priority project central to our empowerment agenda is mainstreaming Financial inclusion through Cooperative Finance Institutions (CFIs).
To ensure financial inclusion, the Department facilitated the establishment of women-owned Cooperative Finance Institutions (CFI) which are currently before the Prudential Authority. This will ensure financial inclusion, self-reliance, and free women from emotional, economic and physically abusive environments in line with pillar 5 of the National Strategic Plan (NSP).
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT R 3.6 million.
In addition to our department’s economic empowerment strategy, we have developed a socio-economic empowerment index, through which, we will be able to track empowerment and participation across socio-economic sectors, thus promoting a deeper analysis of systemic factors affecting empowerment and how spatial dimensions influence these determinants.
HONOURABLE CHAIRPERSON,
The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) as a national public entity reporting to our Department is responsible for intensifying service provision for the young people. The Agency, will, with its allocation of R704.3 million, continue to implement the revitalized National Youth Service (NYS) Programme.
The Presidential Employment Stimulus programme remains crucial for creating jobs and strengthening the livelihoods of young people while the labour market recovers from COVID-19 and other challenges. In its first three phases, the employment stimulus has created over 1 million opportunities since its launch in 2020. Over 80% of the beneficiaries and participants were young people and 60% were young women.
The National Pathway Management Network, which is led by the Department of Employment and Labour, is now supporting over 3 million young people, an increase of more than a million young people in the past twelve months. Moreover, 1.3 million young people have been placed in earning opportunities on SA Youth since its inception. Young women secured over 60% of the placements. More than 80% of the 557 opportunity holders listed on SA Youth are in the private sector, highlighting their crucial role in creating jobs.
Honourable Chairperson,
South Africa is one of the most unequal societies in the world. As a result, the department has taken a bold position to close this chasm by ensuring that there will not be any mega project in the country, which excludes women, youth and persons with disabilities in its inception. Every mega project will have to submit the environmental assessment plan that includes WYPD.
Honourable Chairperson,
GBVF is a national crisis, with our country's femicide rate being one of the highest globally. It is proper that we deal with GBVF as a national crisis. We therefore need to move beyond slogans and speeches and implement practical interventions, which require substantial investment in human and financial resources.
His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa assented the National Council on Gender Based Violence and Femicide (NCGBVF) Bill, making it an Act of Parliament, The National Council on GBVF Act 9 of 2024. There is now an urgent need to set up the Board for the Council. The setting up of this Council is critical for enhancing accountability and strong leadership in government and society at large.
However, the reality is that we have no funds for the execution of this important work. Only R5 million was set aside for three financial years. We intend to engage the National Treasury for the funding of this important project.
The department developed a Comprehensive National Gender- Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Prevention Strategy. Through it, we will drive a paradigm shift in how we deal with
GBVF as if it is a pandemic and ensure that our strategic posture is more proactive through evidence-based prevention interventions. To institutionalise the National Strategic Plan (NSP), the Department will ensure that the NSP serves on the agenda of the Presidential Coordinating Committee (NSP), as a standing agenda item.
The Department in dealing with GBVF will focus on the following:
- Localising the implementation of the NSP as Gender Based Violence takes place at a local level, through setting up institutional arrangements for dealing with GBVF.
- Prioritising training and Capacity Building in the Provincial and Local Government Spheres and civil society organisations to change societal attitudes, challenge harmful norms and promote gender equality.
GENDER RESPONSIVE PLANNING BUDGETING MONITORING EVALUATION AUDITING FRAMEWORK (GRPBMEAF): R 2.2 MILLION
Since 2019, National Departments and Provinces have been submitting reports on the implementation of the Gender Responsive Planning Budgeting Monitoring Evaluation Auditing Framework (GRPBMEAF).
This reporting demonstrates a growing commitment across various levels of government to uphold and advance gender-responsive and inclusive planning and budgeting. In 2023/24, the DWYPD extended its reach to SOEs, and several have intentionally included Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (WYPD) priorities.
ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS,
Honourable Chairperson.
We draw our strength from the belief that the fruits from our liberation and freedom are enjoyed by all.
Our minuscule budget notwithstanding, South Africa met all its international obligations relating to women, youth and persons with disabilities. Under South Africa’s Chairship of BRICS, in 2023, the department successfully hosted the BRICS Youth Summit and Ministerial Meeting; and the BRICS Women Ministers Meetings where Declarations were adopted.
I am proud to inform the House, that for the very first time a BRICS Women Ministers meeting was held as initiated by South Africa, and the current chair in 2024, Russia is taking up this initiative and will be hosting the second meeting of women ministers in Russia this year.
South Africa will also be taking over the chair of the G20 from November this year and we will be continuing the initiative started by India and taken forward by Brazil as its current chair, on the establishment of a Women’s Working Group.
The department is currently developing the National Review Report on the progress made in implementing the Beijing Platform for Action, and this national review will undertake wide consultation with the women of the country. We will be launching the country’s B+30 Report in August this year.
THE BUDGET OF THE DWYPD, Honourable Chairperson
The total appropriation of the department for the 2024/25 financial year remains unchanged at R1 billion. Included in this minuscule appropriation is an amount of R797.8 million, which is earmarked for transfer to the two entities, namely the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA). The remaining amount of R209.8 million is the operational appropriation that remains in the department.
This appropriation includes a baseline decrease amounting to R8.6 million of the operational budget, whilst the appropriation for CGE and NYDA was reduced by R4.8 million and R50.5 million. The final appropriation for CGE and NYDA is R93.6 million and R704.3 million respectively.
Chairperson, I hold the view that if nothing is done about the budget appropriation of the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, then we must all accept that we will be doing nothing more than paying lip-service to the betterment of women, the youth and people with disabilities. R209 million will not enable us to execute our huge mandate. We are committed to doing our best to achieve our mandate.
Honourable Chairperson,I wish to acknowledge the contributions and support made by the Chairperson Honourable Lindelwa Dunjwa and members of the Portfolio Committee. Furthermore, I also want to thank the Presidential Working Group on Disability, the Disability Rights Machinery, the Youth Machinery and Women’s Machinery for their continued support.
I also want to thank the Development Partners for their continued support of the Department. In addition, I want to thank the Deputy Minister Ms Mapaseka Steve Letsike, who is no stranger on the matters we are dealing with, I also would like to thank the entire Ministry Office staff for their support, our Director-General and her team for their hard work.
Honourable Chairperson and Members.
Let’s all commit to the responsibility and mission that the fruits of liberation and freedom will continue to be enjoyed by all.
Malibongwe!
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Deputy Minister Mmapaseka Steve Letsike: Women, Youth and Persson with Disabilities Dept Budget Vote 2024/25
House Chairperson,
Hnr Minister,
Chairperson and Members of the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities,
Honourable Members,
Fellow South Africans,
I must congratulate everyone who has been appointed to lead the 7th administration, following the clarion call made by South Africans on 29 May 2024 at the polls. We are confident that this administration, under the capable leadership of President Ramaphosa, will rise to the task of reinstalling dignity, and ensuring a better life for all so that South Africa truly belongs to all who live in it.
The will of South Africans from all walks of life was sealed and expressed through the peaceful and inclusive polls. It is also a stark reminder of the preamble in our Constitution that we all, and I quote:
“Believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity.”
Chairperson,
As we table the budget for the first year in the 7th Administration, I am reminded of the inaugural State-of-the-Nation address for our democracy by uTata Nelson Mandela when he said:
“The government I have the honour to lead and I dare say the masses who elected us to serve in this role, are inspired by the
single vision of creating a people-centred society.
Accordingly, the purpose that will drive this government shall be the expansion of the frontiers of human fulfilment, the
continuous extension of the frontiers of the freedom.
The acid test of the legitimacy of the programmes we elaborate, the government institutions we create, the legislation we adopt
must be whether they serve these objectives.
We must construct that people-centred society of freedom in such a manner that it guarantees the political and the human rights of all our citizens.”
We table this Budget to advance the ideals of a government that is people centered. This is a new chapter of a government that continues to expand the frontiers of freedom and guarantees the political and human rights of all citizens. Our government shall pass the acid test of legitimacy when evaluated against these ideals.
Chairperson,
I must commend the 6th Administration in that a target was set that in the 2020-2023 period, there will be directed focus on improving governance processes toward ensuring clean governance and management of the public purse.
We stand here today, with the department having received 4 unqualified audits opinions from the Auditor-General over the 2018/19 to 2022/23 financial years.
The occurrence of irregular expenditure was reduced from R47 million in the 2017/18 financial year to R187 000 in the 2023/24 financial year.
The department also improved on the payments of supplier invoices within 30 days, from 99.03% in 2019/20 to 100% in 2022/23.
The 7th Administration will build on this progress toward ensuring clean governance and accountability.
Chairperson,
The rampant levels of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide in South Africa are a direct attack on the Bill of Rights, particularly as women in our diversities in South Africa do not feel safe at work, in the streets, in places of learning, in spaces of worship and worse still, in our very homes.
This abhorrent social ill necessitated that the President declares Gender[1]Based Violence and Femicide as a second pandemic after COVID-19.
This adds to the other additional public health threats and pandemics that the country has been dealing with such as HIV and TB, which pandemics disproportionately affect women, youth, persons with disabilities and the LGBTQI+ community. The death of a single person is a death too many, and we all must be hostile to GBVF in all its iterations.
Engagements have been held with various stakeholders toward an all-of[1]society approach to ending this scourge, as we all agree that there is no single panacea to address the GBVF challenge. We have held the various Presidential Summits, and consequently, the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP on GBVF) has been developed and is being implemented. The President also assented to the National Council on GBVF Act, which act establishes a Council to better
coordinate our response the GBVF pandemic.
The National Council on GBVF Act mandates us all to engage in an integrated and holistic consultative approach to address among others, mental health and social ills such as substance abuse, harmful cultural practices and the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment, in which this case demands that prevention agenda be prioritised. These are some of the causes of teenage pregnancy, which should not be accepted as a norm in lite of statutory rape of which people must be held accountable for and also address the prevalence of HIV and STIs. In the heart of this, as a country we should deal with patriarchy, misogyny, sexism and homophobia.
Chairperson,
I must stress that our approach to GBVF cannot be business as usual.
The implementation of the NSP on GBVF and its linked programmes are currently not funded adequately, given the current status quo. That reality must change.
We call on Parliament to lobby that more funds be directed to what remains one of the biggest challenges facing the women of South Africa who make up more than half of the population.
Honourable members,
The Department continues to strengthen the implementation of the
Sanitary Dignity Implementation Framework.
The Department undertook interventions to support the economic
empowerment, participation and ownership of women youth and persons
with disabilities through collaboration with the Department of Small
Business Development (DSBD) on the Sanitary Dignity Programme
(SDP). In this context, we are working on value chain management within
the sanitary dignity process, to ensure that certain designated groups
benefit from procurement set asides in the implementation of the
framework.
A Business case study has been developed which includes empowerment
through support programmes to ensure competence in doing business
with the government. The aim of the research for this Business Case on
Sanitary Dignity Programme has been to examine economic opportunities
– especially for the participation of women SMMEs in the manufacturing,
storage, packaging, distribution and waste management industry within
the sanitary value chain, while not forgetting the main purpose being to
promote menstrual health for young girls at school.
7
It is our wish that South Africa steps towards adequate access of sanitary
products for all young women in their diversities no matter the financial
situation with dignity and pride.
Chairperson,
The Constitution provides that:
“Everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal
protection and benefit of the law. Equality includes the full and equal
enjoyment of all rights and freedoms.”
Consequently, the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities is implementing legislative and other measures to protect and advance the rights of persons with disabilities.
It is trite that the challenges experienced by persons with disabilities are gendered, and young girls and women with disabilities remain vulnerable and victims of gender-based violence femicide and crime, to the point of having children whose fathers are not known. The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities working with the JCPS Cluster departments will continue to raise awareness on access to justice and redress for persons with disabilities to ensure that they fully access the social and justice system.
The department in collaboration with the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation conducted an evaluation on the
implementation of the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities covering the period between 2017-2022, to identify gaps that exist in implementing the policy directives and the nine strategic pillars to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities in the country.
We will continue to analyze draft Annual Performance Plans of government departments to promote disability-inclusive planning in the country.
Unemployment remains a significant challenge for persons with disabilities in South Africa. To address this, the Cabinet approved the 6th annual progress report on the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities with a recommendation that all government departments and state-owned entities are required to increase the equity target for persons with disabilities from the minimum 2% to 3% for the 2024- 2025 financial year towards a progressive realisation of the 7% employment equity target by 2030 as required by the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the National Development Plan.
For effective advocacy and mainstream for disability inclusion, the department must strengthen the policy and legislative environment, strengthen institutional mechanisms for disability mainstreamed delivery of services, stakeholder engagement and management and increase awareness raising programs on disabilities. All these is achieved through collaborative consultation , planning, execution with the disability sector of organizations of and for persons with Disabilities.
The National Disability Rights Machinery ensures interface and integration of the disability agenda between government and civil society in line with the “”Nothing about us without us” principle to maximize the effective participation and representative voice of persons with disabilities as contained in the United Nations Convention and the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
We have signed an MOU with the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) to establish a Disability Centre to develop programmes for persons with disabilities. The Centre will also establish a workshop to manufacture the assistive devices that are so needed by persons with disabilities.
To strengthen the involvement of the sector, the President furthermore has established the Presidential Working Group on Disability as an advisory body on matters of disability. This forum will continue to serve a body where issues affecting persons with disability are brought to the
attention of the Executive.
The South African Law Reform Commission is in the process of developing the Disability Rights Bill to regulate the rights of persons with disabilities, and it is a priority for my department.
The Discussion Paper will be widely consulted with citizenry in this financial year.
We have also gazetted and published four strategic frameworks on disability, namely Universal Design and Access, Reasonable
Accommodation, Awareness Raising and Self Representation. All duty bearers have been capacitated on the frameworks to mainstream for disability inclusion. It is mandatory for all duty bearers to develop implementation plans in line with the frameworks.
Disability is not homogenous and is very diverse. To remove barriers limiting participation of persons with disabilities and discriminatory practices that perpetuate stereotypes, negative attitudes, perceptions and myths, the Department is developing Advocacy Manuals on different disabilities from a human rights perspective to educate and increase awareness and education on Disabilities to broader society.
We have further managed to mainstream for disability in BRICS and submitted the concept for the establishment of the BRICS Disability Forum. The member states have adopted and approved its establishment.
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities branch has a budget of R4 million for goods and services for Advocacy, Mainstreaming, Monitoring and Evaluation. It is therefore impossible for this unit to reach out effectively and support the disability sector.
Parliament is requested to advocate for a better budget in this regard.
Chairperson,
South Africa ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2007 and is under an obligation in terms of the Convention to domesticate its articles and to implement the rights of persons with disabilities outlined in the convention. During 2024-2025, South Africa is required to submit the 2nd, 3rd and 4th periodic UN country report to respond to the UNCRPD Committee's concluding observations made in 2018 and its List of Issues released in September 2023.
We are leading the coordination of the development of this report and will communicate and consult with all government departments and stakeholders. During 2024-2025 the DWYPD will undertake a research project to develop an evidential basis to understand the challenges experienced by persons with disabilities more importantly propose recommendations by the findings of the research. The report will serve as a leading source document to guide government departments and stakeholders when considering policies and interventions in climate change.
Honourable members,
The Council for Gender Equality serves to strengthening and deepening constitutional democracy in South Africa through the promotion, protection, development, and attainment of gender equality.
Through this mandate, the CGE has successfully litigated women’s rights, e.g. litigation on redistribution orders in the constitutional court. Furthermore, the CGE has led and supported Ms Caster Semenya’s World Athletics case at the equality court advocating for fairness and equality in sport.
Due to its resource restriction, the commission is finding it challenging to increase its reach in all communities due to budget constraints and limited resources. This limits its mandate as a chapter 9 institution that is accountable to Parliament.
The latest baseline allocation as received from the National Treasury for the 2024/2025 financial year is R93,6 million which is R7 million less than the 2022/23 financial year baseline allocation.
I implore this house to advocate for a better allocation of resources as the equality of women is necessary for the liberation of our country. This was articulated aptly by the OR Tambo when he said: “South Africa will never be free as long as women are not free.”
In conclusion,
Indeed, we can do more working together, as we remain loyal to the mandate of improving the livelihood of the people and more importantly Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities as vulnerable groups in society. Ours is a mandate to advance government’s commitment to achieve gender equality and improve the lives of people in South Africa. It is now or never.
The department’s Budget Vote make a solemn pledge that seeks to liberate women, youth and persons with disability in their diversities in their homes, streets, workplaces, and every space they occupy.
I join Minister Chikunga to table Budget Vote 20 for the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, for the 7th Administration.
I thank you.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Deputy Minister Mmapaseka Steve Letsike: Women, Youth and Persson with Disabilities Dept Budget Vote 2024/25
House Chairperson,
Hnr Minister,
Chairperson and Members of the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities,
Honourable Members,
Fellow South Africans,
I must congratulate everyone who has been appointed to lead the 7th administration, following the clarion call made by South Africans on 29 May 2024 at the polls. We are confident that this administration, under the capable leadership of President Ramaphosa, will rise to the task of reinstalling dignity, and ensuring a better life for all so that South Africa truly belongs to all who live in it.
The will of South Africans from all walks of life was sealed and expressed through the peaceful and inclusive polls. It is also a stark reminder of the preamble in our Constitution that we all, and I quote:
“Believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity.”
Chairperson,
As we table the budget for the first year in the 7th Administration, I am reminded of the inaugural State-of-the-Nation address for our democracy by uTata Nelson Mandela when he said:
“The government I have the honour to lead and I dare say the masses who elected us to serve in this role, are inspired by the
single vision of creating a people-centred society.
Accordingly, the purpose that will drive this government shall be the expansion of the frontiers of human fulfilment, the
continuous extension of the frontiers of the freedom.
The acid test of the legitimacy of the programmes we elaborate, the government institutions we create, the legislation we adopt
must be whether they serve these objectives.
We must construct that people-centred society of freedom in such a manner that it guarantees the political and the human rights of all our citizens.”
We table this Budget to advance the ideals of a government that is people centered. This is a new chapter of a government that continues to expand the frontiers of freedom and guarantees the political and human rights of all citizens. Our government shall pass the acid test of legitimacy when evaluated against these ideals.
Chairperson,
I must commend the 6th Administration in that a target was set that in the 2020-2023 period, there will be directed focus on improving governance processes toward ensuring clean governance and management of the public purse.
We stand here today, with the department having received 4 unqualified audits opinions from the Auditor-General over the 2018/19 to 2022/23 financial years.
The occurrence of irregular expenditure was reduced from R47 million in the 2017/18 financial year to R187 000 in the 2023/24 financial year.
The department also improved on the payments of supplier invoices within 30 days, from 99.03% in 2019/20 to 100% in 2022/23.
The 7th Administration will build on this progress toward ensuring clean governance and accountability.
Chairperson,
The rampant levels of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide in South Africa are a direct attack on the Bill of Rights, particularly as women in our diversities in South Africa do not feel safe at work, in the streets, in places of learning, in spaces of worship and worse still, in our very homes.
This abhorrent social ill necessitated that the President declares Gender[1]Based Violence and Femicide as a second pandemic after COVID-19.
This adds to the other additional public health threats and pandemics that the country has been dealing with such as HIV and TB, which pandemics disproportionately affect women, youth, persons with disabilities and the LGBTQI+ community. The death of a single person is a death too many, and we all must be hostile to GBVF in all its iterations.
Engagements have been held with various stakeholders toward an all-of[1]society approach to ending this scourge, as we all agree that there is no single panacea to address the GBVF challenge. We have held the various Presidential Summits, and consequently, the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP on GBVF) has been developed and is being implemented. The President also assented to the National Council on GBVF Act, which act establishes a Council to better
coordinate our response the GBVF pandemic.
The National Council on GBVF Act mandates us all to engage in an integrated and holistic consultative approach to address among others, mental health and social ills such as substance abuse, harmful cultural practices and the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment, in which this case demands that prevention agenda be prioritised. These are some of the causes of teenage pregnancy, which should not be accepted as a norm in lite of statutory rape of which people must be held accountable for and also address the prevalence of HIV and STIs. In the heart of this, as a country we should deal with patriarchy, misogyny, sexism and homophobia.
Chairperson,
I must stress that our approach to GBVF cannot be business as usual.
The implementation of the NSP on GBVF and its linked programmes are currently not funded adequately, given the current status quo. That reality must change.
We call on Parliament to lobby that more funds be directed to what remains one of the biggest challenges facing the women of South Africa who make up more than half of the population.
Honourable members,
The Department continues to strengthen the implementation of the
Sanitary Dignity Implementation Framework.
The Department undertook interventions to support the economic
empowerment, participation and ownership of women youth and persons
with disabilities through collaboration with the Department of Small
Business Development (DSBD) on the Sanitary Dignity Programme
(SDP). In this context, we are working on value chain management within
the sanitary dignity process, to ensure that certain designated groups
benefit from procurement set asides in the implementation of the
framework.
A Business case study has been developed which includes empowerment
through support programmes to ensure competence in doing business
with the government. The aim of the research for this Business Case on
Sanitary Dignity Programme has been to examine economic opportunities
– especially for the participation of women SMMEs in the manufacturing,
storage, packaging, distribution and waste management industry within
the sanitary value chain, while not forgetting the main purpose being to
promote menstrual health for young girls at school.
7
It is our wish that South Africa steps towards adequate access of sanitary
products for all young women in their diversities no matter the financial
situation with dignity and pride.
Chairperson,
The Constitution provides that:
“Everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal
protection and benefit of the law. Equality includes the full and equal
enjoyment of all rights and freedoms.”
Consequently, the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities is implementing legislative and other measures to protect and advance the rights of persons with disabilities.
It is trite that the challenges experienced by persons with disabilities are gendered, and young girls and women with disabilities remain vulnerable and victims of gender-based violence femicide and crime, to the point of having children whose fathers are not known. The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities working with the JCPS Cluster departments will continue to raise awareness on access to justice and redress for persons with disabilities to ensure that they fully access the social and justice system.
The department in collaboration with the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation conducted an evaluation on the
implementation of the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities covering the period between 2017-2022, to identify gaps that exist in implementing the policy directives and the nine strategic pillars to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities in the country.
We will continue to analyze draft Annual Performance Plans of government departments to promote disability-inclusive planning in the country.
Unemployment remains a significant challenge for persons with disabilities in South Africa. To address this, the Cabinet approved the 6th annual progress report on the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities with a recommendation that all government departments and state-owned entities are required to increase the equity target for persons with disabilities from the minimum 2% to 3% for the 2024- 2025 financial year towards a progressive realisation of the 7% employment equity target by 2030 as required by the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the National Development Plan.
For effective advocacy and mainstream for disability inclusion, the department must strengthen the policy and legislative environment, strengthen institutional mechanisms for disability mainstreamed delivery of services, stakeholder engagement and management and increase awareness raising programs on disabilities. All these is achieved through collaborative consultation , planning, execution with the disability sector of organizations of and for persons with Disabilities.
The National Disability Rights Machinery ensures interface and integration of the disability agenda between government and civil society in line with the “”Nothing about us without us” principle to maximize the effective participation and representative voice of persons with disabilities as contained in the United Nations Convention and the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
We have signed an MOU with the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) to establish a Disability Centre to develop programmes for persons with disabilities. The Centre will also establish a workshop to manufacture the assistive devices that are so needed by persons with disabilities.
To strengthen the involvement of the sector, the President furthermore has established the Presidential Working Group on Disability as an advisory body on matters of disability. This forum will continue to serve a body where issues affecting persons with disability are brought to the
attention of the Executive.
The South African Law Reform Commission is in the process of developing the Disability Rights Bill to regulate the rights of persons with disabilities, and it is a priority for my department.
The Discussion Paper will be widely consulted with citizenry in this financial year.
We have also gazetted and published four strategic frameworks on disability, namely Universal Design and Access, Reasonable
Accommodation, Awareness Raising and Self Representation. All duty bearers have been capacitated on the frameworks to mainstream for disability inclusion. It is mandatory for all duty bearers to develop implementation plans in line with the frameworks.
Disability is not homogenous and is very diverse. To remove barriers limiting participation of persons with disabilities and discriminatory practices that perpetuate stereotypes, negative attitudes, perceptions and myths, the Department is developing Advocacy Manuals on different disabilities from a human rights perspective to educate and increase awareness and education on Disabilities to broader society.
We have further managed to mainstream for disability in BRICS and submitted the concept for the establishment of the BRICS Disability Forum. The member states have adopted and approved its establishment.
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities branch has a budget of R4 million for goods and services for Advocacy, Mainstreaming, Monitoring and Evaluation. It is therefore impossible for this unit to reach out effectively and support the disability sector.
Parliament is requested to advocate for a better budget in this regard.
Chairperson,
South Africa ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2007 and is under an obligation in terms of the Convention to domesticate its articles and to implement the rights of persons with disabilities outlined in the convention. During 2024-2025, South Africa is required to submit the 2nd, 3rd and 4th periodic UN country report to respond to the UNCRPD Committee's concluding observations made in 2018 and its List of Issues released in September 2023.
We are leading the coordination of the development of this report and will communicate and consult with all government departments and stakeholders. During 2024-2025 the DWYPD will undertake a research project to develop an evidential basis to understand the challenges experienced by persons with disabilities more importantly propose recommendations by the findings of the research. The report will serve as a leading source document to guide government departments and stakeholders when considering policies and interventions in climate change.
Honourable members,
The Council for Gender Equality serves to strengthening and deepening constitutional democracy in South Africa through the promotion, protection, development, and attainment of gender equality.
Through this mandate, the CGE has successfully litigated women’s rights, e.g. litigation on redistribution orders in the constitutional court. Furthermore, the CGE has led and supported Ms Caster Semenya’s World Athletics case at the equality court advocating for fairness and equality in sport.
Due to its resource restriction, the commission is finding it challenging to increase its reach in all communities due to budget constraints and limited resources. This limits its mandate as a chapter 9 institution that is accountable to Parliament.
The latest baseline allocation as received from the National Treasury for the 2024/2025 financial year is R93,6 million which is R7 million less than the 2022/23 financial year baseline allocation.
I implore this house to advocate for a better allocation of resources as the equality of women is necessary for the liberation of our country. This was articulated aptly by the OR Tambo when he said: “South Africa will never be free as long as women are not free.”
In conclusion,
Indeed, we can do more working together, as we remain loyal to the mandate of improving the livelihood of the people and more importantly Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities as vulnerable groups in society. Ours is a mandate to advance government’s commitment to achieve gender equality and improve the lives of people in South Africa. It is now or never.
The department’s Budget Vote make a solemn pledge that seeks to liberate women, youth and persons with disability in their diversities in their homes, streets, workplaces, and every space they occupy.
I join Minister Chikunga to table Budget Vote 20 for the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, for the 7th Administration.
I thank you.
Audio
No related
Documents
No related documents