- PROVINCIAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Internal Achievements
- The Department has an official policy on acceleration of equality
between men and women.
- A Gender Committee has been established with representatives
from all sections of the Department to deal with strategic issues pertaining
to internal and
external gender planning and implementation.
Achievements For South African Women
Policies and Legislation
- The White Paper on Local Government (1998) stresses the important
role that women play at local government level. The Department is therefore
committed
to promoting greater representation of women in local government
and in promoting
greater understanding of the needs of women in its planning and
delivery of services.
- The Municipal Demarcation Act (1998), stipulated that the CGE would
form part of the Demarcation Selection Panel that will ensure
gender sensitivity
in the appointment of candidates for the Demarcation Board.
- The Municipal Structures Act (1998) encourages political parties
to make provision for a 50% gender quota on party lists, and
provides that
lists must
be drawn up in such a way that women and men candidates are
evenly distributed through the list so as to promote female candidacy
within political parties.
- The Disaster Management Act outlines a new approach to disaster
management and seeks to reduce the vulnerability of communities
most at risk, especially
women and children, through improved access to services,
development opportunities, information, education and empowerment.
- The Status Quo Paper on Traditional Affairs clarifies the
role of women in tribal authorities. Women in leadership
are marginalized.
There are
fewer than
10 female chiefs and hundreds of male chiefs.
Programmes and Activities
- The Department assists the development of women in rural areas and informal
settlements. Considering that local government is the level of
government that is closest to the people, and therefore is in the best
position
to involve women in decision-making about local living conditions.
- The Department has co-operated with other departments and NGOs on
issues related to the Beijing Commitments, CEDAW and women generally.
- The Municipal Infrastructure Programme presents participatory
planning processes where women and people with disabilities
are provided with
temporary employment
as construction, administration and supervision workers.
- Local government focuses on violence against women.
- A symposium on Sexual Harassment was held with NGOs and government
departments.
Budget Allocations
- Each chief directorate draws a budget plan for community projects from
the Department’s budget, and women benefit from this.