- HOME AFFAIRS
Internal Achievements
- The Deputy Minister is a woman.
- The Department’s Affirmative Action Policy commits the Department
to a target of 30% for women in middle and senior management by the
year 2000. The current position is 27.9%
- A Gender Desk was established in 1997 to focus on issues pertaining
to the advancement of women within the Department. It is guided by
the broad principles and policies formulated by the Department of Public
Service and Administration, the Office for the Status of Women and
the Commission on Gender Equality.
- Training on the Management of Diversity has been developed and presented
to employees in the Department. A significant portion of the course
deals with gender.
- The Department has undertaken a programme for the promotion of a
gender sensitive culture conducive to the advancement of women, through
workshops conducted at head office and throughout the regions.
- Gender issues are highlighted on an ongoing basis through the promotion
and commemoration of events such as National Women’s Day.
Achievements For South African Women
Policies and Legislation
- All laws and policies that discriminate against women, like the Aliens
Control Act, are being changed.
- Women and men now have equal rights with regard to the acquisition,
change and retention of nationality.
- Marriage to a non-citizen or change of nationality by a husband does
not affect a woman’s nationality
- Birth or parentage determines citizenship but not marriage.
- Equal rights exist for spouses in obtaining residence where a spouse
is a non-national
- Birth and parentage, on an equal basis determine the nationality of
a child.
- o A woman does not need the consent of her husband or male guardian
to obtain a passport to travel.
Budget Allocations
- Funding for gender projects has been allocated under the Department’s
Special programmes Directorate.