CGE Presentation 11 August 2010

1. CGE Presentation 11 August 2010

2. Index Mandate Strategic Plan Provinces: POA 2009-2010 Turn Around Strategy

3. Our mandate The Commission on Gender Equality was created in terms of Section 187 of the Constitution of SA, to strengthen and deepen constitutional democracy in South Africa. The Commission on Gender Equality Act 39 of 1996 charges the CGE with a mandate to promote respect for, as well as promote the protection, development and attainment of gender equality. VisionA society free from all forms of gender oppression and inequality MissionPromotion, Protection, Monitoring and Evaluation of gender equality in South Africa

4. How should we execute this mandate? • Monitor • Investigate • Research • Educate • Lobby • Advise Parliament and report on issues concerning gender equality

5. Thematic areas • Gender and Poverty • Gender Based Violence • Gender, Democracy and Good Governance • Gender, Culture, Religion and Traditional Practices • Gender, HIV and AIDS • National Gender Machinery

6. Strategic Goals and Objectives: 2008-2013 • Gender & Poverty • Goals and objectives: In partnership with various stakeholders, monitor the standard of living and quality of life of South African women, including female-headed households, using access to land, water, sanitation, and transport infrastructure as key points. The CGE monitors, researches and educates around government strategies and programmes, particularly at local levels, specifically aimed at poverty eradication. The CGE makes annual submissions with recommendations to Parliament and key departments in this regard

7. Cont. Gender-based violence Goals: Co-operating with strategic partners, work towards the creation of a violence free society by significantly reducing gender-based violence Objectives: Ensure that the national legislative and policy frameworks comply with all international gender-based violence instruments/protocols to which the South African government is a signatory. Monitor enforcement of legislation seeking to address gender-based violence and improvement of effectiveness of service delivery. Undertake community awareness interventions and receive and act upon complaints.

8. Cont. Democracy and Good Governance Goals: In partnership with civil society, CGE monitors compliance with gender equality legislative and policy framework, gender mainstreaming and good practice Objectives:Ensure that all legislation has been assessed from a gender equality perspective. Using Gender Barometer, track implementation of gender equality legislation and policy framework by government. Engage with judiciary, private sector, political parties and media to promote gender equality and women’s representation in these sectors. Monitor implementation of 50/50 campaign and assess women’s participation in elections.

9. Cont. Gender, cultures, religions and traditional practices Goals: The CGE evaluates the role which South African cultures, religions and traditions play in contributing towards gender inequality, works towards rectifying these inequalities and puts in place mechanisms for ongoing monitoring of gender transformation Objectives: In conjunction with civil society partners and leadership in these sectors, raise awareness among communities about the mandate of the CGE, women’s rights and gender equality. Undertake test cases where necessary to challenge inequality. Develop interventions to change gender perceptions, address inequalities, and manage complaints.

10. Cont. Gender and HIV and AIDS Goals: The CGE monitors and makes recommendations on the gendered responsive nature of government’s existing HIV/AIDS legislation and programmes in terms of prevention, care, treatment and support Objectives: CGE assesses the extent to which the Broad Framework for HIV/AIDS and STI Strategic Plan for South Africa 2007-2011 reduces women’s and girl child’s vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. In partnership with civil society stakeholders, undertake awareness and advocacy interventions to address issues relating to women’s vulnerability and inequality

11. Cont. National Gender Machinery Goals: As part of the NGM, the CGE seeks to monitor the implementation, development and efficacy of the NGM at all levels, and ensure the adequate implementation of international and regional conventions ratified by South Africa, impacting on gender equality and women’s status. Objectives:The CGE engages with the NGM at national and provincial levels, to both monitor and strengthen its efficacy, undertaking joint interventions where necessary. The CGE undertakes monitoring and research interventions to assess South Africa’s implementation of Beijing, CEDAW and MDG obligations, sharing findings with South African and UN stakeholders in this regard, and advising Parliament of shortcomings and recommendations.

12. POA 2010/2011: Highlights Theme 1 Poverty: Monitor Government progress on MDGs, hearings on gender & energy; maternity benefits campaign Theme 2 GBV: Human Trafficking – Red Card campaign; monitoring implementation of legislation Theme 3 D&GG: Monitoring Local Government elections; Gender Barometer; Gender transformation in the workplace Theme 4 CR&T: Conference on CR&T; study on Ukuthwala Theme 5 HIV and AIDS: Monitor National Strategic Plan on HIV and AIDS Theme 6 NGM: CEDAW and Beijing reports; Review SA Reservations in terms of African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights of Women in Africa

13. Eastern Cape Free State Gauteng Kwa-Zulu Natal Limpopo Mpumalanaga North-West Northern Cape Western Cape • Provincial Coordinator • Legal Officer • Education Officer • Researcher • Provincial Admin • Office Assistant Provincial Coordinator Legal Officer Education Officer Researcher Provincial Admin Office Assistant Provincial Coordinator Legal Officer Education Officer Researcher Provincial Admin Office Assistant Provincial Coordinator Legal Officer Education Officer Researcher Provincial Admin Office Assistant Provincial Coordinator Legal Officer Education Officer Researcher Provincial Admin Office Assistant Provincial Coordinator Legal Officer Education Officer Researcher Provincial Admin Office Assistant Provincial Coordinator Legal Officer Education Officer Researcher Provincial Admin Office Assistant Provincial Coordinator Legal Officer Education Officer Researcher Provincial Admin Office Assistant Provincial Coordinator Legal Officer Education Officer Researcher Provincial Admin Office Assistant & Parliamentary Officer Provincial Structure

14. KZN- Key Achievements • Dialogue on Traditional practices – consultative workshop with stakeholders (SALC, KZN Legislature, govt. departments etc.) • Launch of C9 forum. Collaboration, support and accessibility • Manyiseni complaint • Community meetings • Petition • Monitoring Roundtable meetings on EEC findings • Beijing and CEDAW reports – 9 out of twelve departments submitted reports • Maternity benefits dialogues • Discrimination in public transport

15. KZN • Human trafficking task team – ascribes to prevention (awareness and education), protection (integration of services), partnerships (encourage partnership between govt and civil society, monitor and address factors of HPPB and prosecution (ensure proper processes in place to investigate and prosecute cases) • Public awareness • Media strategy for world cup drafted • Popularising Karridene, Beijing and CEDAW • Training of VEF • Information sessions with men in partnership with Men’s Forum • Sundumbili • Wentworth • Cato Manor

16. KZN- Challenges & Constraints • Increase in incidents of GBV • Poor communication between complainants and investigations • Magistrates and attorneys question involvement of the CGE • More cases on culture and human rights • Poor/Non compliance by departments • Resources • Poor/Lack of continuity

17. KZN- Partnerships • Partnerships with local organisations in delivery of programmes • Gay Centre • UKZN • NPA • Legal Resources Centre • SASEWA • Gina Barbieri • South African Law Reform Commission • Sisters of Faith in Action (SOFIA) – women of faith based across • UNFPA • C9

18. KZN- M&E • The monitoring and evaluation strategies to be utilised to ensure the success of projects/programmes • Gender Barometer – timed monitoring • Regular Forums on various issues e.g. GBV forum • Develop strategies for each thematic area.

19. EC- Key Achievements • Gender & Poverty: • Information Session was held at Makana Local Municipality in order to popularise communities on MDG’s whilst also ascertaining whether these are being achieved or not. • As part of our monitoring, made inputs on African Peer Review Mechanism workshops organized by Premier’s Office. • Organized a dialogue at Buffalo City Municipality in Duncan Village on impact of migration and its relevance to increasing levels of poverty and collaborated with Home Affairs Centre for Refugee and BCM • Made inputs on Iya ( ImbumbaYamakhosikaziAkomkhulu) document which has a number of programmes including poverty alleviation, infusing gender equality on their programmes which is intended for rural women. • The collaboration with IYA was also aimed at responding to issues emerging which are most times referring to traditional practises. • Conducted research study on Beijing Plat Form of Action and the Land study in order to inform National Report.

20. EC- Key Achievements • Gender Based Violence seems to be the most pressing issue affecting the province together with poverty. CGE Eastern Cape has put more efforts to address the scourge of GBV. This has been done through : • Workshops, Dialogues, Campaigns and discussions through Radio Programmes • Two workshops were conducted on Human Trafficking, sex work looking at the 2010 World Cup. One of the workshops was conducted in partnership with MoloSongololo. These workshops were held in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Municipality including Uitehage and City Hall Central because of the severeity of the cases in the area which involve sex work. One of the cases resulted in the death of a young woman in Port Elizabeth. • Men and Boy’s dialogue was held in partnership with the Eastern Cape Council of Churches and People Against Gender Based Violence at Zwelitsha, Buffalo City Municipality. The focus of the workshop was on initiation because some cases of rape that are reported in the province are as a result of a practise undertaken by the initiates when they come out of initiation school which it is purported that it gets rid of bad luck. These cases of rape are largely reported around Zwelitsha and Dimbaza. • Continue to engage traditional leaders on the issue of ukuthwala which largely includes GBV in the form of rape, physical abuse etc. • Participated in other stakeholders programmes that seek to bring about awareness on gender based violence.

21. EC- Key Achievements • DG&G • We have continued to play a supportive role to the Parliamentary Officer’s work by making inputs on the proposed submission to parliament by CGE in terms of section 11 (1) ( c) of the CGE ACT, which states that CGE shall evaluate any Act of Parliament, any system of personal and family law or custom, any system of indigenous law, customs or practices and any other law. • In puts were made on the following Bills: • Criminal Law Amendment Bill • Recognition of Customary Law Bill • Marriage Amendments Bill • Adult Prostitution Bill • Trafficking Bill • Traditional Courts Bill etc. • Although the office has made inputs on these legislation it will be ideal if the provinces could have Parliamentary officers taking into consideration Provincial Government and Local Government proposed Bills and by laws. • Furthermore, having one legal Officer per province is not an ideal situation taking into consideration the three spheres of government i.e. National, Provincial and Local Government including Provincial House of Traditional Leaders and the levels of gender inequality disparities experienced. Through the researcher in the Province we managed to produce monitoring research reports on the following areas which inform the National Research reports in terms of our monitoring role and in terms of section 11 (1) (j) of the CGE ACT. • The CGE Eastern Cape office has made inputs on the following research • projects in terms of monitoring role namely: • National Election Monitoring 2009 • Land Study Report • Beijing Plat form for Action (shadow report) • Made inputs to the analysis of the National Government Strategy on HIV and AIDS using the gender lens.

22. EC- Key Achievements • CR&T • Most work has been done in this area with particular focus on Ukuthwala as custom, succession, and taking complaints from the Public. • The Commission for Gender Equality in partnership with South African Human Rights and United Nation Population Fund have embarked on a vigorous programme that seeks to educate and inform the public in particular in areas such as Lusikisiki, Tabankulu, Engcobo around the issue of Ukuthwala . • The programmes are targeting Traditional leaders, Community Development Workers, and Advice Centres in the former Transkei area as most incidents of Ukuthwala are largely reported in that area. To date the following programmes have been implemented in responding to this thematic area to address the scourge ukuthwala and plight of girl children: • Provincial Seminar on Ukuthwala (engaging the Traditional Leaders, Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature, OR Tambo District Municipality, CBO’s and affected children. This seminar enabled both CGE, SAHRC to come up with programmes that will respond to the issue that include community dialogues, workshops with CDW’s, Traditional Leaders • Seminar has enabled CGE to make informed submission on the proposed bill on Ukuthwala • Take Government Departments into task with regards to lack of protection of the girl child ( Social Development especially those housed at centres • Conducted a workshop on Traditional Courts Bill ( the report of the workshop informed the CGE submission to Parliament. • Continue strengthening working relations with Provincial House of Traditional Leaders in particular Iya ( ImbumbaYamaKhosikaziakoMkhulu) • Workshop conducted on customary and religious marriages Act collaborated with Peddie Women’s Support Centre. • The continuing partnership with United Nation’s Population Fund, SAHRC and Premiers office has made it possible to reach out to the most remote rural areas of province and shared resources and expertise

23. EC- Key Achievements HIV & AIDS Two dialogue’s were conducted in collaboration with NAPWA on HIV and AIDS at Zwelitsha and Brown Farm (Makana Municipality) The CGE has also participated actively in workshops and conferences of the Eastern Cape Aids Council Strengthening Constitution and Gender Machinery. CGE Eastern Cape has good working relations with SAHRC, Office Public Protector; and these institutions have established Chapter Nine Forum in the Province which has Terms of Reference that regulate the working relationship. This is in line with the CGE Act 39 of 1996 section 11 (f) which stipulate that “ as far as is practicable we shall maintain close liaison with institutions,bodies or authoritieswith similar objectives. We have sound working relations with the Provincial Gender Machinery. Participate on other stakeholder’s activities that seek to promote Gender Equality and the Bill of Rights.

24. EC- Challenges & Constraints • The Eastern Cape has a population of 6.9.million people, made up of 38 local Municipalities with vast areas, six district municipalities and one metro but soon to have another one, i.e. Buffalo City • The CGE has a Provincial Office which has the following staff capacity of six staff members and four of these are programme staff i.e. Education Officer, Researcher, Legal Officer and supported by Provincial Coordinator • The provincial office serves the entire Province including areas that are close to KZN, Western Cape and Lesotho which make it difficult to cover all geographic areas of the Province because we are short staffed. • Provincial Administrator provide administration support to all the units including the Office of the Provincial Coordinator and Commissioner's Office. • Traditional practices that continue to infringe on other people’s rights such as Ukuthwala, Virginity Testing, Initiation and Circumcision. • Most laws that adopted by Parliament have not yet been translated into indigenous languages, making it difficult for rural communities to understand their basic rights. • Lack of response or cooperation by certain Government Departments when requested to provide information or complete questionnaires as part of administering our monitoring tools. • Budgetary constraints and resources. • Certain members of our society continue to ignore the basic cornerstone of our constitution such as equality based on gender, i.e.discriminating against women in succeeding as traditional leaders of their respective communities. This is evident from Bathekile Holomisa/Xhanti Sigcawu statement on Sigcawu traditional leadership dispute. This makes the work of the CGE difficult if a prominent member of our society continue to make such statements as opposed to upholding the constitution as member of parliament.

25. EC- Partnerships • Partnerships with local organisations in delivery of programmes • The Eastern Cape Chapter Nine Forum (CGE,SAHRC,OPP) with particular focus on Human Rights calendar events namely ( 21 March, 27,April, Women’s Month etc) and complaints handling. • University of Forth Hare Gender Forum awareness raising programmes on Gender Based Violence. • Eastern Cape Council of Churches • People Against Gender Based Violence (NGO) • Iya (ImbumbayamaKhosikaziakomkhulu launch and Programmes on ukuthwala) • MoloSongololo ( Human trafficking workshops) • United Population Fund (intervention ukuthwala Programme • Refugee centre Port Elizabeth (Home Affairs) • Women Against Women Abuse ( WAWA NGO) • Eastern Cape HIV/Aids Council • Progressive Women’s Movement • District and Local Municipalities • Provincial Gender Machinery • Child Welfare • WARD

26. EC-M&E • The monitoring and evaluation strategies to be utilised to ensure the success of projects/programmes • Through the funding and resources mobilization that has been made available by UNFP we have started with the programmes of capacitating traditional leaders on gender equality and Human Rights. • Engaged Civil Society organizations by signing TOR’s with them, which outline programmes that we will be conducting jointly with them in line with the CGE mandate. In so doing, maximising the minimal resources at the CGE’s disposal and providing capacity as well strengthening working relations. • In a process of establishing community response teams by engaging the existing structures in the communities to work closely with CGE in particular on rural areas. This also has been made possible by partnership with UNFPA, Premier’s Office and SAHRC. • Continue to formulate media statements to denounce gender discrimination and Gender Based Violence and in so doing popularizing the work of CGE and invite the Public to use our services.

27. Turn Around Strategy The purpose is to provide the Committee with the following: An insight into the challenges prevailing in the CGE 2) The Course of action we would be pursuing to deal with these challenges 3) To solicit inputs aimed at refining the aforementioned course of action 4) The Financial Turn Around Strategy will strengthen & support the CGE’s performance

28. Turn Around Strategy Over the past few years, the AG has provided audit opinions on CGE’s conducting of financial affairs. These opinions have been predominantly negative as a result of shortcomings in the following areas: • Control environment • Control activities • Risk management • Information and communication • Monitoring

29. Turn Around Strategy • Control environment • Organisational structure • Management and staff authority and responsibility • HR policies • Integrity and ethical values not developed or understood • Accounting officer not exercising oversight responsibility • Lack of competent staff • Control Activities • Inadequate segregation of duties to prevent fraud and misappropriation • Poor controls which compromise the integrity of the information systems • Poor authorisation procedures • Failure to achieve financial reporting objectives • Control activities not selected to mitigate risks • Policies and procedures related to financial reporting not well established

30. Turn Around Strategy • Information and Communication • Unavailability of information to implement internal controls • Pertinent information not identified and captured in an appropriate manner and within requisite time frames • Communications not enabling the support and execution of internal controls • Monitoring • Ongoing monitoring and supervision not undertaken • No reviews by internal audit or audit committee • Internal control deficiency not identified and communicated • Corrective actions not taken

31. Turn Around Strategy • Scope of Project Clean CGE Audit Project clean audit endeavours to move the organisation from having received a disclaimer to having an unqualified audit in future by addressing: • Control activities • Risk management • Information and communication • Monitoring • The three key activities which are being pursued cover the following 3 focus areas: • Finance • Human Resource • Governance and Business Process Improvement

32. Turn Around Strategy • Finance • Leases • Fixed asset count • Liabilities - Payroll • Liabilities - sundry trade and staff creditors • Current asset • Petty cash • Cash and bank • Income expenditure • Audit office and reporting • Internal controls

33. Turn Around Strategy Human Resource Employee personal records Payroll and related records Performance Management system Recruitment for critical positions Job evaluation and Organisational structure Governance and business process Improvements Supply chain management Budget control Compliance to treasury regulations Month end policies Document management Capacity building within the Finance department

34. Turn Around Strategy Anticipated Outcomes The following are anticipated outcomes: 1) Movement from disclaimer to qualified audit in year one. 2) Movement from qualified audit to unqualified audit in year two. 3) Sustaining of unqualified audit opinion in year three. 4) Improved Organisational Performance

35. THANK YOU