BRIEFING TO THE JOINT MULTI-PARTY - PowerPoint Presentation

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BRIEFING TO THE JOINT MULTI-PARTY WOMENS CAUCUS20 March 2016

Cllr

Sindiswa

Gomba:

National Commissioner

SALGA Women’s Commission Slide2

Outline of the Presentation Introduction Terms of Reference of the Women’s Caucus in Council Provincial Status Quo 50/50 Campaign & Plan of Action

Challenges

Recommendations

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Introduction & Background2011: Resolution for municipalities to establish Women’s Caucus as section 79 committees

2012 - 2015:

Development and Implementation of a

Programme

of Action for the SALGA Women’s Commission with emphasis on:

raising awareness on the different structures that operate at Local Government level notably the SWC, the Women’s Caucus and the SPUrole clarification for women structures (i) oversight role (ii) capacity building role (iii) advocacy and lobby role (iv) reporting role

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TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE WOMEN’S CAUCUS IN COUNCIL 4Slide5

EstablishmentSection 79(1) of the Municipal Structures Act makes provision for the establishment of one or more committees for the effective and efficient performance of its functions or to exercise of any of its powers

Established

by

the Municipal Council

with a view to promote Gender Equity and Equality

The term of office of the is aligned to serving as a Councillor

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CompositionAll women / female Councillors are members irrespective of political affiliationThe Speaker shall convene a Multi-Party meeting to formally establish a Women’s Caucus and the Chairperson will be elected in the first meeting.

The Speaker (if female) is not an automatic Chairperson of the Caucus, she only becomes the Chairperson if elected by the Caucus

In a case where the Executive Mayor, the Speaker and the Portfolio Head: Special

Programmes

are male, they CAN remain ex-officio members of the structure and will be invited by the Chairperson of the Caucus on a needs basis.

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Objectives of the Women’s CaucusWork towards profile building of women Councillors

for effective capacity

building

Ensure gender mainstreaming and equity within municipal

processes

Re-affirm and strengthen partnerships and networks that support women in Local Government, other spheres of government and civil

society 7Slide8

Objectives of the Women’s CaucusAct as an advisory and consultative body for all women Councilors raising and representing their interests within Municipal Council structures

Engage Council and its structures on empowerment issues affecting women in administration, politics and

community

Facilitate leadership and development for women in Council and its structures as to ensure their effective participation and

bargaining

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Roles and FunctionsLobby the municipality to develop, promote and implement gender policies and thereafter monitor and evaluate the impact of these policies

Oversee

that the IDP and budget are gender sensitive and that there is optimal women participation in these processes

Advise

and lobby for municipal interventions to enhance economic growth of

women

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Roles and FunctionsMonitor that the municipality reaches its employment equity targets at all levels of decision making

Create

public awareness about government policies and

programmes

aimed at the advancement of women and children rights and the rights of the

aged

Advocate and commission research on the impact of gender policies on women and girl children at the community level 10Slide11

Meetings & ReportingMeetingsMeetings of the Women’s Caucus shall be held at least once a

quarter

Special meetings

of the Caucus may be called by the Chairperson to deal with matters that are of an urgent nature or part

thereof

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Meetings & ReportingReportingReports of Women’s Caucus will be submitted to the Council through the Office of the Speaker

The Caucus may submit their inputs to the Mayor on any matter in which the views of the Women must be taken into account in the decision-making process of the

institution

The Mayor will channel such input to the relevant Standing Committee through the Portfolio Councilor or to the Municipal

Manager

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PROVINCIAL STATUS QUO & PROGRESS TO DATE (Attachment)

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50/50 CAMPAIGN14Slide15

National Representation of Women (Source IEC:

10

March

2016)

Province

PR

Ward

Total

Female

Male

Total

Female

Male

Total

Eastern Cape

367

431

798

275

440

715

1,513

Free State

164

195

359

97

220

317

676

Gauteng

230

312

542

193

315

508

1,050

KwaZulu-Natal

4305059351516778281,763Limpopo2863426282203235431,171Mpumalanga240226466138264402868North West215234449129254383832Northern Cape9711821571123194409Western Cape155263418139248387805Total2,1842,6264,8101,4132,8644,2779,087

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CommitmentCommitment at the 2015 National Lekgotla:To further strengthen the participation and representation of women in local governance and that would include integrating the 50/50 notion in SALGA governance programmes (for a gender balanced group of decision-makers at all

levels

)

Lobbying and supporting processes for the review and amendment of legislation and policies pertinent to the gender equality debate, in particular, the

Municipal Structures Act (1998) and the Local Government Municipal Electoral Act (2000), to

be aligned to the 50/50

quota To support advocacy, lobby groups, debate and discussions, education interventions, proposals and submissions16Slide17

Plan of ActionThe following action points are recommended:Roundtable with Political Parties

The

purpose of the roundtable will be to influence the political party

lists

Media Platforms

The briefings

will touch on a number of issues namely the 50/50 re-launch as well as voter education. Key stakeholders to form part of panel discussions include the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Identified platforms include the New Age Breakfast Briefing

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Plan of ActionRoadshowsThe purpose of the roadshows is to conduct voter education, encourage women to vote for other women on the lists as part of encouraging 50/50 representation, including awareness on the importance of having women in leadership positions as well as educating women about women structures in Local Government.

Ensuring

increasing numbers of women participate in public hearings and policy development processes.

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ChallengesThe following implementation

challenges

have been noted:

Municipalities regarding the establishment of women caucus (Section 79 portfolio

committees) as an option (location of the women’s caucus

remains a

challenge in terms of implementation of programmes)Structure not taken seriously by municipal leadershipSexism from male counter parts in executive positions

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ChallengesImplementation challenges cont.

Lack of financial

and human resources to run programmes

Lack of support from political heads and SPU administratorsLack of commitment from chairperson of women

No

clear programme of action

Poor attendance 20Slide21

RecommendationsWomen caucus programmes to be located in the

Mayor’s

office with a

budgetSALGA Women Commissioners of metros and districts submitting progress report Quarterly to Council

Submitting and tabling Resolutions of the Provincial

Makgotla

and National Lekgotla to Governance Structures including, ie Working Groups, NEC, Conferences and other IGR structures ie the Women’s League and Municipal Councils.

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RecommendationsConducting Workshops for Women’s Caucus (information sessions)

Campaigning

and lobbying for gender mainstreaming responsive and sensitive budgets

(IDPs)Facilitating skills

development

(training

and capacity building) of Women to ensure their meaningful participation and involvement in the socio economic development of the Province.22Slide23

Thank youWe still have a long way to go…!

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