Commission for Gender Equality: Policy Dialogue: Employment Equity Public Investigative Hearings
On 18 March 2014, the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) in Nutting House, Mpumalanga engaged with the following eleven entities, which had appeared before the Commission in October 2012, as part of the CGE’s enquiry and investigation into gender transformation in the workplace:
- TSB Sugar
- Mkhondo Local Municipality
- Msukalekwa Local Municipality
- Mbombela Local Municipality
- Emalahleni Local Municipality
- Buscor
- Department of Economic Development
- Department of Environment and Tourism
- Department of Education
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Public Works
The purpose of the event is to launch the CGE’s report capturing findings and recommendations from the Mpumalanga Employment Equity Investigative Public investigation, and outcomes of follow-up engagements with these entities. These entities were requested to report back on progress regarding implementation of CGE recommendations.
On the whole, the CGE was hugely encouraged at transformation commitments and interventions that these stakeholders have shepherded – we truly feel that they have placed gender on their agenda. Some are still not where they should be in terms of women in management – with women sitting on average at 20% representation in this tier.
The CGE commends entities, municipalities and government departments that have 51% representation of women in senior management. People with disabilities remain under-represented in the workplace generally, on average at 1% among these stakeholders, and particularly in management. It is a pity though that some of these institutions, the CGE had to use its legislative mandate for them to appear before the hearings.
“The CGE in Mpumalanga will continue to monitor these entities and provide transformation assistance as required, and will extend its future round of employment equity hearings to an additional set of stakeholders in the province. Findings and best practice will be integrated into the CGE’s take-up of these issues with national policy-makers and structures, hence this policy dialogue as part of a feedback session,” said Mr Mfanozelwe Shozi, the Chairperson of the Commission for Gender Equality.
