The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) commends the Minister of Correctional Services, Mr Sibusiso Ndebele for taking bold steps in addressing gender parity within his department. The CGE is hugely encouraged at transformation commitments and interventions envisaged by the department – with women comprising 42% of senior management positions, we truly feel that the department has put gender on the agenda.
The CGE had called upon this department to appear before it in an employment equity investigative hearing in Braamfontein in 2010 and raised a number of concerns regarding gender parity. We are pleased that the Ministry and the department have taken those recommendations seriously. Noting that women comprise only 27% of salary levels three to seven, this concerns us that the majority of women are in these levels which raises questions about gender sensitive recruitment processes. The Minister needs to take a consented effort to appoint disable people, henceforth ensuring that the 2% of people with disability are within the system.
In this regard, the CGE trusts that the department will take further measures to address the recruiting, appointment and training of women and people with disabilities, through active measures such as learner ships and graduate in-training interventions. Also critical are measures such as ensuring the implementation of sexual harassment policy and other supporting policies relating to recruitment, promotion, and employee wellness.
“The CGE is hopeful that other private and public sectors will follow suit and ensure that gender transformation by 2015 is achieved in various entities” said CGE Chairperson Mr Mfanozelwe Shozi. With this call comes the responsibility of ensuring that the workplace environment is conducive for women and people with disabilities to advance.
