Address by Hon A T Didiza, Chairperson Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (Africa Region) at the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature Women’s Caucus Workshop - “The role of Women’s Caucus in the legislature in advancing the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)”
Chairperson of the KZN Legislature Women’s Caucus,
Chief Whip of the KZN Legislature,
Representative of UNDP,
Representative of UN Women,
Statistics South Africa,
Representative of the Gender Commission,
Honourable Members.
Today we commemorate sixty years of the Women’s March to Pretoria in which South African women from all walks of life were united in opposing the implementation of the repressive and discriminatory legislation by the then National Party regime known as the pass laws. It is important to note that this march formed part of the programme of action of the Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW) which was formed on the 17th of April 1954. The significance of FEDSAW was in its composition in that it brought together women across the political, class and religious divide.
This commemoration of the historic march in the calendar of our country serves as a reminder that women before us fought for the franchise of all our people and more particularly women. In the Women’s charter that they drafted and adopted, contained therein were the aspirations of the South Africa they wanted. A South Africa where there will be gender equality, a country where working conditions in particular of women will be improved, and economic opportunities would be accessible to all.
There are many women in this province across the political divide that continued to fight for women’s emancipation and their representation in decision making structures of institutions that govern them. Stalwarts such as Me Dorothy Nyembe; Florence Mkhize, Mama Kubheka and others are a reminder of the women’s struggles in this Province of KwaZulu Natal.
During the period of negotiations, women once again formed a coalition across the political, economic and class divide which fought for equal representation in the negotiations process. Some of the gains that we can recall during that period was the inclusion of the Equality Clause in our interim Constitution and the final Constitution which was adopted in 1996. Some of the women like our current Speaker Baleka Mbete, Frene Ginwala the Late Hon. Faith Gasa and Former Member of Parliament, Sheila Camera to name but a few were amongst those women who were critical in the making of a new South Africa.
At the heart of these continuous struggles by South African women was to ensure that women’s representation in decision making structures was not to be compromised. Today therefore we stand on the shoulders of these many women and others who ensured that women can be people’s representatives as legislatures and Parliamentarians.
It is important to note however that while women struggled with their menfolk side by side in pursuit of freedom, questions continued to be asked as to the difference that women’s participation and representation bring in parliaments and legislatures. In answering this question, I wish to reflect on the words of Dr Frene Ginwala in the Foreword on a Hand Book by International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) titled ‘Beyond the Numbers” in which she reflects on the essence of democracy.
Ginwala states that “the seed of democracy lies in the principle that the legitimacy of the power to make decisions about people’s lives, their society and their country should derive from a choice by those who will be affected. Ginwala further notes that the franchise was won through struggles and that today those who were excluded have won the right to both choose and be members of institutions of governance.
In our own context as South Africa we can attest that through our own struggles we have won the right to choose and be members of institutions of governance. We equally remain vigilant that in executing our responsibility as public representative, we are conscious that ours is also about ensuring that women’s interests are not sacrificed.
Twenty two years in our democracy, we can say with pride that the struggles by our forebears were not in vain. Women now occupy seats in the legislatures, parliaments, councils, Executives and the private sectors decision making structures. As women appreciate the strides that have been made thus far on representation ,it is concerning that the numbers of women in parliaments and legislatures are still low compared to the women population in our countries and globally.
It is for this reason that the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarian continue to strive for increase women participation in parliaments and legislatures. In order to improve the situation, women through their multiparty caucuses in legislatures will need to look at legislation such as the electoral act and see to what extent the act can be reformed to advance women representation.
Secondly, it is about looking at political party constitution and policies and ensures that these too are transformed and that clauses or principles of equality are engrained in such policy documents of parties. Thirdly, it is about advocacy, working with the civil society to argue for the increased participation of women.
What does it matter to have more women in parliament and legislatures?
It is important to note that the arguments for increased numbers of representation of women are not only informed by the franchise argument that women have a right like any other human being to choose and the part of the institutions of governance. It is also about the perspective that women bring in decision making that are informed by their lived experiences as well as the expertise they have which benefits society.
Dr Ginwala in dealing with the same question states “While the debate about enfranchisement of women and participation of women in decision making often focuses on issues of justice, equity and human rights, the representation of women and the inclusion of their perspective and experience into the decision-making process will inevitably lead to solutions that are more viable and satisfy a broader range of society. That is why women should be part of the process and why it matters: all of society benefits as we find a better and more appropriate solutions for our problems.
As women public representatives it is important to note that while we represent the entire electorate, in addition we need to ensure that issues of women and the girl child are not forgotten in policy, legislation and in allocation of resources through budgets. The Women’s Caucuses as a collective in parliaments and legislatures have to continue to advocate for women’s advancement and increased representation of women in decision making structures be it in the executive, public administration, judiciary and the corporate.
Today we are gathered here to deliberate on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. As a country we have been part of the development of these goals. As members of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians we have also ensured that the goals will address the issues that are of concern to women. Goal five for instance talks to the gender equality issue. In taking a cursory look at the SDGs, it is clear that there is a lot of convergence between these goals, our own National Development Plan (NDP) and the AU Agenda 2063.
The role of the Women’s caucus in ensuring the implementation of the SDGs
As parliamentarians and legislatures we are the representatives of our people. Our primary responsibility is to make laws, hold the executive accountable and ensure oversight in the implementation of policies, laws and programmes of government. The vexing question therefore is how we can exercise our responsibility as women legislatures to ensure implementation of the SDGs.
1. First and foremost working with the women’s caucus in Parliament we need to ensure that ratification of these goals are done if such is required as soon as it is possible
2. We need to ensure that at a Provincial level as Legislatures we need to familiarise ourselves with the SDGs.
3. It is important that we popularise the SDGs amongst our communities working in partnership with Civil Society Organisations
4. We need to engage Statistics South Africa on the indicators that will be used for measurement.
5. It is important to also to request departments to give us their plans on how they will implement SDGs
6. We need to ensure that the departmental plans are assessed annually against the budgets in order to ensure that the expenditure is consistent with the allocated
7. The Women’s caucus should ensure that they examine how women’s needs are to be addressed as they examine the departmental plans and budgets
8. Utilise the legislatures and parliament through question to Ministers and Members of the Executive Councils to assess progress on implementation
9. Oversight visits to communities can be utilised to ensure accountability.
It is necessary therefore that the Women’s Caucus should develop its own programme of action that will determine the areas of focus as it relates to women and girls. Monitoring and Evaluation tools have to be developed in order to ensure that progress and impact on programmes can be measured.
I trust that this workshop will lay a basis in which the Women’s Caucus can identify and develop their own programme of action on how as legislatures they can ensure the implementation of the SDGs.
I thank you!
