Premier Sihle Zikalala: KZN Women’s Parliament

Address by KwaZulu-Natal Premier Honourable Sihle Zikalala during the sitting of the KZN Women’s Parliament, 07 August 2020

Honourable Speaker, Ms N Boyce;
Honourable Deputy Speaker, Mr M Ndobe;
Honourable Members;
The people of KwaZulu-Natal;

Introduction: The people shall govern

Good morning to you all.

We gather today to account through the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature to the people of KwaZulu-Natal on the progress we have made in implementing the resolutions that were taken during the sitting of the last Women’s Parliament.

On behalf of the Executive Council, we will today be tabling a comprehensive report in this regard for ratification and adoption.

We view this sitting of the Women’s Parliament as a fulfilment of the Freedom Charter and a victory of our struggle against national oppression. It was South Africans from all walks of life who in issuing in 1954 a call for convening the Congress of the People and the drafting of the Freedom Charter said:

“We call the people of South Africa, black and white — Let us speak together of freedom!

And they said:

“We call the housewives and the mothers. Let us speak of the fine children that we bear, and of their stunted lives. Let us speak of the many illnesses and deaths, and of the few clinics and schools. Let us speak of high prices and of shanty towns. Let us speak of freedom.”

And 65 years ago, about 3000 delegates from all racial groups and every corner of our country gathered in Kliptown between 25 June and 26 June and adopted the Freedom Charter.

In adopting the Freedom Charter as the blueprint of the future of our country, our forebears said:

These freedom delegates declared in the first clause of the Freedom Charter that, “The People Shall Govern!” and stated that, “All people shall be entitled to take part in the administration of the country” and that “the rights of the people shall be the same, regardless of race, colour or sex.”

We salute the generations of women who were in the forefront of our heroic struggle for their contribution in ending racial tyranny in our beloved country.

After many years of struggle against the apartheid regime, in 1994 our country achieved a democratic breakthrough, and two years later in 1996, adopted our Constitution as the supreme law of the land.

Our Constitution reminds us as the public representatives that we serve at the behest of the people and that we are here for the sole reason to improve their lives.

Democratic participation, accountability and cooperative governance are values deeply entrenched in our Constitution in order to give effect to the Freedom Charter declaration that “The People Shall Govern!”.

Through our Parliament and our provincial legislatures, the Constitution enjoins us to account to the electorate and various sections of the South African society. It is for this reason that every year we hold, for instance, the “Youth Parliament”, the “Senior Citizens Parliament”, the “Workers Parliament”, and this “Women’s Parliament” taking place during South Africa’s Women’s month.

And as part of accounting on the progress we are making on the struggle for women’s emancipation, gender equality, and our fight against the scourge of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), yesterday the KwaZulu-Natal legislature dedicated a sitting debating this. Throughout August, our province has a comprehensive programme led by all our departments to advance the agenda of gender equality and attend to specific challenges faced by the women of KwaZulu-Natal during this challenging time of Covid-19.

Highlights of the resolutions and progress made

Honourable Members, the executive council has been seized with the implementation of Women’s Parliament as part of our transformation agenda.

Last year the Women’s Parliament resolved to explore increasing the nurses specialising in genetics and to ensure that sunscreens are available in all hospitals, especially for people living with albinism. We can report that genetics studies are currently covered in the nursing curriculum. The Department of Health is providing dermatology services, sunscreen, and sunglasses to persons with albinism to prevent skin cancer and eye problems.

The Women’s Parliament raised the challenge of the Department of Health and the Department of Education working in silos when it comes to HIV testing services. We wish to report that this remains a policy decision of the Department of Basic Education nationally not to provide HIV testing inside school premises. The Department of Health continues to offer such services outside school premises, and at our clinics and hospitals. The DoH is working collaboratively with DoE in the Health Promotion School Programme which includes HIV testing and Reproduction Health Services.

It was also resolved to ensure that clinics should be operational after 16H00 to accommodate learners and workers.

We can report that The KZN Department of Health remains committed in ensuring universal coverage. Currently there are 63 facilities offering services 24h00; 48 facilities offering services over 12hrs; 49 facilities on 11 hours; 4 facilities on 10 hours;351 facilities on 8 hours, 124 facilities on 8 with on call system, meaning health workers available when patients present.

At present, 274 health facilities provide adolescent and youth friendly services, and the plan is to have all these services at all facilities.

In line with the resolution for the Department of Health to comply with the Employment Equity Act and fill critical vacant posts, we can report that:

  • There are currently no vacant Doctor positions for Casualty, the full complement is allocated. The department has 291 ambulances that are operational in the province.
  • EMS P1 urban response is under 15 minutes, and the rate is 36.2%.EMS P1 rural response is under 40 minutes rate is 38.5%.
  • Finance has allocated funding for the purchasing of additional ambulances in 2020/21.
  • Honourable Members, the last sitting noted the challenge of sexual abuse of our learners. It was resolved that the Department should have a once off sitting of disciplinary hearing in order to avoid or mitigate trauma suffered by the victim when she testifies. Indeed, a single sitting is now the new practice. In addition, the offender is placed on suspension and is prohibited to contact the victim or witnesses.
  • The report also shows various programmes of the Department and its social partners which are aimed at delaying young people being sexually active. These include:
  • The appointment of 600 learner Support Agents to schools with high levels of learner pregnancy. As a result, learner pregnancy has dropped in 456 schools.
  • The ‘Baby Not Now’ Prevention of Learner pregnancy has reduced learner pregnancy by 73% of the schools targeted.
  • Programmes like “She Conquers”, “Soul Buddyz” and “Peer Educators Programmes” are being implemented in all districts and they focus on encouraging learners to make sound decisions and delay intercourse.

It was also resolved that all schools should have Youth Ambassadors to deal with issues affecting fellow learners.

For the financial year 2019/20, the KZN Department of Education is employing 604 out of school youth with a minimum of grade 12 qualification as Learner Support Agents (LSAs) which are school-based and work under the direct supervision of the Life Orientation Educator and the School Principal.

You will agree, Honourable Members, that Sports play a crucial part in social cohesion and in the wellbeing of people. To fulfil its potential, it was resolved that Provincial Treasury should be approached to increase budget allocations of Sports and Recreation.

The need for the department to have additional budget allocations has been taken up by the oversight committees the department reports to. The Executive Authority has also led on this as the department moves towards the implementation of a Ward-Based Intervention Programme.

It was also resolved that Sports and Recreation should engage EDTEA to ensure that sports kits are made by and procured from women co-operatives in line with the strategic objective of women empowerment.

We are pleased to report that the Department has had several meetings with EDTEA, ABSA and the Durban Chamber of Commerce towards collaborating to empower key economic sectors (cooperatives).

The Department has made several visits to a clothing and textile cooperative in eMsinga which it intends to support as a pilot. Other cooperatives are also being targeted. The plan is to impart business skills, enterprise development, mentorship and coaching with assistance from our partners. Meetings have been held with EDTEA and ABSA towards obtaining loans and grants through Operation Vula.

It was also resolved that he Department of Arts and Culture should partner with COGTA and involve traditional authorities when they plan programmes and events for communities. Progress is being made in this regard as programmes are being planned in partnership with COGTA. Tribal Authorities are part of the planning meetings.

The Department held a workshop for all officials regarding District based approach which is led by COGTA on 08 October 2019. The District based reporting approach has been officially launched together with COGTA in uMgungundlovu District.

Honourable Speaker, you will recall that it was resolved that Thuthuzela centres should be in operation 24 hours; that DSD should improve its communication on the Thuthuzela centres, and that staff working in these centres must improve their attitudes and embody the Batho-Pele principles of service delivery.

The report that we are presenting shows that:

  • The Department of Social Development is ensuring that Thuthuzela Care Centres operate 24 hours. The Department supports Lifeline with funding for the provision of psycho-social support services to victims. In addition, the Department has increased psychosocial support services by appointing 153 social workers through Lifeline and 30 Departmental Social Workers to deal with Gender-Based Violence.
  • In strengthening the escalation of information about the services rendered by the Thuthuzela Care Centres, they are allocated under the management of the National Prosecuting Authority with strategy in place. In addition, services that are rendered by the Thuthuzela Care Centres are marketed by the DSD at various prevention and awareness campaign held with communities in all Districts.
  • The Department has funded Lifeline to deliver services on its behalf. One of the agreed upon deliverables is to facilitate capacity building for all their employees regarding Customer Care and Customer Service.
  • In addition, community members are encouraged to use suggestion boxes to lodge complaints.

Honourable Members, the Department of Agriculture was also mandated to do roadshows targeting women in particular to increase awareness on RASET. We can report that the department has been conducting roadshows across the province to capacitate women about departmental programmes that are earmarked for them. During the month of February to March 2020, DARD conducted roadshows for Youth and Women to develop a strategy for empowerment support through the Operation Vula/RASET programme.

It was also resolved that DARD must move from 36% women representation at Management to 50% by the end of the next financial year. In this regard, DARD reports that there has been improvement in meeting equity targets for women in management from as it currently stand at 40%. The gap of 10% will be closed through advertised posts. The process of interviews was affected by lockdown.

With regard to concerns raised about EDTEA’s communication regarding its empowerment programmes, the Department reports to this sitting that:

(a) The department has district offices in all districts across the Province. Over and above, the MEC for EDTEA has a standing slot in Ukhozi Fm where she inform the people of KZN about programmes and services offered by the department..

(b) The department has in the past 4 years through Women Economic Empowerment desk with Ithala embarked on Imbokodo Iyazenzela programme. The programme is implemented in the form of interactive workshops and provides business advice and information on programmes planned by department to women in rural and township areas.

(c) In the 2019/2020 financial Ithala with EDTEA hosted workshops across the Province in the following municipalities as follows:

  • 05 June 2019 Ethekwini Municipality
  • 20 June 2019 Edumbe Local Municipality
  • 27 June 2019 Umsinga Local Municipality
  • 4 July 2019 Mbazwane Local Municipality
  • 11 July 2019 Mtubatuba Local Municipality
  • 18 July 2019 Ebaqulusini Local Municipality
  • 14 August 2019 Kokstad Local Municipality
  • 22 August 2019 Ulundi Local Municipality

EDTEA reports that a total number of 931 women had an opportunity to attend the workshops.

Imbokodo Iyazenzela Awards Gala Dinner which recognises and celebrates women in business and community development was hosted on the 30th of November 2019 at Durban International Convention Centre (ICC).

Hononourable Member, there can be no shadow of doubt that departments working in silos can be counterproductive and result in wastage and duplication. It was noted that EDTEA and DARD must find a way to work together and align their programmes and policies to speak to each other and to reduce red tape.

In this regard, we can report that all departments that were part of the RASET programme when it was adopted (Supply and demand departments) are working together in ensuring that the programme is implemented successfully. This includes the OTP office which is championing the programme. Roles and responsibilities for participating departments have been clarified.

You will remember, Honourable Members, that the Department of Public Works was mandated to run a training programme for small businesses in order to equip them with basic skills for construction. The Department has trained 138 contractors on Innovative Building Technologies; Assuring Quality Homes; and Pricing and filling of bidding documents.

It was also resolved that Public Works should prequalify the 30% content and set aside for women. The department wishes to respond to the House that it subscribes to the PPPFA Regulations of 2017 in relation to preferential procurement provide as follows:

4.(1) If an organ of state decides to apply pre-qualifying criteria to advance certain designated groups, that organ of state must advertise the tender with a specific tendering condition that only one or more of the following tenderers may respond (c) a tenderer subcontracting a minimum of 30% to an EME or QSE which is at least 51% owned by black people who are women; including other designated groups.

Last year’s sitting also mandated the Office of the Premier to oversee that there is equitable budget ensuring that Gender Focal points are clearly budgeted for in annual plans that are approved. We are convinced that:

  • There will be improvement within the department as budgets are explicitly allocated for women empowerment programmes and reflect in the budget speeches of all departments and municipalities in the next financial year.
  • Some Gender Focal points have clearly budgeted in their annual plans. Improved budget allocation is being implemented in 2020/21.
  • It was also resolved that the Office of the Premier should strengthen the participation by all departments and to give a status report on Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Programmes to the Quality of Life Committee, Cabinet and Women’s Parliament. We can report that:
  • The Office of the Premier has coordinated the participation of all the government departments through the Provincial Gender Machinery.
  • The Provincial Gender Machinery to date has established the Provincial Task Teams who are responsible for the coordination and implementation of women empowerment and gender equality programmes.
  • The Task teams ensure that the departments are well represented in terms of reporting and contribution on the Gender Programme.
  • To improve coordination and reporting, a new monitoring tool aligned to the new MTSF and containing departmental indicators has been developed and is being implemented in 2020/21

Conclusion

Honourable Members, thank you once more for participating in the 2020 Women’s Parliament of the beautiful Province of KwaZulu-Natal, which for the first time, we have had to hold virtually because of the constraints brought on us by Covid-19.

As we engage the report and make new commitments, let us be inspired by a vision which seeks to emancipate the women of our province from the clutches of patriarchy, economic exclusion, and disease.

Let us unite and end the shame of gender based violence and Femicide which deprives the women of our country their human rights, dignity, and freedom.

In line with the theme of 2020 Women’s Month, let us be counted as the generation that will bring equality between men and women.

It is in our hands to bring to life the vision of a South Africa which is at peace with itself and the world, a South Africa that is truly united, non-racial, non-sexist, equal, and prosperous.

Let us roll our sleeves and get to work for a future that celebrates and honours all the women of our land.

Together, Let Us Grow KwaZulu-Natal.

I thank you,

Province
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