Before I call on the Minister, let me just say to our visitors that we are happy that you are here with us, but the Rules don't allow you to participate. I see that you are clapping your hands and that is very nice, I think, but the Rules don't allow you to participate. Nevertheless, you are welcome.
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Chairperson, I want to thank the hon members who have made a valuable contribution to the debate.
I would like to begin by agreeing with hon Ramodibe. This is, indeed, a huge department with serious responsibilities, and it must be properly resourced. For members who are confused, the mandate of this department is to mainstream the rights of women, children and people with disabilities in all national departments, all three spheres of government and in society. We are also mandated to monitor and evaluate the work and the policies of government as they relate to women, children and people with disabilities. We are very clear about our mandate and authority, which comes from the President. So, I am not afraid, because not one Minister will not respond to or undermine this department. This department was mandated by the President, and we will report to the President if there are problems.
The fact is that we are here. We are working with all the Ministers in this country. Yesterday I was sitting with the Premier of the Free State. We have met with the Premiers of the North West and those of other provinces. It is very clear that they understand and respect our mandate. We even monitor the President himself. We have raised a number of issues and he understands that this is the work we have to do. We monitor, starting with the Presidency and the different departments.
I would like to address the hon Duncan on the issue of government. Yes, this department needs more resources. We do. I said so in the portfolio committee and in my speech this morning. We need more resources. We are engaging with the National Treasury. We will continue to do so and we hope that during their medium-term review they will review our budget so that we are able to do the work that we have been tasked with.
I also want to say that it is true that departments should not work in silos. This is why we have this department: to ensure that we monitor and co-ordinate the work of government. For instance, in Child Protection Week, we work with the Department of Social Development, the Department of Health, the SAPS and the Department of Basic Education. That helps us to ensure that we mainstream these issues in all these departments, so that each department is aware of and can complement what the other departments are doing.
I know there is confusion about the fact that we are in the social cluster. I think hon members have the responsibility to understand how government works. Every department, every Minister, belongs to a cluster. The Director- General of Finance and the director-general of this department belong to clusters, but that does not mean I then fall under the Minister of Social Development because we are in the social cluster. That is confusion. We also belong to the governance cluster and, again, that does not mean we are under the Minister for the Public Service and Administration or the Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs. We are just trying to co-ordinate the work of government in that way.
Hon Robinson asks what we are doing about the Commission for Gender Equality, CGE. The reports of the CGE are here in Parliament. I have been a Member of Parliament for 10 years. I know your role very well, as well as my role as a Member of Parliament and executive member of this country. The Constitution of South Africa states very clearly that the executive accounts to Parliament. The executive reports to Parliament. My understanding is that Parliament is my boss, but now Parliament is saying I must be their boss. Parliament is saying I must tell them what to do with the CGE when they have the report on their table. [Applause.] I will do it. If hon members are failing to do their job, I will do their job for them.
I would like to advise political parties to train their members. I have been in this Parliament for 17 years. Every year, members of the ANC go for training. That helps us to understand the structures of government, how government operates, the three arms of the state and how they relate to one another. So, I would advise that political parties really train their members so that they can understand their role and responsibilities.
Hon Blaai really does not understand this department. I think it is pie in the sky for you, hon member. You are lost because you do not do your work. You do not go to the portfolio committee meetings. You do not do your work, so there is no way you can understand how this department works. If you were doing your work, you would understand what this department was all about. The same goes for hon Dudley. You have never been to a single committee meeting of this department, so you are just talking into the air, in confusion. I did not ask for this department. The women of this country wanted this department. [Applause.] It is not Lulu's department. It is the department of the women and the people with disabilities who wanted a Ministry that would fight for and protect their rights.
This department is not a delivery department. We are not here to take people to school, hon Blaai. We are not here to take women to school. We are not here to take women to the clinic. We are here to monitor and evaluate the Department of Health. Your great ideas belong with the Departments of Health and Education. If you attend your committee meetings, you will learn more and you will understand what this department stands for.
Lastly, I would like to say that I agree with most of the members. Yes, we need more resources in this department. Yes, we need to ensure that we work with other departments. However, I also want to say that we need expertise in this department. We cannot just sit and say we do not have people to do the work because there is no budget. Yes, 50% of our budget goes to salaries, but those people have the expertise and they are going to help us deliver on our mandate. Thank you very much. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Debate concluded.