Thank you, Chairperson. You pronounced my surname the right way. Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Members of Parliament and invited guests, today women of South Africa from all walks of life will be watching with enthusiasm the budget debate of the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities. This enthusiasm was raised when President Zuma announced the establishment of the new Ministry at the beginning of the fourth democratic Parliament in 2009.
South African women have a very rich history of struggle, which culminated in the formation of the Women's Charter in 1954. This charter is a guiding document for major women's programmes on the political, social and economic emancipation of women. Throughout the 1950s, the 1980s, the 1990s and up to today, women have been at the forefront of the struggle. It is, therefore, based on this political background that women welcomed the announcement by President Zuma, though there were reservations when the women's Ministry was clustered with youth, children and people with disabilities.
Unfortunately, the Minister did not say much about the 2010-11 budget. Women have high expectations that this budget will bring about change in their lives, and this raises serious concerns. The allocated budget is R156 million, which will be spread over a period of three years. The budget amount allocated to the department is more or less the same amount that used to be allocated to the Office on the Status of Women, the Office on the Rights of the Child, and the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons, when these were still located within the Presidency. We thought that this Ministry would have the power to take the government to task. With a limited budget it is clear that it will not be able to do that. Cope has a problem with the mandate of the department. It appears as if the portfolio committee and the department are not on the same level of understanding as to what the department's mandate is. The department is more focused on monitoring rather than implementing. It's more focused on monitoring whether other departments are gender sensitive rather than focusing on the implementation of policies and legislation. Who is supposed to monitor the implementation of the programmes of the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities by other departments if the department is not going to do that?
It also appears that there is an overlapping of roles between the portfolio committee and the department. Who is supposed to do the oversight role with regard to other departments if both the portfolio committee and the department are doing the same oversight role?
Another mandate is for the department to co-ordinate other departments in ensuring that the funds in respect of women, children and people with disabilities are utilised in a befitting manner. How are you going to co- ordinate if you don't have authority over the funds? Cope feels strongly that these funds and resources should be allocated within the Ministry.
With regard to the Commission for Gender Equality, it is very sad to acknowledge that the commission has a serious lack of leadership. The problem is that it has been changing leadership. The chairperson, the CEO and commissioners have been changed - I don't know how many times. The second issue is the misuse of funds. We seriously need to look at the recommendations based on the review made by Prof Kader Asmal.
In conclusion, women in Parliament, irrespective of their political affiliation, have a common purpose to serve - the women of South Africa, children, and people with disabilities. As the portfolio committee we need to report back to the multiparty women's caucus. What do we report? It is therefore critical that the mandate of the department be reviewed for the better. As women in Parliament we should work together to ensure that the Ministry is well resourced.
Sihlalo, ukuze akhululeke amathambo omama ababeququzelela umqulu womama ka- 1954, kufuneka lihlaziywe eli gunya. Enkosi. [Kwaqhwatywa.] [Chairperson, to ensure rest for the bones of the women who co-ordinated the Women's Charter of 1954, this authority must be reviewed. Thank you. [Applause.]]