Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698829749200.pdf (South Africa)
Wednesday, 30 September 2020] No 135—2020] SECOND SESSION, SIXTH PARLIAMENT PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA _____________________ ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS _____________________ WEDNESDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER 2020 _____________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS National Assembly and National Council of Provinces 1.

Classification of Bills by JTM .......................................................................................... 2 National Council of Provinces 1.
Membership of Committees ............................................................................................. 2 TABLINGS National Assembly and National Council of Provinces 1.

Speaker and Chairperson .................................................................................................. 3 2.

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment ............................................................. 3 3.
Minister of Justice and Correctional Services .................................................................. 4 4.

Minister of Police ............................................................................................................. 4 5.

Minister of Transport ........................................................................................................ 4 1 National Assembly 1.
Speaker ............................................................................................................................. 5 National Council of Provinces 1.

Chairperson ...................................................................................................................... 6 COMMITTEE REPORTS National Council of Provinces 1.
Petitions and Executive Undertakings .......................................................................... 115 ANNOUNCEMENTS National Assembly and National Council of Provinces The Speaker and the Chairperson 1.

Classification of Bills by Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) (1) The JTM in terms of Joint Rule 160(6) classified the following Bill as a section 75 Bill: (a) Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Amendment Bill [B 21 – 2020] (National Assembly – sec 75).
National Council of Provinces The Chairperson 1.

Membership of Committees (1) The following changes have been made to the membership of Committees, viz: 1.

Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Water and Sanitation and Human Settlements (Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Water and Sanitation, Human Settlements) Appointed: Hon.

Ms N E Nkosi (Mpumalanga – ANC) Resigned: Hon.

Ms M P Mmola (Mpumalanga – ANC) 2.


Select Committee on Security and Justice (Police, Justice and Correctional Services, Defence and Military Veterans, Home Affairs and International Relations and Co-operation) 2 Appointed: Hon.

Ms N E Nkosi (Mpumalanga – ANC) Resigned: Hon.

Ms M P Mmola (Mpumalanga – ANC) 3.

Select Committee on Petitions and Executive Undertakings Appointed: Hon.

Ms N E Nkosi (Mpumalanga – ANC) Resigned: Hon.

Ms M P Mmola (Mpumalanga – ANC) 4.


Joint Standing Committee on Defence Appointed: Hon.

Ms N E Nkosi (Mpumalanga – ANC) Resigned: Hon.

Ms M P Mmola (Mpumalanga – ANC) 5.

Select Committee on Finance Appointed: Hon.

Ms N E Nkosi (Mpumalanga – ANC) – Alternate Resigned: Hon.

Ms M P Mmola (Mpumalanga – ANC) – Alternate 6.

Select Committee on Appropriations Appointed: Hon.

Ms N E Nkosi (Mpumalanga – ANC) – Alternate Resigned: Hon.
Ms M P Mmola (Mpumalanga – ANC) – Alternate TABLINGS National Assembly and National Council of Provinces 1.

The Speaker and the Chairperson (a) Integrated Report and Financial Statements of the Office of the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) for 2019-20, including the Report of the Independent Auditors on the Financial Statements and Performance Information for 2019-20.

2.
2.

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (a) Government Notice No 704, published in Government Gazette No 43618, dated 17 August 2020: Draft amendments to the Regulations for the Management of the Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area, in terms of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003 (Act No 57 of 2003).
(b) Government Notice No 916, published in Government Gazette No 43686, dated 04 September 2020: Proposed Emergency Intervention Notice in terms section 105A, in terms of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No 10 of 2004).
(c) Government Notice No 970, published in Government Gazette No 43696, dated 09 September 2020: Directions regarding measures to Address, Prevent and Combat 3 the Spread of Covid-19 Relating to National Environmental Management Permits and Licences, in terms of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No 57 of 2002) (d) Government Notice No 972, published in Government Gazette No 43699, dated 10 September 2020: Consultation on Intention to Declare the Grey Dell and Fort Grey Forest Areas as a Controlled Forest area, under section 17(2) of the National Forests Act, 1998 (Act No 84 of 1998).
(e) Government Notice No 973, published in Government Gazette No 43700, dated 10 September 2020: Consultation on Intention to Declare the Grey Dell and Fort Grey Forest Areas as a Natural Forest area, under section 17(2) of the National Forests Act, 1998 (Act No 84 of 1998).
(f) Government Notice No 994, published in Government Gazette No 43712, dated 11 September 2020: Amendments to the National Greenhouse Gas Emission the National Environmental Reporting Regulations, 2016, Management: Air Quality Act, 2004 (Act No 39 of 2004).
terms of in (g) Government Notice No 989, published in Government Gazette No 43706, dated 11 September 2020: For public comment: Draft 7th National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report for the Republic of South Africa, in terms of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004 (Act No.

39 of 2004).

3.

The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services (a) Inter-Departmental and Institutional Annual Reports for 2019-20 on the Implementation of the Child Justice Act, 2008 (Act No 75 of 2008).
(b) Inter-Departmental and Institutional Annual Reports for 2019-20 on the Implementation of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007 (Act No 32 of 2007).

4.

The Minister of Police (a) Half Year Report (April – September 2019) of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate for 2019/20, tabled in terms of section 9(n) of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate Act, 2011 (Act No 1 of 2011).

5.
5.

The Minister of Transport (a) Corporate Plan Adjustment of the Air Traffic and Navigation Services Company Limited (ATNS) for 2020/21 – 2022/23.

(b) Revised Strategic Plan of the Road Accident Fund (RAF) for 2020-2025 (c) Revised Annual Performance Plan of the Road Accident Fund (RAF) for 2020/21.

(d) Reviewed Corporate Plan of the Airports Company of South Africa SOC Limited (ACSA) for 2020/21 – 2022/23.
4 (e) Annexure to Annual Performance Plan of the South African National Road Agency Limited for 2020/21 – 2022/23.

National Assembly 1.


The Speaker (a) A letter, dated 18 September 2020, has been received from the chairperson of the Public Service Commission, regarding the performance of departments of Public Works and Infrastructure and Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation in complying with provisions of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act no 1 of 1999), submitted in terms of section 196 of the Constitution.
Referred to the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure and Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation for consideration.

(b) Reply by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation to Report of Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation on Budget Vote 6: International Relations and Cooperation, as adopted by the Assembly on 9 June 2020. to Referred Cooperation.
the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and (c) Reply by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation to Report of Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation on Quarter Four Performance, as adopted by the Assembly on 3 September 2020. to Referred Cooperation.
the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and (d) Reply by the Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities to Report of Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities on the Department’s Adjusted Annual Performance Plan and Budget, as adopted by the Assembly on 29 July 2020.

Referred to the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities.
(e) Reply by the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture to Report of Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture on the Impact of Covid-19 on Strategic Plan and Annual Performance Budget of Department of Sports, Art and Culture, as adopted by the Assembly on 29 July 2020.

Referred to the Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture.

(f) Reply by the Minister of Tourism to Report of Portfolio Committee on Tourism on Budget Vote 33 2019-20: Tourism, as adopted by the Assembly on 18 July 2019.
Referred to the Portfolio Committee on Tourism.

5 (g) Reply by the Minister of Tourism to Report of Portfolio Committee on Tourism on Observing Tourism Day Celebrations and Oversight work at Howick in KwaZulu- Natal Province 26-28 September 2019, as adopted by the Assembly on 19 November 2019.

Referred to the Portfolio Committee on Tourism.


(h) Report of the Information Regulator regarding the Protection of Personal Information of a Data Subject Processed during the Management of Covid-19 and Storage of Personal Information in Covid-19 Database, submitted in terms of section 40 of the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (Act No 4 of 2013).
(i) Guidance note on the Processing of Personal Information in the Management and Containment of Covid-19 Pandemic, in terms of the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (Act No 4 of 2013).

National Council of Provinces 1.


The Chairperson (a) PROGRESS REPORTS ON THE STATUS OF INTERVENTIONS ISSUED IN TERMS OF SECTION 139(1)(b) OF THE CONSTITUTION, 1996 TO UMZINYATHI AND UTHUKELA DISTRICT MUNICPALITIES AND RICHMOND, MTUBATUBA, MSUNDUZI, INKOSI LANGALIBALELE, MPOFANA AND ABAQULUSI LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES, KWAZULU- NATAL PROVINCE.

Referred to the Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Water, Sanitation and Human Settlements for consideration and report.
(b) The 2020 Youth Parliament Report 6 REPORT ON YOUTH PARLIAMENT 2020 HELD AT PARLIAMENT OF SOUTH AFRICA ON A HYBRID VIRTUAL PLATFORM DATE: 26 JUNE 2020 THEME: Youth Power-Growing South Africa together in a time of Covid-19 1 7 INDEX Contents INDEX ...................................................................................................................................... 2 1.
INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 5 SESSION ONE .................................................................................................................... 5 2.

OPENING REMARKS ...................................................................................................... 5 3.
THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENTARIANS IN ADVANCING THE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AGENDA ACROSS THE THREE SPHERES: ........................................................................ 7 THE NEED FOR INSTITUTIONALISING ORGANISED STRUCTURES FOR YOUTH EMPOWERMENT ................................................................................................................ 7 4.
THE ROLE OF THE NCOP IN ADVANCING YOUTH ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT THROUGH OUTCOMES-BASED OVERSIGHT ..................................................................... 9 5.
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AT LOCAL GOVERNMENT: .............................................. 10 INTEGRATED PLANNING PERSPECTIVES TO ADVANCE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AT LOCAL GOVERNMENT ..................................................................................................... 10 SESSION TWO .................................................................................................................. 11 6.
STATEMENTS: PROVINCES AND PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURES ........................... 11 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE ................................................................................. 11 FREE STATE PROVINCE ...................................................................................... 12 KWA-ZULU NATAL PROVINCE ............................................................................. 13 LIMPOPO PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE ............................................................... 13 6.5 NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE ................................................. 13 7.6 NORTH-WEST PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE ............................................................ 14 7.7 WESTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE ........................................................ 14 SESSION 3 ........................................................................................................................ 15 8.
YOUTH FORMATIONS ..................................................................................................... 15 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 SA YOUTH COUNCIL ............................................................................................. 15 YOUTH IN BUSINESS SOUTH AFRICA ................................................................ 15 SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL WOMEN’S FORUM ............................................... 16 FINANCIAL SECTOR COALITION ......................................................................... 16 BMF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS ........................................................................... 17 SOUTH AFRICAN YOUTH MOVEMENT TERTIARY COOPERATIVE .................. 17 8.7 NUM YOUTH ........................................................................................................... 17 2 8 8.8 8.9 EMBRACE DIVERSITY MOVEMENT ..................................................................... 18 FREE STATE RAINBOW SEEDS QUEER CHANGE MAKERS MOVEMENT ....... 18 8.10 TRAXTION SHELTAM ............................................................................................ 19 8.11 CULTURAL AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES FEDERATION OF SOUTH AFRICA .
19 SESSION 4 ........................................................................................................................ 20 9.
STATEMENTS BY POLITICAL PARTIES ........................................................................ 20 9.1 DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE ........................................................................................... 20 9.2 ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS ........................................................................... 21 9.3 FREEDOM FRONT + ................................................................................................... 22 9.3 ACDP ........................................................................................................................... 22 9.4 UDM ............................................................................................................................. 23 9.5 GOOD .......................................................................................................................... 23 9.6 NFP .............................................................................................................................. 24 9.7 AIC ............................................................................................................................... 24 9.8 PAC .............................................................................................................................. 25 9.9 ATM .............................................................................................................................. 25 9.9 AL ‘JAMA-AH ............................................................................................................... 25 9.10 COPE ......................................................................................................................... 25 9.11 IFP .............................................................................................................................. 26 9.13 ANC ............................................................................................................................ 26 SESSION 5 ........................................................................................................................ 27 10.
INTERACTIVE SESSION ................................................................................................ 27 11.

CLOSING ........................................................................................................................ 32 12.
SUMMARY OF KEY CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................... 33 12.1 CHALLENGES ........................................................................................................... 33 12.2 RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................................................................. 33 12.2.1 YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT ................................................................................. 33 12.2.2 YOUTH ACCESS TO EDUCATION .................................................................... 34 12.2.3 YOUTH AND GENDER BASED VIOLENCE ....................................................... 34 12.2.4 LGBTQI+ ............................................................................................................. 34 12.2.5.
YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES ............................................................................. 34 12.2.6 YOUTH AND SOCIETY ...................................................................................... 35 12.2.7.

YOUTH, PARLIAMENT AND THE EXECUTIVE ................................................ 35 3 9 13.
RESOLUTIONS PER PORTFOLIO AND FOCUS AREAS ............................................ 35 13.1 13.2 Youth, Covid-19 and the Economy ...................................................................... 35 Youth and Unemployment ................................................................................... 36 13.3 Youth and the Economy ...................................................................................... 37 13.4 Youth and Local Public Procurement ................................................................... 38 13.5 Youth and access to finance and credit ............................................................... 40 13.3 Youth, Education and skills development ............................................................ 41 13.4 Youth and Government ........................................................................................ 42 13.5 Youth and Gender based violence ....................................................................... 43 13.6 Youth and Parliament ........................................................................................... 44 4 10 1.
INTRODUCTION On 26 June 2020, the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa hosted a hybrid Youth Parliament that was attended by various youth formations, representatives from legislatures, provincial and local government and members of the national, provincial and local executive.

Some of the delegates were physically present in Parliament’s National Assembly while others were on the Zoom virtual platform.
The Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP, Ms Sylvia Lucas, opened the session by commemorating the 1976 youth activists as well as the 65th anniversary of the Freedom Charter.

She indicated that the deliberations of the sessions should result in realistically and practically implementable initiatives.

The young members of Parliament opened the session outlining challenges faced by the youth with regards to unemployment, poverty and inequality, especially during the state of COVID-19.
The Youth Parliament noted that Covid-19 has amplified the challenges facing the youth, particularly in relation to increased unemployment.

Statistics reveal that the groups most affected by unemployment include Africans, females and youth in rural areas.

Gender based violence and femicide is a youth challenge and this too has increased during the Covid-19 period.
At the meeting young people raised a number of issues pertaining to the development of small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) and cooperatives.

The youth highlighted several issues that affect young people in business including concerns about the effects of the COVID 19 on youth owned enterprises.

They believe however, that youth entrepreneurship is the solution to the country’s socio- economic challenges of unemployment, economic transformation and creation of opportunities needed to end poverty.
The participants highlighted several challenges but also proposed solutions that government should act on and that Parliament must oversee.

2.

OPENING REMARKS SESSION ONE The Deputy Chairperson to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Ms Sylvia Lucas, welcomed all delegates to the first hybrid Youth Parliament scheduled on a quasi-virtual platform due to the Covid 19 lockdown Regulations.

Ms Lucas reflected on the symbolism and significance of the day set aside for hosting the 2020 Youth Parliament.
5 11 Firstly, the day is about remembering a very important action by the heroic youth of 1976 who revolted against an educational system that was not responsive to their needs and realities and ensured that their rights to education in their mother tongue is respected.

Secondly, it is about acknowledging the critical role played by youth leading to the adoption of the Freedom Charter, which is now a blueprint of a desired South Africa.
26 June 2020 is also the 65th year since the adoption of the Freedom Charter in Kliptown.

Lastly it is about recognising that each generation has always faced a set of challenges, and that youth have always been active in addressing these challenges and negative narratives undermining youth development.
Ms Lucas advised that the journey travelled by the youth of 1976 should encourage the youth of today, to take stock by reflecting on progress achieved, as well as identifying current struggles that need further youth activism.

The youth of today have far better opportunities than the 1976 youth, and as such should utilise available mechanisms to accelerate youth empowerment.
The challenges facing youth today include youth unemployment, poverty, inequality, and gender- based violence, and these have now been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

These challenges may hinder the advancement of youth, but at the same time provides a platform and an opportunity for youth to find creative ways of addressing current challenges.

The continued high rate of youth unemployment in South Africa presents a serious risk to the promotion of an inclusive economy and society.
The nature of youth unemployment is such that it continues to affect African and female youth most and it is highest for those in rural areas or urban townships and informal settlements.

Ms Lucas stressed the need to make sure that we continue to address these challenges so that we do not reinforce and worsen the racial, income, spatial and gender inequality as this will continue the intergenerational transmission of poverty.
What must be done to improve the material conditions of our youth, particularly post Covid 19?

We must pay particular attention to the businesses of young people and small business where young people are employed and ensure that they are supported to continue doing so.

The current Youth Parliament is taking place under circumstances of the severe strain of Covid 19.

Despite these uncertain times, it is also exciting times as it presents an opportunity to change our trajectory of how we are doing things.
She stressed that the deliberations during the Youth Parliament should be focussed on identification and adoption of strategies towards accelerated youth development and elimination of intergenerational challenges like poverty.

Youth should actively participate and lead in all youth related programs and radically transform and tackle any system not responsive to the needs and aspirations of youth.
Hon Lucas prompted the participants on a quote of Thomas Sankara that reminds us that: “You cannot carry out fundamental change without a certain amount of madness.

In this case, it comes from nonconformity, the courage to turn your back on the old formulas, the courage to invent the future.

6 12 It took the madmen of yesterday for us to be able to act with extreme clarity today.

I want to be one of those madmen.

We must dare to invent the future.


Ms Lucas challenged the representatives to be one of those “mad (wo)men” and to give us a way forward and dare to invent a new future for South Africa.

3.
3.

THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENTARIANS IN ADVANCING THE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AGENDA ACROSS THE THREE SPHERES: THE NEED FOR INSTITUTIONALISING ORGANISED STRUCTURES FOR YOUTH EMPOWERMENT Hon K D Mahlatsi, a Member of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development addressed the delegation on the role of parliamentarians in advancing the youth empowerment agenda across the three spheres of government.
Hon Mahlatsi reflected on the 1976 generation and their struggle for freedom juxtaposed to the pandemic that humanity globally is facing today, a health emergency that we all never anticipated or planned for.

Apartheid and colonialism created a system whereby the African youth were systematically denied of opportunities based on race.
Hon Mahlatsi emphasized that those who were killed in 1976 and the names of those who have lost their lives in the student uprising, must be remembered as a blueprint of our rich history against the apartheid regime.

These young people put their lives on the line to shape the landscape of politics of country.

It is important to remember the adoption of the Freedom Charter on this day, 65 years ago.

Linking the Freedom Charter with the struggle of young people is important.
The South African youth have a history of being locomotives for change.

The involvement of young people in politics, then in 1976 and now, can play a vital turning point in our society and bring about change in political dynamics, due to fresh, new, creative, and innovative perspectives.
She implored the youth of today to grapple with what we have done to contribute to the reduction of unemployment in our country, what we have done to address poverty and inequality and what policies have been advocated for to deal with the challenges of our time.

She emphasized that we need to reconcile facts with the truth and truth with the facts.

Poverty and unemployment knows no colour but monopoly capital has.
The remnants of apartheid have left South Africa divided, left us poor and continue to inflict poverty and drown us as an unequal society.

South Africa remains a colonization of a special type with the majority enjoying their independence but continue to suffer due to poverty and the minority continue to enjoy the fruits of democracy through monopoly capital.
She highlighted that the presence of young people in legislatures and municipal councils comes with great expectations from youth constituencies and the public at large.

The young parliamentarians and councillors are expected to be champions of youth empowerment both inside and outside of 7 13 legislatures and municipal councils.
The differing political views and ideologies often compromise collective efforts by young parliamentarians and councillors to have a common voice in relation to the advancement of youth.

The innovative and creative nature of youth can be exploited by those in legislatures and municipal councils to reshape these institutions to be responsive to the needs of youth.

It is important for each generation to be proponents of progressive change, and to pave way for future generation.
Hon Mahlatsi emphasized that there should be mechanisms in place to strengthen and unite young people across party political lines, around a common goal of youth advancement and empowerment.

A realisation by all young parliamentarians and councillors that social and economic ills transcend across racial and party-political lines should encourage unity.
The establishment of social activism-based structures within legislatures and municipal councils, can strengthen the ability to collaborate across party political tensions towards youth advancement.

These structures can serve as a: • platform for young parliamentarians and councillors to champion for youth empowerment, and support structure for all young parliamentarians and councillors.
• The youth have always been proponents of progressive change, and each generation must create its own agenda and mission.

The unity of current youth in legislatures and municipal councils, as well as building partnerships and alliances can intensify efforts to advance youth empowerment.
Collective lobbying and advocacy efforts by youth in legislatures and municipal councils would lead to: • Effective oversight over implementation of programs aimed at youth empowerment, including preferential procurement for youth owned businesses; • Reprioritisation of youth for land redistribution; • Intensified efforts in implementation of programmes aimed at eradication of gender-based violence and femicide; and Increase in involvement in grassroots youth-based activism and in number of youths interested and participating in politics.
• Unlike the youth of 1976, the youth of 2020 have better opportunities to access education and receive social support.

Parliament too, is an instrument that the youth of 1976 never had.

Youth should use this tool to address key issues impacting them.

Youth unemployment is very high and the economy of the country excludes the youth despite some being graduates.

COVID-19 has increased unemployment, particularly amongst youth.
Youth should be involved in economic decisions on forging a way forward for South Africa and the participation of youth in business should be promoted.

Hon Mahlati highlighted the triple oppression faced by women in terms of race, class and gender and how this oppression plays out with the scourge of gender based violence.

This cannot continue – young men and women must ensure that we confront the scourge of gender based violence.
8 14 The youth of today must continue to galvanize young people to be proponents of change.

4.

THE ROLE OF THE NCOP EMPOWERMENT THROUGH OUTCOMES-BASED OVERSIGHT IN ADVANCING YOUTH ECONOMIC Hon I Ntsube, one of the youngest Members of the sixth Parliament serves on the Social Services Select Committee, reflected on the role of the NCOP in advancing youth economic empowerment through outcomes-based oversight.
Hon Ntsube reflected on the role of youth in 1976 and observed that they were more united as they shared a common vision and value.

South Africa is faced with an unprecedented number of gender based violence cases and it is important for men to re-educate the boy child on how to treat women.

The high rate of unemployment has further been exacerbated by Covid-19 and whilst the executive has acted to minimise job losses, the gap between the poor and rich are widening.
There is a need for both government and the private sector to ensure that job losses are minimised.

The NCOP as a parliamentary house concerned with the interests of provinces, should be abreast of all obstacles and barriers hindering adequate participation of youth in the economy.
The varied and distinct provincial obstacles that contribute to the high rate of youth unemployment should always be on the agenda of the NCOP, as these obstacles often contribute to many other social ills facing youth, including gender-based violence.

The NCOP also needs to be at the fore in transformation by reviewing all programs deemed unresponsive to current challenges facing the youth.
The NCOP should keep up with ever changing challenges facing youth in various provinces and lead in addressing those challenges.

The Covid-19 pandemic is an invisible challenge facing youth in the country, as it has brought to the fore and strengthened existing inequalities and other difficulties that undermine efforts in advancing youth economic empowerment.
The NCOP is ideally positioned to play a critical role in advancing youth economic empowerment by ensuring the: • Effective participation of youth in the law-making process towards adoption of youth responsive laws; • Regular conduct impact assessment of laws and programs on youth; • Effective oversight over implementation of youth laws, policies and programmes aimed at eliminating youth unemployment, as well as implementation of 40% youth preferential procurement; • Review of current basic education curricula, towards an inclusive and responsive education system aimed at producing entrepreneurs i.e.
job creators and not job seekers; and • Passing of laws mandating an increase in number of youth represented in Parliament.

9 15 5.

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AT LOCAL GOVERNMENT: INTEGRATED PLANNING PERSPECTIVES TO ADVANCE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AT LOCAL GOVERNMENT Councillor MP Hlungwane represented the South African Local Government Association (SALGA).
Councillor Hlungwane reiterated the fact that local government as a sphere of government closest to communities has a critical role to play to advance youth empowerment through the implementation of the National Youth Policy.

SALGA is strategically positioned to support municipalities to mainstream these youth policies and plans.

A very powerful mechanism at the disposal of local government is the use of the integrated developmental planning (IDP) system.
The effective and credible use of the IDP system with active participation of youth is a key towards planning, budgeting, and implementation of youth responsive programs.

Partnerships and building relations with other spheres of government as provided for in the Constitution and other intergovernmental relations framework, is another tool made available to local government.
In addition, the Constitution also mandates the local government to execute certain functions towards being a developmental state able to adequately meet the needs of communities.
Local government can increase its responsiveness to youth and advance youth empowerment by undertaking the following activities: • Provision of youth responsive basic services; • Ensure adequate participation of youth in local economic development initiatives and empowerment programmes, such as, extended public works programmes(EPWP), community works programmes(CWP), mentorship, and youth business ventures (including issuing of trading licences for youth businesses); Implementation of credible IDP processes with active involvement of youth; • • Establishment of youth focal points within local municipalities responsible for youth mainstreaming; • Ensure active participation of youth in local government structures and forums; • Creation of youth enabling and responsive environment both within the municipal councils, • and in the communities; and Lobby for increase in number of youths participating and represented within local government as councillors (mentorship programmes to encourage young people to participate).
Councillor Hlungwane remarked that current challenges and past experience have taught us that no single sphere of government can adequately address all elements of youth development and empowerment.

This requires an intergovernmental and multi-sectoral approach that promotes the participation of young people as beneficiaries including inter-disciplinary and inter-organisational collaboration across sectors and spheres.
10 16 Councillor Hlungwane concluded that there are indicators that the Covid-19 pandemic will have a long lasting social, cultural and economic impact, particularly on our youth and therefore youth should be at the centre of addressing the pandemic and our economy.

SESSION TWO 6.

STATEMENTS: PROVINCES AND PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURES Delegates from provincial legislatures and provinces were invited to make statements on key issues impacting youth in the respective provinces.
Provincial representatives , utilising virtual platforms, raised a number of issues affecting youth that were common to all and those that were specific to their regions.

All nine provinces put emphasis on the high rate of youth unemployment in the country, pointing out that this malaise has a potential of leaving the youth behind in terms of youth development and youth participation in the economy.
The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic according to the delegates has exacerbated the plight of South African youth and the response thereof by government does not seem to take the youth seriously as the most vulnerable group of the population.

Delegates commended the historical role played by the youth against colonialism and their involvement in the struggle against apartheid.
Conversely, delegates lauded government’s commitment in empowering the youth and making youth empowerment the centre of government activities.

Such initiatives include youth representation in Parliament and provincial legislatures, free education and the social relief grant for the unemployed South Africans, who are mostly youth.
In referring to the youth of 1976, delegates opined that the youth struggle didn’t end then as today’s youth is still fighting new battles such as unemployment, economic exclusion and the Covid-19 pandemic.

6.1 EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE Ms S Lusithi–Mani, the MEC for Social Development represented the Eastern Cape Province.

She highlighted the fact that the challenges faced by youth today are different to those of the youth of 1976.
High unemployment rates particularly amongst youth and a struggling economy may result in young people being left behind in education and socio-economic opportunities.

The Eastern Cape response on Covid is therefore centred on young people as they are most affected by the pandemic.

In preparing an impactful and responsive strategy to the pandemic, the province is focussing on the marginalised and the vulnerable, particularly in rural areas.
She remarked that the Covid-19 relief grant and other social relief interventions for the unemployed between the ages of 18 and 35, is a small dent in assisting the unemployed.

11 17 The Premier of the Eastern Cape Province has established a youth unit and formulated a youth development strategy aimed at empowering youth.

To support youth entrepreneurial initiatives, the province has what it called the “Isiqalo Fund,” isiqalo meaning “the start”, to provide start–up capital for new businesses.
The Eastern Cape government is encouraging young people to venture into farming among other activities particularly in view of the fact that Covid-19 has highlighted the issue of food security.

The province has set aside about R200 million for the Youth Development Fund to assist young people in dealing with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in a variety of initiatives.

Further support is provided for initiatives in all districts and the two metros in accordance with the District Development Model.
In addition, the Eastern Cape government is opening sectors previously closed to black people such as the property sector.

This is in an attempt to ensure that the economy is more inclusive and that there is a deliberate targeting to support youth driven businesses.

6.2 FREE STATE PROVINCE The MEC for Finance in the Free State Province, Mrs Gadija Brown reflected on the generational, gender-racial, socio- economic and economic inequality and adversity facing South Africans.
She called for unity among South Africans and the youth in particular in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic and emphasised the need by departments to make it standard practice for all procurement to be 50% youth specific, arguing that this should also be the norm even in the private sector.

South Africa has made great strides in ensuring parity of women representation in key state posts.

It is estimated that 30% of Parliaments around the world will be led by women.
In the South African Cabinet, the President has targeted 50% representation of women.

Provincial governments have similar targets.

What about the LGBTQI community and their position on gender placement in the workforce?

This necessitates a review of the definition of designated groups e.g.

women, persons with disabilities, military veterans, etc.

It is important for the youth to envision their future and to also prepare themselves in response to what that future brings.
The coming new world order put emphasis on engineering, robotics and the financial sector, and the youth of our country need to position themselves accordingly.

She encouraged designated groups such as women and people with disabilities to also position themselves in the mainstream economy as active participants.

Digital currency is predicted to be the dominant currency as seen in China.

In the same vein the methods of trade have transformed.

Vast online shopping platforms e.g.

EBay, Takealot, etc.


are evidence of this.

The future work for young people are clearly in engineering, robotics and the financial sector.

12 18 6.3 KWA-ZULU NATAL PROVINCE Hon K Meshengu, MPL, the MEC for Basic Education reflected on the historical courage, energy and ideas of youth to move things forward even in the face of adversity.

Youth of today have the same power to move things forward even in the face of Covid-19.
However young people are systemically and structurally excluded in society and have become a symbol of unemployment, inequality and poverty.

He warned that if youth still account for the largest number in substance abuse and gender based violence, they will have no power to grow South Africa.

This has resulted in young people becoming increasingly angry because of systemic exclusion and frustration with no clear solutions being offered to succeed in life.
He stressed that we need young people to be vanguards in all areas of life as they have the power of being their own liberators.

6.4 LIMPOPO PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE Mr CDB Selane, MPL reflected on the tribal war that affected youth who challenged the colonial project which subsequently disenfranchised and dehumanised the black majority and excluded them from economic activities.
65 years on in Kliptown, the 1955 Freedom Charter was adopted, encapsulating the aspirations of the people of South Africa towards democracy and the freedom we enjoy today.

This Parliament must reflect on the challenges experienced by youth related to education, unemployment, poverty and violence.

Despite the progress made since democracy, youth remain frustrated and struggle to access education and economic platforms.

Youth must find innovative solutions to these barriers.
Youth have a critical role to play in the construction and development of the country.

Young people are graduating in their majority but remain unemployed.

Institutions of higher learning must provide the level of education that will transform our economy and realise the development agenda.
6.5 NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE Hon OJ Mokae, the youngest member of the Northern Cape Legislature, referred to the Youth Directorate in the Premier’s Office and argued that this unit need to be adequately resourced and must report quarterly to the provincial legislature on its activities.

The unit must also advocate targeted support for micro youth entrepreneurs instill an entrepreneurial mind-set among youth.
This includes expanding support and incentives for youth owned businesses and cooperatives.

informal economy and in the 13 19 The directorate also need to create youth opportunity centres across the province, where the youth will have access to information such as career guidance, job opportunities, and so forth.

To empower the youth, data must be available to all and the campaign for “Data for all” must be supported by everyone as it will be an empowering tool for youth.
A petition to this effect has been prepared for submission to the President.

He emphasized that access to the internet is a basic human right.

Employment tax incentives can result in increased youth employment.

Youth owned businesses must not be side-lined.

Support for small business is required to ensure that government achieves the NDP target for creating 11 million new jobs by 2030.

Despite the lack of support, youth must rise and be proactive.
7.6 NORTH-WEST PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE Hon V Motsumi, MPL, the Deputy Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature reflected on the impact of Covid-19 on women, youth and persons with disabilities.

The pandemic has resulted in growing job losses, the weakening economy and loss of life leaving a negative inheritance for the youth of South Africa.
Government’s efforts to issue relief funds to business, Covid-19 grants, and increase in social grant recipients to unemployed, children and senior citizens are providing some relief.

She further recognised the critical role of essential services workers and lauded them for their support.
7.7 WESTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE Hon Ms D Baartman, MPL, in reflecting on the progress made by Estonia, emphasised the importance of Information and Communication Technological (ICT) skills for a developing country like South Africa pointing out that it must start with government in investing in ICT skills and training.
Explaining how such skills with the right ICT infrastructure could change the way the country does business including improvements in the education sector as it uses digital platforms.

Some countries without the wealth associated with developed or rich countries, are already using digital platforms in the form of e-banking, e-voting, e-cabinet meetings, e-tax filing, etc.

South Africa and its youth need to embrace e-government and digital skills training in preparation for the digital revolution.
She listed some of the innovation in the province such as mobile apps for agriculture, human settlements, online business toolkits, a paperless digital hospital, online health dashboards and online learning material for all grades as well as free Wi-Fi in public spaces and schools.

14 20 SESSION 3 8.

YOUTH FORMATIONS A number of youth formations were invited to address youth concerns per sector.
Amongst those presenting were the SA Youth Council, BMF, NYDA, Financial Sector, NUM, Tertiary Co-operative, LGBTQI+ and the Arts and Culture sectors.

8.1 SA YOUTH COUNCIL Mr T Sibiya the Head of Policy and Research representing the SA Youth Council, pointed out that the developmental state of South Africa will fail if the level of inequality continues to exist.
He highlighted the perpetual poverty marginalised groups endured The input from the SA Youth Council focused on how youth can play a role to curb the impact of the Coved -19 pandemic.

Further, the input alluded to issues to be addressed given the prevailing poverty, inequalities unfairness and distortion of reproduction of wealth.
To this end, the presenter highlighted that the: 1) Industrial policy of the country needed to change; 2) State must drive an entrepreneurial economy; 3) State resources must be used for youth employment and job perseverance; 4) Local procurement of medical supplies by government must prioritise youth business; 5) Growth of a new economy are crucial to fight youth unemployment, suggesting that youth be employed in the PPE manufacturing sector; 6) Government needs to lower investment rates as this is needed by the country to generate growth, thus leading to job creation.
7) Financing of SMMEs could further assist to reduce unemployment.

8.2 YOUTH IN BUSINESS SOUTH AFRICA Ms S Sakuneka, the President of Youth in Business South Africa started her input by citing a quote “A county that does not value its youth has no future “.

She emphasized that decisions, for youth should include youth for “without us, there is no hope “.
She encouraged the youth to take the struggle of today’s youth as the struggle of the youth of today is different from the youth of 1976 and largely premised on economic exclusion.

15 21 To revitalize the South African economy, support must be provided to youth and it is crucial to remove all barriers so that youth may qualify for entrepreneurship opportunities.

Ms Sakuneka stressed the need to transform the school curriculum as the current one is outdated and does not prepare the youth for the 4IR.
8.3 SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL WOMEN’S FORUM Speaking on behalf of the South African National Women’s Forum, Ms N Maponopono stated that gender based violence is an issue that the progressive women’s forum is paying attention to.

The challenges faced by women in 1976, are still prevalent, basing this assertion on the intersectionality of race, class and gender as a growing phenomenon.

The speaker asserted that education should give young people opportunities and made reference to Stats SA data.
The statistics reveal that in terms of key prospects in the labor market, many young people are unable to participate in the economy, this stood at 59 % in 2019 and affected mainly the age group 15 – 24 years.

Youth unemployment indicates that the majority of the population is excluded from participating in the economy.

Education is key to reducing unemployment.

The lask of education makes it difficult for unemployed youth to participate in the economy and government should address this.
8.4 FINANCIAL SECTOR COALITION Representing the Finance section Mr. S Mgolombane, encouraged the youth to respond positively to the clarion call of the Youth Parliament theme “Youth Power growing South Africa together in the time of Covid-19”.

The crisis calls for solidarity and requires youth to solidly stand behind government`s fight against Covid -19.
The presentation covered a range of financial and business investment strategies and proposals listed as follows: i) Government must create the opportunity to promote local procurement, across the economic cluster; ii) Small entities, such as stokvels must be given opportunities to participate in government supply chain; iii) PPE to allow the small business to participate thus creating economic opportunities; iv) Treasury to fund co-operatives; v) the economy to provide sustainable jobs; vi) At policy level, the introduction of a green paper that looks at strategies for infusing youth in approaches that blends financial, investor and business strategy and that builds the potential of youth is needed.
This will ensure youth participation in business and the economy in general.

16 22 vii) To increase sector growth, government must convene a Social Sector Summit that would help to integrate the plans, so that the financial sector is not left behind.

8.5 BMF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS Perspectives shared by Mr. M Dube representing Western Cape young processionals alluded to the scarcity of black professionals at the top of the corporate ladder as symptomatic of a bigger problem of access to resources.
There is a need to invest in black people leadership, promoting socio-economic cohesion and promote young leaders.

Unintended consequences of the pandemic are that it is uncovering flaws which must be addressed.

Paying attention to corporate SA is important for higher education if we want to see fundamental changes because the youth hinge on access to education to enter the corporate sector.

Citing relevant policies such as the Education Act 1997, NYDA, NFAS, etc.
the presenter indicated that these are all measures to promote access to education, however they are not enough to redress the inequalities of the past in the corporate sector.

South Africa is dealing with the redress of past discriminatory laws that hindered black people from accessing education.

Tools to allow education is important.

In addressing issues related to racial exclusion, Mr Dube assured the youth that the BMF deals with racism in the workplace.
The presenter ended by sharing the BMF Post Covid -19 plan whereby young professionals will host a Summit for leadership and students, with the aim of deliberating on the pandemic, the changes it brought, unemployment in the country and to look at jobs for the future.

8.6 SOUTH AFRICAN YOUTH MOVEMENT TERTIARY COOPERATIVE The presentation by Mr. T. Mmbegeni emphasized the important role of youth in co-operatives.
Government must implement relevant legislation, the Co-operative Act (Act 14 of 2005 as amended in 2013), as it calls upon government to assist the vocational training centre’s, in order to grow the economy.

The presenter impressed upon the fact that Government must pay attention and support the SA youth movement in tertiary co-operatives, as they can become a major employer.

A key concern is that South Africa is not manufacturing its own technology in terms of the 4IR.
The government should build more universities and colleges to meet the needs of the population.

Education and training in agriculture must also be prioritised as food security is a key concern.

8.7 NUM YOUTH In his opening statement, Mr B Mrasi, the National Secretary of NUM Youth, outlined that for too long, young people are finding it difficult to find employment and that this has worsened in the era of Covid - 19.
Traversing towards post Covid – 19, it is important that employment of youth, the creation of 17 23 employment opportunities be identified in order to create social protection, particularly for youth who drop out of school and who have no means of participating in the economy.

Mr Mrasi made the following proposals to address these concerns: • A social protection safety net for youth should be established to ensure that those who drop out of schools are not left to social ills.
• Youth must get a monthly grant allowance that will assist them in looking for jobs.

• Community innovation hubs must be created for young people to upskill themselves.

• Youth procurement should be prioritized.

• 15% of people employed in small companies should comprise of young people, whilst this figure should be 50% in bigger companies.

• Economic plans should be spearheaded by young people post COVID-19, particularly in the infrastructure sector.
8.8 EMBRACE DIVERSITY MOVEMENT Presenter T Mokwati, the Head for Policy and Planning, highlighted to participants that it is inappropriate to identify LGBTQI+ people, with pronouns that evoke notions of disregard for gender sensitivity.

Referring to LGBTQI+ community as Mr / Mrs or He/She is deemed impertinent.

Mokwati asserted the concept They / Them as essential in acknowledging people’s identity.

People wishing to be identified as (they or them) should not be subject to cumbersome ways.
The presenter alerted that issues of gender identity and gender diversity are no laughing matter, with the evolution of the concept They / Them, people should embrace it.

The LGBTQI+ community is part of South Africa and they need to be included in all aspects and decisions affecting their lives.

Instead the LGBTQI+ community have been side-lined on issues facing youth.
This has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic as young LGBTQI+ find themselves homeless and left out of key decisions impacting them.

The LGBTQI need to participate in decision making at all levels of government The presiding officials recognized that respecting diversity is no debate, people need to respect gender nonconformity.
8.9 FREE STATE RAINBOW SEEDS QUEER CHANGE MAKERS MOVEMENT They/Them L Mlabatheki concurred with the views expressed by the Embrace Diversity Movement and confirmed that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, LQBTQI+ people are homeless and are excluded from state assistance.

They observed that there is no LGBTQI+ representative in Parliament or government and called for the establishment of an LGBTQI+ department in the same way that a department dealing with Youth and Women exists.
18 24 There is a request for government programmes and budget to be set aside for LGBTQI as they are only reliant on funding from overseas.

Furthermore, there is a need for people to be sensitised about LGBTQI.

8.10 TRAXTION SHELTAM Traxtion Sheltam focuses on teenage students to get an education, upskilling them to seize the opportunities available to improve their lives.

Ms Z Simamane stressed that education for youth remains an important vehicle for empowerment.
Acknowledging the resonance and importance of upskilling artisans, the organization recognizes that this will yield economic growth, and lead to stimulation of employment of youth.

Acknowledging the high unemployment rate of youth, creation of opportunities in the rail industry is considered the right direction to stimulate the economy, in particular road to rail.
The railway industry must be opened up so that more jobs can be created in the sector Resonating with the urgency of opening jobs, she pointed out that depression amongst youth leads to stress, substance abuse and many societal ills.

In such circumstance youth should seek help.

She concluded by calling on business to absorb unemployed youth.
8.11 CULTURAL AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES FEDERATION OF SOUTH AFRICA Alluding to the creative industry in the time of Covid-19, Ms A Roda for the Cultural Creative Industries Federation of South Africa (CCSFA) said that there should be openness when dealing with issues of diversity and gender.
She called on the Youth Parliament to urge government and the corporate sector to create opportunities for freelancers in the creative arts industries and also to recognise arts and culture workers as professional workers.

She further emphasized these points pertaining to the creative industry: • The creative industry is a dynamic job creator.

• The creative industry is also socially inclusive.

• The industry encourages openness in dealing with issues of diversity and gender.
• Rural communities lack funding for creative projects.

• SA youth are unaware of opportunities in the cultural industry and should be made aware of job and youth development opportunities in the sector.

• More funding models for arts and culture initiatives should be developed through SALGA.

19 25 SESSION 4 9.

STATEMENTS BY POLITICAL PARTIES Political parties represented in Parliament were afforded the opportunity to make statements on issues impacting on youth.
9.1 DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE Representing the Democratic Alliance were Hon N Sharif, Hon B Nodada and Hon S Ngcobo.

Hon N Sharif reflected on the response of society to its women and highlighted the need to rip off this invisible social contract that tells women and the girl child that her life is expendable.

We need to unpack every single layer that contributes to the surge of gender based violence and femicide.

This starts at school when girls are told what to wear.
This sets a destructive precedent between girls and their bodies as they grow up with the notion that a girl’s body can be governed by others and not herself.

This programmes the girl child to take precautions and responsibility to stay as safe as possible which places immeasurable pressure on young girls.

Instead the focus should be to teach young boys to respect the autonomy of girls.

Respect for autonomy must be far reaching and basic equality must be prioritised.
Hon B Nodada sees Youth Month as an opportunity to understand our past, acknowledge the present and own the future.

He asserts that a government controls its people by not educating them or providing an inferior education or creating unconducive environment for teaching and learning which entrenches dependency and perpetual poverty.
He concludes that in post-apartheid South Africa, the battle of disrupting an unjust education system is not over as the majority of youth are subjected to an education system that are considered one of the worst in the word.

This education will consign many to a lifetime of poverty.

There is a need to change the education syllabi to address the skills that South Africa needs and to create the opportunity for entrepreneurship.
Hon S Ngcobo reflected on the exclusion of persons with disabilities from many fora including the current Youth Parliament.

The South African Human Rights Commission research brief on equality and disability statistics show that eight in ten persons with disabilities are unemployed, including youth with disabilities.

The White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities set the employment equity and work opportunity target for persons with disability at 7% by 2030.
Current employment statistics suggest this target will not be met.

Similarly, the public sector target for employment of persons with disabilities, set at 2% in 2005, has not been met 14 years later.

20 26 Hon Ngcobo further raised the shortage of special needs schools which contributes to youth unemployment.

Research has further highlighted the discrimination children with visual disabilities experience in that learning material is not made available and levels of teaching are inadequate.
This exacerbates the opportunities for youth with disabilities.

The government must seriously listen to the concerns of persons with disabilities.

Hon L Mphithi raised the question of space.

There is a lack of space for young people to politically and economically occupy.

The first battle for youth is to contend for space before owning it and the Youth Parliament provides an opportunity for this.
With more than 10 million unemployed and 55% of youth unable to find employment, change is needed to bring legitimacy to the democracy in South Africa.

We need to break the stranglehold of extreme inequality that continue to prevail young people.

The National Youth Policy which must be tabled is being reviewed by the Minister for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities without engaging this Youth Parliament.
There is a need for decisive action in terms of the struggle for data as Covid-19 has highlighted the inability of youth to access the internet.

Government must expand support and incentives for youth owned businesses and cooperatives.

He stressed that young people are asking “Do you hear me?

Do you see me, do I matter?” Government has not responded and therefore young people must stand up for their own futures.

This Youth Parliament session must have meaningful action plans.
9.2 ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS Ms I Kula speaking from the virtual platform, shared a message of dissatisfaction with the ruling state for the endless killing of the African child.

Gender based violence should not be met with empty rhetoric.
Femicide and heinous atrocities of child abuse, should not only result in responsible men being brought to book but she called for the need to unpack the role of structural violence of an anti-black system and an untransformed state institution and the role they play in normalisation violence on black bodies.

Education remains a social good and responsibility.

The EFF calls for free education for all and a radical decolonisation of the education system.
The current curriculum celebrates Western epistemology and colonialism There is a need for a radical shift in the economy as currently 31 % of graduates are unemployed and youth unemployment sits at 53,8%.

Black Youth do not have access to capital and this will become more difficult as financial institutions would not want to take such risks.

Government will need to ensure increased funding through the NYDA and other youth structures.

21 27 Ms Kula stated that to work the economy, land is required.
Land must be expropriated without compensation and redistribute it equally to create the future we want.

Ms Kalu stressed that we need a capable state to deliver services to all and create jobs.

The government has failed to eradicate the scourge of drugs as it is failing to identify the lived conditions of young people.

She reminded delegates that South Africa is part of a continent and that we have one future and need to build a society during and after Covid with strong socialist values.
9.3 FREEDOM FRONT + Hon T Breedt, MP of the Freedom Front Plus, reflected on the greater uncertainty that the pandemic has introduced.

Prior to Covid-19 the future was uncertain and the prospect of job opportunities were bleak.

Covid has worsened this.

She implored the youth to focus on building a better future and that we all need to build a better South Africa.

She concurred with Hon Lucas that we cannot carry out fundamental change without a certain level of madness.
But stated that it is madness that the majority of school going learners do not have schooling in their mother tongue.

In fact mother tongue education is reserved for the 7 % English speaking South Africans.

IsiZulu is the most spoken language in South Africa but there is no isiZulu tertiary institution.

Hon Breedt stated that the youth of today and leaders of tomorrow have the power to fundamentally change the South African landscape.
Whilst she recognises that the youth are frustrated, they need to push government to create an environment for equal opportunities and economic growth that will create job opportunities.

Youth must celebrate the past and celebrate the diversity of South Africa but must ensure that history does not repeat itself.

9.3 ACDP Hon L Luthuli, MP raised concerns around the unemployment amongst youth and many of these are graduates.
He reflected on the increase in the number of black professionals emigrating which is now exceeding that of white citizens emigrating.

Stats SA statistics show that more than 97 000 young South Africans have emigrated since 2006, these mainly between the ages of 18 and 35.

He queried why there is a reluctance particularly amongst the youth to vote.

Youth are disenchanted with voting as they do not see the fruits thereof and this is mainly due to the increase in corruption.
Youth require the encouragement of positive role models and servant leaders to bring back the appetite to be part of the South African solution.

22 28 As a solution, Hon Luthuli referred to the available funding for wards that can be used to train unemployed youth as plumbers, electricians, carpenters, mechanics as the Western Cape has some of the best artisans in these areas.
9.4 UDM Mr Y Zigebe, MP representing the UDM, saluted the sterling work done by frontline and health care workers fighting the pandemic.

The UDM lauded the inception of the Youth Parliament in 2011, as it allowed youth the opportunity to raise a number of issues impacting them such as economic participation, prejudice, inequality, racism, sexism, classism, ableism and unemployment.
Despite this platform, youth are still seeking solutions to the same problems as government has not been serious about solving challenges faced by youth.

Despite 26 years of democracy, South Africa ranks as one of the most unequal societies in the world.

The UDM proposes that we need young people in decision making bodies – not token appointments.

Youth unemployment has increased dramatically due to Covid-19 but the pandemic has further revealed the lack of innovation.
South Africa needs an economic repositioning focussing on youth and skills development.

Youth must traverse barriers that hamper their progress.

This includes an education system that does not adequately prepare youth for the future.

Instead it generates dropouts and perpetual job seekers.

He suggested that the education system requires a massive overhaul.

The education system should build job creators, innovators, artisans, those who work the land and produce food.
Government must hire those it invested in and eliminate NSFAS debt for those who have been unemployed for more than 5 years.

9.5 GOOD Ms P Jacobs joined the session on the virtual platform.

In quoting “We cannot always build a future for youth but we can build a youth for the future.”, she stressed that youth play a critical role as change agents.

Particularly in relation to incidents of sexual abuse at school, youth can play a key role to address this scourge.
The impact of the current lockdown may permanently lock youth out of the economy if youth themselves do not address this.

She encouraged youth to support communities and to make use of the informal sector.

However, data and access to technology hampers youth entrepreneurs.

The price of data must fall as presently it prevents youth from submitting online application, access to research and information.

23 29 There is a need for a lower rate of data for low income areas and schools.
Youth can be assisted through innovative community based programmes through partnership between civil society organisations and government.

There are many examples of entrepreneurial youth ventures which displays the resilience of our youth.

Youth should amplify their voices and become part of the solution that will take South Africa out of this pandemic.

9.6 NFP Ms T Mohamed-Fakier reflected on the unemployment rate for youth aged 15 to 24 which sat at 59% at the end of the first quarter of 2020.
This translates to 6 out of every 10 youth who are unemployed.

These figures would look differently with the lockdown.

Despite the deep rooted systemic problems in South Africa, she told youth that we cannot do nothing.

The school curriculum does not make youth employable in the future and there is insufficient tertiary capacity to accommodate all youth in South Africa.

The affordability of tertiary education is a further barrier to build youth capacity.
South African tertiary education has become a luxury when it is supposed to be a basic right.

Youth from lower income households’ barriers are multiplied with no stable internet connections, a quiet place to work or study, access to a computer, a secure space to store computers and access to electricity.

With no access to these support structures, most youth are frustrated and lured to illegal activities which often results in increased violence against women and children.
She encouraged the youth to create better solutions, to be accountable and responsible for their futures and to empower a new South Africa.

9.7 AIC The AIC, represented by Mr A Mbizafa indicated that the shortage of resources for youth worsens the number of unemployed.

In addition, the lockdown grant has proven not to be sufficient.

Government expenditure is not directed to youth but to tenderpreneurs who are not able to build structures to accommodate South Africa.
By way of example, he explained that South Africa does not have an issue with the availability of water but what is an issue is the continued deterioration of infrastructure to secure water.

The South African education system must be realigned to address the needs of the youth of today not the needs of 1994.

Rural development must be prioritised as there are no real programmes to address youth in rural areas.

Agriculture seems to be the only area that is supported but this too, favours the affluent.
Parliament needs to look at debt management of graduates who are unable to find meaningful employment.

24 30 9.8 PAC The PAC representative expressed concern that despite democratic changes, English and Afrikaans monopolise African languages.

Mother tongue language education which was fought for in 1976 was not fully realised with the result that many youth are left behind.

In addition labour laws do not protect unskilled labour.

South Africa requires a change in social culture.


9.9 ATM Ms C Moji lamented the fact that there is no material change in the lives of black people.

Black youth have no access to the economy.

The number of businesses that closed down during the lockdown period has dramatically pushed the unemployment rate, particularly for youth, higher.

Key institutions such as NYDA, are not fulfilling their roles to protect South African youth and must be reviewed.
The ATM proposes that Parliament introduce laws to resuscitate the economy.

In addition, it is important to ring-fence the informal economy, which serves as a primary source of livelihood of many previously disadvantaged communities, for South African youth.
Government needs to formalise policies to protect trade in the informal economy 9.9 AL ‘JAMA-AH Mr T Eli echoed the problems faced by youth on the Cape Flats and in townships where gangsterism, drug abuse, crimes such as femicide are increasing at an alarming rate and socio economic conditions degenerated.

Al’ Jama-ah called for a basic universal grant for all unemployed.
He echoed the theme of there is no freedom without economic freedom and encouraged youth to grab the opportunities the Fourth Industrial Revolution brings with it.

There is an opportunity for new jobs and new revenue streams.

The mission of this generation of youth should be focused on transforming the economy.

9.10 COPE Ms S Sijadu could not deliver her input due to technical difficulties and was requested to submit her input.
25 31 9.11 IFP Hon MN Nxumalo, MP highlighted that young people are more active in the informal sector but Covid has impacted this negatively.

Government, the NYDA and other youth structures need to step up.

She stressed that we cannot grow South Africa together when our society remains deeply unequal and when rural children are forgotten.

Young people do not have access to internet, computers, gadgets, access to online portals and so forth.
She questioned the decision of the Department of Basic Education for re-opening schools during the lockdown period as the safety of learners and educators could not be guaranteed.

This further disadvantages the black rural school child who does not have access to online learning resources.

Over and above this, many communities still do not have access to basic services such as water and sanitation.
Due to the lack of government responsiveness, she encouraged youth to through self-help and self- reliance lift themselves out of poverty, to act in the spirit of Ubuntu and to rewrite the narrative of youth.

9.13 ANC The ANC was represented by two representatives namely Hon S Mkize, MP and Hon J Mananiso, MP.

Hon Mkize focussed on young women who lost their lives due to gender based violence.
SAPS research estimated that a woman is raped every 36 seconds and that 40% of men assault their partners daily in South Africa.

Often violence against women is justified and like racism, gender based violence is embedded in the fabric of our society.

Against this backdrop Covid arrived and despite the negative impact thereof, it also presents opportunities for South Africa.
There is an opportunity to review the economic framework to ensure that we build the economy to create jobs as capitalism, as the seat of many social ills, led to inequality along racial and gender lines.

There should be greater focus in investing in health, education and human settlements.

Furthermore, she highlighted the need to take a deliberate decision to rescue the income gap.
To address this in part, the role of the Reserve Bank should be reviewed to be a more developmental and focussing on job creation.

Land redistribution should also be expedited.

Hon J Mananiso in responding to previous inputs categorically stated that the 1994 project did not fail as this Youth Parliament is evidence of the participation of youth, who were previously disenfranchised.

She noted that the ruling party made strides in terms of youth development but more needs to be done.
She concurred with previous speakers that: - the land must be shared; - we must have free education; - strengthen public private partnerships in favour of youth; 26 32 - procurement in government and private sector to be set aside for youth; and - there must be special funding for arts.

In addition, she agreed that all provinces should have a uniform constitutional arrangement for youth units.

Hon Mananiso stressed the need to promote “buy local” and “grow local” economy.
In addition, the District Model could be used to invest in digital infrastructure.

The National Youth Policy is currently under review and youth are to be consulted on this.

She argued for the mainstreaming of youth with disabilities in schools and not special schools, to ensure that they benefit from the same education.
Perpetrators of gender based violence should not benefit from economic opportunities and a register of such offenders should be maintained Transformation is not just about ticking the box; we should see young men and women in key positions.

To this end they must be empowered as professionals, with the necessary skills and be made part of the economy.
She reminded young parliamentarians and other public representatives to ensure that as part of their oversight work, they incorporate the proposals and recommendations made here today and to hold government to account.

She recognised that young people are ready to take their space in South Africa and that it was also the responsibility of young people, using youth power to grow South Africa together.

10.
10.

INTERACTIVE SESSION SESSION 5 The last plenary for the day was co-chaired by Honourable X. Nqola, MP and Mr.

I Ntsube, MP.

Akin to other plenaries, session five was a combination of interactive discussions and comments from the chamber and virtual participants.

Some of the fundamental themes that reverberated in all the previous sessions were reiterated during this sitting e.g.
the role of the youth in fast-tracking economic growth, development and participation, education, employment opportunities and entrepreneurship to mention a few.

A number of youth constructions observed that they were the country’s largest populace yet felt excluded and marginalised in the decision making process primarily on matters that affect them.
Youth joblessness and lack of economic opportunities were particularly heightened as the most pressing challenge(s) that required urgent government intervention.

A lack of involvement of this dynamic segment of society in the labour force, though, not always by choice, has many negative implications on the lives of youths, the economy as well as society in general.
It is particularly troublesome because when it is so high, it can have lasting effects on lifetime of employability through the depreciation of skills and can be the source of political instability.

It was 27 33 therefore unsurprising that a consistent reflection from various youth formations was the fact that the engagement of youth in development has been inconsistent and at best unpredictable.
Hence, the recommendation and endorsement by many that the Youth Parliament should be held twice a year, with build-ups from provinces and local government level.

The Chairperson, Hon Nqola, reminded Members that they were each given strictly two minutes to make their contribution.

The contributors were segmented into two, those in the chamber administered by Hon Nqola and those that were joining virtually under the guidance and direction of Hon Ntsube.
Hon Nqola furthermore reminded esteemed members that this day, 26 June, coincided with a colourful and eventful day of 26 June 1955 where more than 3000 delegates congregated at Kliptown, Johannesburg, to adopt the people’s Freedom Charter, a crucial foundation for our country’s Constitution.
Inputs from the Chamber The first input from Unathi Mutshekwane of the South African Youth Council took issue with the R10 billion expenditure over the period of five years by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition on film incentives which appeared to favour foreign productions.

While South African beneficiaries, six recipients from Western Cape to be precise, were predominantly white owned.
He furthermore lamented employers who still demand work experience from recent graduates when President Ramaphosa has recently announced and made a commitment that experience would no longer be a requirement.

Lastly, he called on Cricket South Africa (CSA) to accelerate transformation of the sport both on the field and at the boardroom level.
The second and fourth speakers from the Economic Freedom Fighters were particularly concerned with school infrastructure backlog that do not meet the basic safety norms and standards, calling for the Minister of Basic Education to be held accountable for the lives lost as a result of dilapidated infrastructure, including pit toilets.
One speaker bemoaned the dearth of support for youth owned enterprises by the Department of Small Business Development, citing youth owned businesses that were dying in numbers due to a lack of appropriate financial and nonfinancial (knowledge) support.

While the other presenter underscored the importance of education and the need to move away from a colonial education to build the African child to solve the problems of the African child.
A further issue was that of mental health of youth with a focus on African indigenous health practices.

A further issue raised was gender equality as one of the fundamental necessities to achieve social, political and economic development goals.
The third delegate to contribute on behalf of the Congress of South African Students made reference to the forthcoming National Youth Policy, with specific reference to how do the youth become more solutions oriented, challenging the youth to focus on what builds, encouraged youth to tell their stories and find platforms to air their messages.
According to the delegate, one of the critical conversations the youth could have should be about the huge numbers of youth with no education, no employment, no skills and basic training.

The rise of the “missing middle” requires government and business to make concessions to address this.
28 34 The fifth speaker representing the African Christian Democratic Party was for the most part concerned with collaborative efforts being done with religious organisations in upskilling, training and mentoring youth of this country.

She observed that civic organisations and religious formations were not being included in the programme.
The sixth delegate to speak from the IFP enquired from delegates who attended the previous Youth Parliament sessions what resolutions were taken and what progress had been registered in terms of implementing those resolutions.

She cautioned members that if those resolutions were not tracked and effected, delegates might be back here again in future with little or no tangible progress being achieved.
The seventh speaker from the United Democratic Movement youth vanguard pleaded with Parliament to ensure that this session of the Youth Parliament be held twice a year and to invite the Department of Employment and Labour to engage and answer questions of the youth pertaining to the high youth unemployment rate.

The youth vanguard further called for the regulation of professional bodies such as those administering engineers.
Youth and recent graduates are being coerced to register and affiliate with these bodies.

Parliament needs to look at this.

The eighth speaker also from the UDM youth vanguard voiced his concern that pupils are being sent back to classrooms even though others have tested positive for Covid-19 yet the Minister of Basic Education was not even in Parliament, as well as the “recycling of Ministers” which if at all possible should give way for younger and energetic Ministers.
Government must consider how it engages with stakeholders, including youth.
The ninth, tenth, eleventh and last speaker from the Chamber from COSAS and ANC Youth League made reference to a number of subjects from acknowledging the contributions of the youth of 1976 for having conquered and overthrown the oppressive system, the youth of “Fees must fall” movement which fought a significant battle to remove a systemic blockage that prevented youth from entering institutions of higher learning to challenges confronting the youth of 2020, most notably lack of access to information owing to high data costs.
Youth formations must not only enquire about policies government must put in place, but youth should also be willing to determine what they need to do to set a fertile ground for the implementation of these policies.

Like the youth of 1976 were change makers, youth today need to be willing to implement these policies.

The youth applauded the ANC for making significant inroads on issues of women empowerment.
However, the brutal killings of young women and sex for marks were among some many social ills the youth of this country must root out.

We must also learn from the LGBTQI community to ensure that youth respect each other.

29 35 Inputs from Virtual Participants The second part of session five was co-chaired by Hon Ntsube and nineteen presenters indicated their intent to contribute.

The principle of giving non-members priority was once more emphasised.
One remarkable obstacle to note during this session was that most participants wrestled with internet connectivity, confirming a key theme of lack of access to viable broadband.

The first speaker to contribute from the virtual platform, Hon Morati, emphasised the role and inclusion of LGBTQI community and people living with disabilities in all governance structures, as well as youth inclusion in Parliament and Cabinet.
Lastly, he enquired from the Member of the Legislature in Northern Cape regarding the establishment of Youth Opportunity Centres if there were timeframes attached to their establishments.

The second presenter Hon Z Mdudo’s inputs impressed upon youth employment, eradication and decolonisation of education.

The third speaker, Hon Nanto queried the progress recorded towards implementing preceding Youth Parliament resolutions and recommendations.
He highlighted the absence of Ministers from the Youth Parliament as a missed opportunity, considering the responsibility they have to account what their ministries are doing for the youth.

The next presenters from the virtual platform, called themselves the Youth Troop, felt Youth Parliament was not adequately tackling issues affecting teenagers, for instance, racism at schools, teenage pregnancy and inclusion and representation of” young” youth in the future Parliament.
The fifth speaker, Hon Jacobs, implored Parliament to involve youth in all issues that affects them, most importantly education, and for Parliament to exercise rigorous oversight of the basic education sector while assuring teacher capacitation.

The sixth speaker, Hon Wettles, struggled with internet connectivity but contributed with reference to embracing youth from remote rural areas.
Hon Kganyago as speaker number seven raised the concern of unemployed graduates and echoed the nationwide call to abolish tuition fees and cancellation of student historical debt especially for unemployed graduates.
Hon Mbutho recapped sentiments raised by previous respondents concerning LGBTQI challenges that are peculiar to their community and need specific attention, particular financial or developmental assistance from government, queer representation in Parliament, access to institutions of higher learning and basic health care – but they confront the same hardship experienced by all young South Africans.

Honourable S Movo lamented government’s lack of implementation.
He specifically referred to the National Youth Development Agency for having failed the youth of this country to inculcate a robust culture of entrepreneurship and general lack of support to promising business ventures.

He bemoaned NYDA funding of well-established business people, money that could have been channelled to youth development.

Honourable Kasibe, the tenth speaker, flagged institutionalised racism in the education sector, while school learners are being discriminated against.
He questioned the existence of Orania in a democratic dispensation as emblematic of a deep-rooted racism problem in South Africa.

He furthermore 30 36 cautioned that all racist projects such as Orania have no place in a post-apartheid society and called upon the Youth Parliament to adopt a recommendation and/or resolution that all colonial symbols must be removed.

Hon Norobolo from African Transformation Movement (ATM) Youth League criticised the lack of diversification of the country’s Constitution.
She castigated government’s failure to reduce youth unemployment, particularly of graduates, and called for an institutionalisation of “South Africa First” policy.

This is why the ATM advocate for the reserving of the micro economy for South Africans only.

The government has a responsibility to confront systemic exclusion of Khoisan people, and those living with disabilities and albinism.
The next speaker, Honourable S Mpeto, called for the transformation of Parliament, to be more inclusive of youth representation and the extermination of Roman Dutch law that still administrates our parliamentary and legal system.

She stressed the need to deal with land restoration and not land expropriation.

She also called for white enclaves such as Orania to be outlawed and all apartheid symbols to be removed.
When empowering young people, the focus should be to promote independence as opposed to dependency.

The pandemic shows that most South Africans have suffered under the pandemic of hunger, not only for food but key resources such as access to data and the internet.

Honourable Sijadu referred to the President’s state of the nation address where numerous promises were made to emancipate youth and young women in particular and enquired how many of these were implemented.
She denounced the lack of consultation when the National Youth Policy was developed, while further noting that Eastern Cape government has gone bankrupt, and directed the COGTA Minister to respond why the Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitan still remains without a mayor.

Speaker number fourteen was Honourable S Ganda from the Good Party.

He said more must be done to revitalise township economies.
Over the past decade, the development of townships into more economically and socially sustainable communities has been the subject of growing interest in South Africa.

However, such interest has not been matched with tangible investments that transform townships into industrial sites.

There was therefore room for improvement by national and provincial governments to deliberately target township development.
The next representative from the EFF Student Command Hon X Mehlomakhulu called on all youth formations to prioritise the deletion of colonial structures and statues in our Parliament.

He condemned the lack of school infrastructure, while young people’s lives were being put at risk due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Hon D Daniels from the Good Party expressed her dismay at a highly visible endemic gender-based violence that affect women and children each day.
With easing of lockdown this scourge appeared to have gained much impetus notwithstanding President Cyril Ramaphosa having declared femicide a national crisis in September 2019.

She enquired from the President and Parliament as to where the gender based plan promised by the President during 2019 was.

She further raised the increase of teenage suicide and what was being done about this.
31 37 Hon A Jabavu from the UDM youth structure queried the relevance of the NYDA and SAYC, in light of the number of young voters who participate in democratic elections that has steadily declined.

He reiterated earlier recommendations to have this session held biannually so that structures such as the NYDA and SAYC, instead of reporting to government, can report direct and openly to the youth of this country.
Honourable A Peko challenged the youth of this country to venture for meaningful positions in society.

He additionally railed the government for not putting an effort to support civil society formations and non-profit organisations.

He cautioned the government to be more circumspect as the youth of this country is becoming more and more exasperated with government ineptitude and inefficiency.
Honourable A Katabazi who made general remarks about how the program from the Youth Parliament and discussions progressed and that youth should focus to be part of the solution.

Hon M Soji was the last speaker and proposed that we redefine the age criteria for job seekers.

He further highlighted the abuse of interns.

11.

CLOSING Hon Lucas informed the Youth Parliament that we have listened to the youth that is our future and hope.
She recognised that whilst Covid is a threat, there is a lot of opportunity as evidenced by the virtual hybrid platform used for the Youth Parliament.

She noted the many inputs and issues raised around education, unemployment, employment opportunities, funding etc.

These will be captured in a report and a session will be scheduled with responsible ministers to address and respond to the issues raised by the youth.
She stressed that some areas can be addressed to build a capable country where respect, kinship, kindness and the correct attitude is nurtured.

Remarking on the fact that South Africa has become a violent society especially considering gender based violence, she implored the current generation to bring a change in our country.

She recognised that there is a common language developing within the needs and challenges experienced by youth and that together we need to coin solutions.
The same delegates will be invited to have an open session with government to secure the future of SA in the hands of the current generation.

Hon Lucas closed the session expressing her gratitude for the participation and presence of the Executive of all three spheres as well as all Members at national and provincial level as well as Councillors and in particular the support of all political parties for the Youth Parliament 2020.

32 38 12.
32 38 12.

SUMMARY OF KEY CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS 12.1 CHALLENGES a) Youth unemployment is very high and the economy of the country excludes the youth despite some being graduates.

b) COVID-19 has further increased youth unemployment.

c) Rural communities lack funding for creative projects.

d) SA youth are unaware of opportunities in the cultural industry.
e) Jobs still want experience after the president has announced that experience should no longer be a hindrance when youth is looking for employment opportunities.

f) There is poor or selective assistance from the NYDA where by those already in an advantaged posture continued to be funded.

g) The current education system does not prepare the youth for the 4IR industrial revolution.

h) The education system in anti-black.

i) There’s a lot of racism in schools that needs to be dealt with.
j) The education system creates job seekers instead of job creators and needs to be reviewed and amended.

k) The education curriculum does not respond to African problems l) COVID-19 has just exposed the extreme inequalities in terms of the country’s basic education, whereby children in affluent schools have access to online learning and those from rural areas are left behind.

m) Data is too expensive for students n) There is a rise in Gender based violence and femicide in the country.
o) The LGBTQI is not represented in government legislation and are also denied on economic opportunities p) Transformation in the sport, arts and culture industry is still lacking.

12.2 RECOMMENDATIONS 12.2.1 YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT a) Decisions on youth should not be taken without youth participation in such discussions.

b) Youth entrepreneurship must be prioritized by all spheres of government.

c) Youth should enjoy being prioritized in government procurement.
d) COVID-19 has increased unemployment and the youth should be involved in economic decisions on the forging a way forward to the country.

33 39 e) Government should ensure that 40% of the supply chain procurement is allocated to youth and young MPs must ensure that the policy on youth procurement is implemented when doing oversight.

f) The roles of youth structures such as the NYDA should be reviewed.

g) The creative industry is a dynamic job creator, socially inclusive and needs to be supported more.
h) More funding models for arts and culture initiatives should be developed through SALGA.

i) Experience should not be a hindrance to youth employment.

j) Data must be cheap and accessible to all the youth as it will enable them to seek economic opportunities.

k) Youth should be prioritized in land redistribution process.

l) The sport, arts and culture industry must be reviewed.

12.2.2 YOUTH ACCESS TO EDUCATION a) The education system must be amended to create job creators as opposed to job seekers.
b) The education curriculum should be developed in such a way that it addresses African problems.

c) Education should focus on developing critical thinking skills among learners, instead of just focusing on the pass rate.

d) The debt relief for graduates who are unemployed must be considered.

12.2.3 YOUTH AND GENDER BASED VIOLENCE a) The youth should address gender based violence, femicide, and racism as seen recently through awareness campaigns and holding the state to account.
b) Young girls should be protected from being exploited by male educators in exchange for academic favours.

c) Government needs to speed up its policy on gender based violence.

12.2.4 LGBTQI+ a) Government must include LGBTQI representation in policy making and make development funding available.

12.2.5.

YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES 34 40 a) Youth with disabilities must be mainstreamed into the current schooling system to produce equality.
12.2.6 YOUTH AND SOCIETY a) Mental health among the youth is a serious concern and needs to be addressed.

b) African indigenous medicine needs to be considered and recognised as healing agents 12.2.7.

YOUTH, PARLIAMENT AND THE EXECUTIVE a) Ministers and DGs should also attend the Youth Parliament so that they can answer the concerns of the youth within their respective portfolios.

b) Young parliamentarians must pursue oversight over the executive on youth related matters.
c) Parliament must host the Youth Parliament twice a year to ensure that there is participation from local and provincial level culminating in an annual Youth Parliament and followed by a feedback session where Members of the Executive have to account to the youth for what they was done to address the resolutions of the Youth Parliament.

13.

RESOLUTIONS PER PORTFOLIO AND FOCUS AREAS 13.1 Youth, Covid-19 and the Economy The Youth Parliament noted that COVID-19 has amplified the challenges facing the youth.
The economy is on a decline thereby shedding jobs, most of which will be in the services sector where youth employment is most prominent.

Statistics South Africa reported that in the first quarter of 2019, the youth between the ages of 15–24 years were the most affected by unemployment, with an unemployment rate of 55,2 per cent.1 Statistics South Africa further reported that 31 per cent of graduates in this age group were unemployed.
COVID-19 will deepen the struggle for employment opportunities and prospects for better lives.

However, there are opportunities that have been leveraged from the support provided because of the pandemic.

In response to COVID-19, the government has implemented measures to control imports and exports of goods that are needed for the fight against the pandemic in terms of the Disaster Management Act No.

57 of 2002.
The purpose of the import and export controls is to ensure that products that are needed to limit the spread of the Covid-19 are easily available in the country and are used for treating patients including products such as disinfectants, alcohol based sanitisers, 1 Statistics South Africa (2019) 35 41 facemasks, gas masks, antisera and other blood fractions, vaccines for human medicine, and medicines.2 This provides an opportunity for local manufacturing of these goods and there is government support available for local manufacturing.
Submissions from the Youth Parliament suggest that government support should also be directed towards the youth, through supporting micro and small enterprises: Submissions from the Youth Parliament suggest that government support should also be directed towards the youth, through supporting micro and small enterprises that manufacture Personal Projective Equipment and other goods needed to fight the spread of COVID-19.
The proposals to government included (a) (b) (c) Ensuring support to youth-owned local enterprises through the procurement of personal protective equipment and other medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic from such enterprises.

Promoting youth businesses in the agricultural sector and the green economy.

Creating opportunities and supporting the agricultural sector, particularly the youth in this sector because the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for food security in the country.
Prioritising local manufacturing and limiting imports of computers, computer equipment, and related goods whose demand has increased in this time of COVID-19 pandemic.

In this regard, the government should support the local manufacturing of these goods to grow the South African economy.

(d) Prioritise the participation of micro and small enterprises (SMEs) during COVID-19 as well as centralise support for SMEs.
13.2 Youth and Unemployment The high rate of unemployment in South Africa is worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Unemployment in South Africa is rife, it does not only affect those that are less educated as it also affects the educated, with tertiary education and qualifications.

Statistics show that the group most affected by unemployment include Africans, females, in rural areas.

2 Department of Trade and Industry (2020).


36 42 Submissions from the Youth Parliament suggested that government should: (Bold this section similar to the above section) (a) Consider an unemployment grant for all unemployed citizens.

This is required beyond what is available during the COVID-19 pandemic (Relief grant).

(b) The government should provide a grant for youth that are looking for work.
Job seekers require money to cover the cost of internet services, preparing a CV and sending CVs to prospective employers etc.

(c) A COVID-19 relief grant for the unemployed should be received by all who qualify for it.

The government should fast-track the implementation of this.

(d) Economic integration from learnerships to leadership jobs.

There should be a transition strategy for the youth in internships to move to jobs.
After the internship has expired rather than joining the unemployment pool again, people should be placed in companies.

(e) Open up government infrastructure to private companies that support the employment of youth.

This will create jobs for the youth and stimulate the economy.

(f) Equip the youth for future jobs.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is creating change that requires flexibility as well as new skills.
13.3 Youth and the Economy The South African economy is challenged with structural inhibitors to its growth and it becoming an inclusive economy.

Still, many South Africans do not participate in certain economic activities such as owning a business.

They are still confined to employment.

In an economy that is declining it is important that the youth become owners of businesses and become creators of employment rather than being job seekers.
In this regard, the industrial policy and strategy should be prioritised for implementation and the focus on sectors of the economy should coupled with a focus on the vulnerable groups in the economy such as the youth and women.

There should be more support for youth in the manufacturing sector.

Submissions from the Youth Parliament suggested that government should: (a) Finalise the development of the strategy for the Township Economy and implement it.
37 43 (b) Support initiatives for the youth to participate particularly Youth in the informal and Township economies.

(c) Develop Youth specific incentive support programmes, similar to the targeted support provided by the National Empowerment Fund (NEF) for black entrepreneurs.

(d) Improve incentives for the creative sector including the informal creative sector.
(e) Reconsider the film and television sector support by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) to ensure that it supports the youth and local companies.

Over R10 billion has been spent on overseas companies in the film industry in South Africa.

Prioritise our South African owned businesses in providing both non-financial and financial support over multinationals.

(f) Ensure that the youth participate throughout the value chain rather than in certain parts of the value chain.
This also includes participation in all sectors of the economy to ensure that there is inclusiveness in the economy.

(g) The government should look into the high cost of data.

Develop strategies in collaboration with the private sector to reduce the cost of data for purposes of education and small businesses.

13.4 Youth and Local Public Procurement The government has introduced local public procurement legislation in the form of the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act of 2000.
The Act is based on section 217 of the Constitution, which state “procurement by organs of state in the national, provincial or local sphere of government, or any other institution identified in national legislation, must occur in accordance with a system which is fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost-effective”.

The Constitution allows for organs of state to implement a procurement policy in which government determines and designate goods for local procurement.
The government is required to procure all designated products from local manufacturers, thereby creating opportunities for growth in the local manufacturing sector.

This piece of legislation encourages government to procure goods and services from local suppliers as well as small suppliers to ensure development and localisation.

This piece of legislation is currently 38 44 under review and amendment.
In February 2020 the Minister of Finance, Mr. Tito Mboweni published the draft Amendment Bill for public comment.3 The Youth Parliament raised concerns that government continues to procure goods and services from large enterprises and even import rather than buying locally produced goods.

While it acknowledged that there are some pockets of excellence, it noted that more needs to be done to facilitate the growth of the youth-owned and small enterprises.
The Preferential Procurement Regulations, require “organs of state to identify tenders, where it is feasible, to sub-contract a minimum of 30% of the value of the contract for contracts above R30 million’, to among others, Exempted Micro-Enterprises (EMEs) or Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSE) 4 with a minimum of 51 per cent black youth ownership”5.

Submissions from the Youth Parliament suggested that: a) Youth should benefit from government set-asides in government procurement.
b) Procurement quotas for youth should apply to not only the public but also the private sector.

c) Government must promote a culture of making foods locally and buying locally among South Africans.

d) Government must ensure 50% participation of youth in procurement programmes.

In this regard, government should procure 50% of its goods and services from youth-owned local enterprises.
e) Government must further consider developing legislation that will ensure that the private sector also procures 50% of its goods from youth and local enterprises.

f) Enterprises must get contracts only if they can demonstrate that 25% of employees are youth and are in the employ of the enterprises.

This must apply to SMMEs as well.


g) On the local procurement of goods, government should establish a task team to make sure that SMMEs, cooperatives and stokvels are given an opportunity to participate in the value chain and procurement of essential goods in the economy post COVID 19.

3 National Treasury (2020) 4 Exempted Micro-Enterprises (EMEs) are entities that generate an annual turnover of R0 and less R10 million.
Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSEs) are entities that have an annual turnover of above R10 million and less R50 million.

5National Treasury (2017) 39 45 13.5 Youth and access to finance and credit Access to credit continues to be one of the major challenges in South Africa and among the South African youth.

The contributors to the limited access to credit include the cost of credit as well as the requirements for accessing credit among others.
These inhibit the youth from taking up business opportunities and expanding existing small businesses, many of which go out of business within 2 years of inception with the lack of access to finance as one of the major contributors (Small Enterprise Development Agency, 2019).

In terms of government funding, there is an acknowledgment of the support provided by the government to small businesses, however, the incentives are said not to go far enough to meet the needs of the business in the country.
Because a large share of the youth is unemployed, the alternative is starting a business, which requires financing.

However, there is often stringent requirement, which the applicants have to comply with to access the incentives.

As a result, a large number of people are unable to access incentives, in particular the youth and those in the informal sectors of the economy.
The Youth Parliament participants raised the following: a) Post COVID 19 it will be difficult for black youth entrepreneurs to operate.

Black youth do not have access to capital and it will be even harder as financial institutions are not willing to process access to finance due to risk profiling.

b) Government should ensure improved access to finance for youth, women, persons with disabilities and those in the rural areas and informal sector.
c) Government must further look into the high cost of credit particularly for small businesses, for youth to participate in the economy, credit should be accessible.

d) Government should consider creating a state bank that will address the challenges of lack of access to finance for micro and small medium enterprises and youth-owned enterprises.

e) In order to revitalise the economy youth entrepreneurship is the solution.
f) Government should introduce special funding for the Creative and Cultural industry including provision of access to resources and funding for businesses in rural areas in the sector.

g) Participants questioned why funds are given to people with established businesses instead of young entrepreneurs.
h) Although education and skills development is one of the services offered by the NYDA, young people stated that the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) has no programme to help young people formulate successful business plans before they submit applications for funding.

i) A concern around diversity in relation to beneficiaries of funding from development finance institutions was raised.
Young people noted that funding that was allocated for the film industry was given to companies from oversees and three white South African companies.

40 46 13.3 Youth, Education and skills development According to the NDP, “improved education, for example, will lead to higher employment and earnings”6.

The NDP presents a long-term strategy to increase employment and broaden opportunities through education, as well as vocational training, among others.
On SMMEs and cooperatives in relation to education and training, young people made the following remarks; a) The education system produces job seekers instead of job creators.

b) There is a need to build cooperative universities and college cooperatives.

c) The education system should speak to today’s needs; it must prepare young people with necessary skills that will help them start businesses that can grow.
d) The lack of alignment between learners and what potential employers seek in the job market suggests that the education system is producing outdated skills.

e) The education system should therefore be reviewed.

f) Free education for all must be realised.

g) Teenage health, including mental health, should be prioritised at schools.

h) Racism at schools must be addressed i) Eradication of mud schools and pit latrine toilets should be prioritised.
j) Education and digital infrastructure are key investments to be made to enable learners with e-learning systems.

This should be extended to all schools, both urban and rural to ensure that the rural child is not left behind.

k) Learners with disabilities must be mainstreamed into the current schooling system to ensure equal access to education.
l) On youth and small businesses; participants questioned who was equipping the youth with the necessary information and knowledge that they need in order to maintain and grow their small businesses and not just start them?

m) Banks are charging exorbitant interest rates to young black people if they get the loan at all.
Small businesses are forced to close down because they are not equipped by government to run successful businesses – not only financial but also knowledge injection to make sure that these businesses keep on running and grow.

6 National Planning Commission (2012) 41 47 13.4 Youth and Government The Executive arm of the state oversees the work of government.
The executive develops policy, and then implements that policy by running the administration of the country through the different government departments”7.

In this regard, young people expressed the following; a) Government must engage youth on matters affecting them.

b) The President’s return of the Copy Rights Amendment Bill and the Performers Amendment Bill to Parliament was welcomed.
Notwithstanding the positive aspects of the Bills, there is still a need to ensure that persons in the creative industries retain their intellectual property.

c) The Department for of Small Business must implement the Cooperative Amendment Act No.6 of 2013, in relation to the Cooperative Advisory Council, Cooperative Development Agency, and Cooperative Tribunal Council.
d) Government should centralise the database for better coordination of non-tangible resources, engage civil society on skills development, and close the skills gap for SMMEs and coops so as to help them thrive.

e) Build capacity and develop a package for one-stop shops for all socio-economy matters that relate to SMMEs and cooperatives development.

f) The government response to Covid can help young people support their communities open up new opportunities to reopen and to rebuild the economy.
g) The importance of the informal sector for income generation for the unemployed young people is key for economic growth and job creation.

The Fourth Industrial revolution (4IR), data and technology provides new opportunities for the youth and will enable the youth to contribute to a sustainable future.

h) Data prices should be reduced.

The youth are eager to learn, do research and do online applications but data costs are a barrier.
Companies must offer low rates for data particularly in low-income areas and in schools.

Innovative community based programmes need to be well coordinated and scaled up through partnerships with government and civil society.

In the era of the Fourth Industrial revolution, SA is importing technology gadgets while we should try to produce technologies locally to enhance the capacity of the economy .
j) Persons with disabilities target should reach 7 per cent by 2030 and the shortages of i) special needs schools should be addressed.

k) Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people and intersex people’s (LGBTQi’s) rights are being overlooked and do not get any assistance from government.

l) Youth business ventures in the agriculture sector must be encouraged.

7 Parliament of the Republic of South Africa (2020) 42 48 m) The Constitution is not as diverse as we are made to believe.
Young people are facing the repercussions of leaders that loot monies meant for skills development and start-up capital.

n) Reserve the micro-economy for South Africans only.

In May 2020 BBC announced that R1 billion funding was being made available for township and rural economy.

Participants questioned how many businesses have been funded thus far.

o) Support for youth involved in the agriculture sector.
p) Young people should take interest in sustainable ways of farming to avoid food shortages and hunger.

q) Youth should be at the forefront of development and innovation.

r) The youth’s position on businesses in the informal sector should be clearly articulated.

13.5 Youth and Gender based violence The Youth Parliamentarians observed that gender based violence and femicide is a youth challenge.

Gender-based violence (GBV) does not discriminate.


Any person of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender can be a victim or perpetrator of GBV.

Men can challenge the normalisation of violence to prevent violence against women and their children, youth have to challenge the beliefs and behaviours that excuse, justify or condone violence and inequality.
Delegates resolved: Youth and the rest of society needs to challenge the normalisation of violence against women and children • • gender stereotypes and roles • condoning of violence against women and children Gender based based violence has increased among society during COVID-19 period.

The following were proposals to curb gender based violence.

(a) State policies to address the impact of Covid-19 must keep the issue of gender-based violence as a priority as lockdown measures increase vulnerability.
(b) State must implement risk management measures involving the police, justice and health sectors to ensure a coordinated response to the increased risk of gender-based violence.

(c) Data collection on violence against women should be harmonised between State institutions to ensure the phenomenon can be adequately measured and addressed.

This would help identify changing patterns of violence in times of crisis.

(d) A proposal for harsher sentences on perpetrators of gender based violence and femicide.
These perpetrators should not benefit from economic opportunities.
43 49 13.6 Youth and Parliament The role of Parliament includes the following functions: • Passing legislation or laws • Scrutinise and oversee executive action • Facilitate public participation and involvement in the legislative and other processes • Participation in, promote and oversee co-operative government • Engaging and participating in international participation (participate in regional, continental and international bodies)”8 In this regard, young people raised the following; a) The youth participants are concerned that nothing happens after the annual Youth Parliament and stated that they would want Parliament to push for change and accountability.
They raised the following concerns; b) What previous resolutions have been taken regarding jobs, youth owned SMMEs, cooperatives, and the high unemployment rates?

c) What progress has been made after the previous Youth Parliaments?

Young people noted that the youth attend Youth Parliaments but nothing takes place thereafter.

d) Youth Parliament should not be a once off event it must take place either twice a year or every quarter.
e) Oversight over the Executive must result in implementation by the Executive.

f) Young Members must safeguard that procurement set-asides for youth are adhered to with no compromise.

g) When Members conduct oversight they should take stock of delivery of services and follow-up on previous resolutions and recommendations.

h) Parliament should prepare a progress report on progress made on issues raised by youth in previous Youth Parliaments and intensify its oversight over these issues.
i) Parliament should take these issues raised during the Youth Parliament on procurement for youth owned enterprises, high unemployment rates and jobs for youth, to the relevant parliamentary committees and ensure change and accountability.

j) There must be greater representation of youth and vulnerable groups in Parliament.
8 Parliament of the Republic of South Africa (2020) 44 50 (c) The 2020 Women’s Parliament Report 51 REPORT ON WOMEN’S PARLIAMENT 2020 HELD AT PARLIAMENT OF SOUTH AFRICA ON A HYBRID VIRTUAL PLATFORM DATE: 28 AUGUST 2020 THEME Generation Equality: Advancing our collective efforts to end Gender Based Violence and Femicide 52 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.
INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 1 SESSION ONE ................................................................................................................................... 2 2.

OPENING REMARKS: MS SE LUCAS, MP - DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF TH E NCOP…………………………………………………………………………………………………..2 3.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS ON BEHALF OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT: MS M NKOANA-MASHABANE, MP - MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY FOR WOMEN, YOUTH AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ............................................................................................... 3 4.

LEGISLATIVE SECTOR APPROACH: MR LS TSENOLI, MP – DEPUTY SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ........................................................................................................... 4 5.
THE JUDICIARY: JUSTICE S KHAMPEPE,ACTING DEPUTY CHIEF JUSTICE ………..6 6.

MESSAGE OF SUPPORT FROM HIS EXCELLENCY, MR CM RAMAPHOSA - THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA ............................................................ 10 SESSION TWO ................................................................................................................................. 12 7.
STATEMENTS: PROVINCIAL STATEMENTS AND SALGA ........................................... 12 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE (EC) .................................................................................... 13 FREE STATE PROVINCE (FS) ........................................................................................... 16 GAUTENG PROVINCE (GP) .............................................................................................. 17 KWA-ZULU NATAL PROVINCE (KZN) .......................................................................... 19 LIMPOPO PROVINCE (LP) ................................................................................................ 20 7.6 MPUMALANGA PROVINCE (MP) ................................................................................... 21 7.7 NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE (NC) ................................................................................ 22 7.8 NORTH WEST PROVINCE (NW) ...................................................................................... 24 7.9 WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE (WC) ................................................................................... 25 7.10 SALGA …………………………………………………………………………………….26 7.11 MESSAGE OF SUPPORT, MS L KOMAPE- NGWENYA ………...………………..….….27 SESSION 3 ........................................................................................................................................ 28 8.
CIVIL SOCIETY STATEMENTS ................................................................................................ 28 8.1 PROF. R JEWKES AND PROF. N ABRAHAMS: SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (SAMRC) .................................................................................................. 28 8.3 MR B KHUMALO: SONKE GENDER JUSTICE .............................................................. 32 8.4 DR M KGANAKGA, SANAC MEN’S SECTOR ............................................................... 34 8.5 MR T MASANGO, NOT IN MY NAME SOUTH AFRICA .............................................. 35 8.6 PROF. A BOSCH, STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY ........................................................ 35 9.
INTERACTIVE SESSION ............................................................................................................. 37 SESSION 5 ........................................................................................................................................ 41 10.
STATEMENTS BY POLITICAL PARTIES ............................................................................. 41 ii 53 10.1 DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE (DA) .......................................................................................... 41 10.2 ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS (EFF) ........................................................................... 42 10.3 INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY (IFP) ..................................................................................... 43 10.4 FREEDOM FRONT PLUS (FF+) ............................................................................................ 44 10.5 AFRICAN CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY (ACDP) ................................................... 45 10.6 UNITED DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT (UDM)………………………….………………46 10.7 AFRICAN TRANSFORMATION MOVEMENT (ATM) ....................................................... 46 10.8 GOOD ....................................................................................................................................... 47 10.9 NATIONAL FREEDOM PARTY (NFP) ................................................................................. 48 10.10 AFRICAN INDEPENDENT CONGRESS (AIC) .................................................................. 48 10.11 AL-JAMA-AH ........................................................................................................................ 49 10.12 AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (ANC) ........................................................................ 50 10.13 MESSAGE OF SUPPORT: MRS GN SHOPE ....................................................................... 51 11.
CLOSING ...................................................................................................................................... 51 12.
SUMMARY OF KEY CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................. 52 12.1 CHALLENGES ......................................................................................................................... 52 12.2 RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................................................................... 53 iii 54 1.

INTRODUCTION On 28 August 2020, the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa hosted a hybrid Women’s Parliament.
Some of the delegates were physically present at Parliament’s National Assembly Chamber while others participated via the Zoom virtual platform.

The session was convened under the theme, “Generation Equality: Advancing our collective efforts to end Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF)”, with the following objectives: • A three sphere report back session, to appraise the nation on progress made to implement GBVF and economic empowerment executive undertakings.
• Receive detailed reports on challenges that prevent accelerated progress.

• Receive action plans to end GBVF to be undertaken over the next 12 months.

The 2020 Women’s Parliament created a platform for reflecting and reporting back about progress and challenges in the implementation of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) on GBVF including the Emergency Response Action Plan (ERAP).
The honest, transparent and true reflection by delegates paved a way for strengthening of collective efforts in eradication of GBV.

The delegates noted the challenges brought about by the novel corona virus (COVID-19) which not only led to an increase in incidences of GBVF, but also left many women more vulnerable due to loss of income.
In this regard, the delegates called for urgent, intensified, and responsive implementation of all key undertakings, coupled with adequate funding, effective oversight, monitoring and evaluation.

1 55 SESSION ONE 2.

OPENING REMARKS: MS SE LUCAS, MP - DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP The Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Ms Sylvia Lucas (MP), delivered the opening remarks and welcomed all delegates to the first hybrid Women’s Parliament.
Ms Lucas reflected on resolutions and highlights of the first Women’s Parliament for the sixth Parliament which was convened in August 2019.

She reminded the delegates of a resolution taken during the 2019 Women’s Parliament, to intensify efforts to eradicate GBVF due to pervasive levels in South Africa.

Ms Lucas reflected on the ERAP as announced after an urgent Parliament Joint Sitting Debate convened by the President of the Republic of South Africa in response to rising levels of GBVF in 2019.
She also highlighted the key purpose of the 2020 Women’s Parliament was to provide feedback on the progress made on the Executive’s undertakings in implementing the actions and interventions made to address the scourge of GBVF.

Ms Lucas went on to state that Sectoral Parliaments create a very strategic platform to bring together leaders from various spectrums in the country to debate and share ideas.
She noted that the platform is not just to lament but to look closely at the living conditions of South Africans.

Ms Lucas emphasised the importance of giving effect to resolutions taken during previous Women’s Parliaments.

In this regard, she detailed progress about a process to review the 1994 Women’s Charter for Effective Equality, and, hosting a summit aimed at strengthening national gender machinery as an attempt to respond to the recommendations made at the 2019 Women’s Parliament.
The need for an urgent programme of actions from the three arms of state was also stressed.

Hence the inclusion of all three arms of state in this year’s Women’s Parliament programme.

She described the 2020 Women’s Parliament as a platform to distil points of views that must shape and influence state policy on GBVF.

Ms Lucas highlighted that the 2020 Women’s Parliament was a demonstration of a Parliament that is engaging and responsive to the needs of the people of South Africa.

2 56 3.
2 56 3.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS ON BEHALF OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT: MS M NKOANA-MASHABANE, MP - MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY FOR WOMEN, YOUTH AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES Generation Equality: Advancing our collective Efforts to end Gender Based Violence and Femicide - Giving an Overview of Progress made in implementing 2019 ERAP GBVF Executive Undertakings.
The Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Ms Maita Nkoana-Mashabane expressed gratitude to be addressing the 2020 Women’s Parliament, convened in line with the call for global Generation Equality.

The Minister informed the delegates that South Africa is proud to be associated with the United Nations Generation Equality campaign, and that, the country is committed to the Action Coalitions transformative agenda which include eradication of the scourge of gender-based violence (GBV).
The Minister noted some of the country’s achievements in advancing women’s rights, including improvement in political representation, decision making positions, and women’s participation in the economy.

However, she noted that this progress is undermined by the scourge of GBVF.

The Minister mentioned that the 2020 Women’s Parliament is meant to gauge progress made by the Executive in the fight against GBVF, and to identify concrete measures to intensify the existing efforts.
She informed the delegates that through the ERAP, the South African government has made the following progress: • Redirected substantial resources to combat GBVF; • • • Increased the number of shelters and care centres for survivors; Improved the capacity of police officers to deal with crimes of sexual violence; and Improved the services to women and children who have to go through the criminal justice system.
The Minister informed delegates that South Africa has made significant progress in reforming laws to afford greater protection to survivors of domestic and social violence.

This includes the adoption of the 2020-2030 National Strategic Plan on GBVF in May 2020.

The Minister commended the inclusion of reporting about economic empowerment of women during the 2020 Women’s Parliament.

She informed the delegates that women’s financial circumstances 3 57 often force them to remain in abusive relationships.
Ms Nkoana-Mashabane also made an observation on the gender pay disparities and how women-headed households are more likely to be poorer than male-headed households as a result.
Furthermore, the Minister reported the commendable commitments made by the government to address gender equality, which include the following initiatives: • Increasing the public procurement supporting women-owned Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs); • Eliminating gender pay disparities; and • Promoting women in the land reform processes.
The Minister echoed the sentiments of the Deputy Chairperson by emphasizing the need for all stakeholders to work together to give effect to the rights of women and to achieve the global 2030 gender equality target.

4.
4.

LEGISLATIVE SECTOR APPROACH: MR LS TSENOLI, MP – DEPUTY SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ADVANCING AN EFFECTIVE LEGISLATIVE SECTOR RESPONSE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND FEMICIDE: AN OVERVIEW OF THE LEGISLATIVE SECTOR’S RESPONSE The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Lechesa Tsenoli (MP) provided an overview of the role of the legislative sector in addressing the scourge of GBVF.
He pointed out the role of legislators in creating a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic society, resulting in an egalitarian society capable of removing historic and current practices and obstacles that promote GBVF.

To this end, the 2020 Women’s Parliament is a gathering of the Sector that is reinforcing the South African constitutional values.
He emphasised the importance of recognising the legacy of the colonial apartheid as a root cause to some of the problems that South Africa is currently confronting, but also to recognise that some of the current challenges are due to the current dispensation.

A collective effort is needed to end GBVF.

Such collective effort is endemic in the history of collaboration in the legislative sector since 1994.
Mr Tsenoli stated that the legislative sector 4 58 legacy report provides an overview of the historical work done by the legislative sector.

He indicated that the legislative sector has also strengthened the GBVF campaigns on an ongoing basis, and there has been very creative work done by each of the legislatures without conflicting the constitutional mandate of each legislature.
He informed the delegates that the legislative oversight and accountability model is utilised to follow-up and track progress on commitments and Executive undertakings.

The Deputy Speaker also highlighted some of the international, regional and continental initiatives that the sector has been involved in, thus far in addressing GBVF.
These include the involvement of legislatures in the following forums namely; the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Parliamentary Forum; Commonwealth Parliamentary Association; Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the European Parliamentary Union.

He also emphasised the role of the legislative sector in implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), not only through oversight, but as shapers of the work that is done.
The Deputy Speaker highlighted the importance of working together across the three arms of the state especially in instances where there is a need to provide clarity in relation to an issue that falls in the ambit of another arm.

The Deputy Speaker urged the Executive to work faster, better and in the interest of the public, and, to curb maladministration, including corruption and abuse of public resources.
Mr Tsenoli spoke against discriminatory practices against the LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual, plus community.

The Deputy Speaker commended the organisers of the 2020 Women’s Parliament for bringing the three arms of the state together, and urged for adoption of policy recommendations that would have a lasting impact.

5 59 5.
5 59 5.

THE JUDICIARY: JUSTICE S KHAMPEPE - ACTING DEPUTY CHIEF JUSTICE THE ROLE OF THE JUDICIARY IN GIVING EFFECTIVE RESPONSES AND BUILDING - SOUND INSTITUTIONAL PRACTICES IN CASES INVOLVING GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AND FEMICIDE The Acting Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Khampepe’s address focused on the role of the Judiciary in the fight against GBVF.
Justice Khampepe highlighted that the 2020 Women’s Parliament is taking place under abnormal circumstances, through virtual platforms due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, in addition to this pandemic, South Africa is also facing another pandemic, which is GBVF.

She said, in many ways the South African women are the country’s pride - they are parliamentarians, entrepreneurs, forward thinkers, mothers, carers, homemakers, doctors, teachers, judges, leaders and are at the forefront as scientific thinkers.
She said women are resilient, unwavering and brave.

However, everyday there are news about women and children whose lives have been altered or ended by the scourge of GBVF.

She stated: “We ought to be celebrating the many brilliant inspirational women of South Africa….

I salute each and every one of my sisters.

However, I weep and hang my head in shame and shake my fist in anger.

I weep for so many women who have been taken victim by the scourge of GBVF that continues to ravage through our country.
My head is heavy with shame, as daily we read the names and remember the stories of women and children whose lives have been irretrievably altered or ended by this plague that grips our beautiful nation.
It angers me to the depths of my soul that we – daughters, mothers, sisters, wives and friends; must live in a constant state of fear that we’ll be next.” Justice Khampepe reminded delegates that the Constitution guarantees the protection of human dignity and the right to life, yet GBVF nullifies the rights of women and children and their fundamental freedom.
She said that the battle that we all face requires a relentless approach and a structured response from all sectors of society including Parliament, the Executive, CSOs, South African Police Services (SAPS), National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the courts must each play their part effectively.

6 60 She said that in many ways the rights in the Constitution and South Africa’s statutory and common laws provide a sound legal framework for upholding equality, justice and respect for women of the nation.
She emphasised that the Bill of Rights in the Constitution provides for the following: equal dignity; protection against gender discrimination including GBV; right to security of the person, bodily and psychological integrity; and the right to life.

Through legislation and common law, South Africa criminalises amongst other things, domestic violence; sexual offenses including assault, murder and rape.
The law provides avenues in which justice can be served, where the perpetrators can be apprehended, convicted and mandatory lengthy sentences can be imposed for such crimes.

The Judiciary is responsible for ensuring the achievement of just outcomes - that those accountable are subjected to a fair and just process; victim and survivors are avenged; and dignity is restored.
The Acting Deputy Chief Justice commented that the Judiciary has at times been criticised for its insensitivity in dealing with GBV cases, particularly by those who have experienced and/or are affected by GBV.

Hence the creation of specialised sexual offences courts, which are tailored specifically for these purposes (alongside the Thuthuzela Centres’ integrated approach to rape care management).

In addition, a deliberate effort to reassess legal processes and terminology is required.
Institutional processes need to be carefully considered and tailored, in order for the courts to establish an appropriate and effective response to this scourge.
Justice Khampepe highlighted three areas that form part of the Judiciary’s response to GBV; all three of these areas have seen significant changes, which have proven to be effective in the Judiciary’s response to GBVF: (i) The law itself; (ii) Implementation and application of the law (that is, the practices and procedures within court processes); and (iii) The approach (to be) taken by the judges and practitioners.
i) The law itself The law provides for equality, dignity, freedom and security, including the protection of women and children.

It is crucial to ensure that the courts uphold the laws of the country.

The courts, with Parliament, have a joint duty to ensure that the laws provide effective and sufficient protection of women.

This may mean that various elements of the common law need to be 7 61 further developed to be in line with the demands of the Constitution.
Parliament should be vigilant in developing laws that do not perpetuate sexist and outdated norms, especially in cases of sexual offences.

Some of these laws include the marital rape case exclusions, which have since been abolished; and the burden of proof, which entails survivors having to testify in open court rooms.

Justice Khampepe reiterated that there are certain statutory provisions that should be considered unconstitutional, and that these should be brought back to Parliament for reconsideration.
For example, the procedural processes that need to be followed for rape cases.

There is a need to relook the burden of proof that rape survivors have to provide to investigators.

Justice Khampepe informed the delegates that the apex court has emphasised the right of the state to protect the victims against domestic violence and have strengthened the common law to ensure that police officers safeguard and protect the rights of those who have been assaulted, raped and victimised.
She referred to a recent case, (December 2019), where the Constitutional court clarified that the principle of common purpose applies to the common law crime of rape.

With the judgment in the matter of The State v Tshabalala, the Constitutional Court recognised that, the viewing of rape purely as a sexual act, consisting of non-consensual penetration by an accused on a woman, mischaracterises the reality of rape as an act of accepting power and dominance over women.
The judgment(s) highlight power imbalances in sexual crimes, and the structural inequality that permeates in gendered attacks.

This is one example where the Constitutional Court has taken a decisive and powerful stance against the GBV and sexual crimes, and has ensured that the legal practices of the country’s common law are developed in favour of the battle against these crimes.
She emphasised that it is crucial that the Judiciary ensures and recognises women as a vulnerable group, and be sensitive to the challenges that women face.

This should be done in a manner that prevents secondary trauma to the survivors.

ii) Implementation and application of the law The general public view is that there is a need to tighten laws, ensure more convictions and impose stricter sentences.
The Acting Deputy Chief Justice highlighted that it is important for courts to break down patriarchy by implementing measures within the court rooms that are 8 62 victim- and gender-sensitive, and prevent second trauma and humiliation of survivors by protecting their rights.

She emphasised that there is an urgent need to formalise norms, that give the necessary protection, respect and dignity to women during the hearing of these cases.
Further, there should be standardisation of procedures that give effect to these norms across all courts.

She emphasized the need to make provisions for survivors (of sexual assault or rape) to testify in camera or through intermediaries; and through anonymization.

This is to inhibit cross examinations of rape survivors by the defence team and to prevent secondary victimisation or trauma.
The Acting Deputy Chief Justice stated that there has been an improvement in the manner in which judges and magistrates approach these cases.

However, she stated that there is room for improvement.

Further, she highlighted that the Judiciary needs to strive for better court procedures, in order to make the process of seeking justice accessible and trauma-free for women and children.
She said that in reassessing and improving the standard procedures it might be beneficial for courts, alongside independent research to follow the international standards and recognised treaties and courts in foreign jurisdiction to find out how the foreign courts have dealt with similar issues.

For example, the United Nations office on drugs and crimes compiled a handbook in 2019 for the Judiciary on effective criminal justice responses to GBV against women and girls.
This outlines (amongst other things) the conduct of judges when interacting with the survivors.

Further, it provides good practices for judicial training and development, and recommends taking a gendered lens when approaching these types of cases.

iii) The approach (to be) taken by judges and practitioners Justice Khampepe emphasised that judges need to respect and interact with rape survivors in a manner that promotes their dignity.
The wording in the judgements should embrace the lived realities of the survivors and the norms of the community in which they live.

Furthermore, it should consider how they may face intersecting power dynamics and inequality; whether it is in their basis of gender, class, race and sexuality.

9 63 She reiterated that the terminology used in the judgements and in court rooms is very important.

She went on to say that judges and practitioners should acknowledge the vulnerability of women.
However, this does not imply that women are lesser or weaker than men.

Vulnerability in the South African context may be embedded in structural patriarchal norms, individual inequality, discrimination, and gender stereotypes.

Thus awareness and understanding of the gender intersectionality; and how gender, race, class, and sexuality (among other things) may exacerbate the vulnerability of other groups is crucial.
It is most often the powerless that are affected by crimes such as rape and murder, and are characterised by power or desire of power.

As such it must not be seen amiss that continuous training of judges and practitioners must be accelerated.

Each member of the legal profession and Judiciary should be cognisant of the words they use - their argument may affect the victims who only seek justice.

A humane and just approach may retain hope to the survivors.
The Acting Deputy Chief Justice held that overall trial courts should attempt to finalise these cases as soon as possible and without any unnecessary delay, so as to encourage other rape survivors to report their cases - justice delayed is justice denied.

She continued by saying that the Judiciary cannot address these challenges alone.

Members of society must report violent crimes perpetrated against women to the police.

There is a need for collaboration by all law enforcement agencies involved.
Police must properly investigate these crimes; the police should ensure that the rights of survivors are protected, the prosecutors must effectively present the findings against the perpetrators, Investigators should ensure that they investigate these cases properly, to minimise the risks of cases drawn out of court due to lack of evidence.
Justice Khampepe stated that whilst the judiciary alone may have very little effect to prevent the daily suffering of women; however, if all spheres of government, civil society and all South Africans come together, there is hope to bring an end to the scourge of GBVF.

6.
6.

MESSAGE OF SUPPORT FROM HIS EXCELLENCY, MR CM RAMAPHOSA - THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA Through a recorded message, His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa reflected on the road travelled since the 9 August 1956 Women’s March.

He reminded the delegates that the women of 1956 were united in their demands to live in freedom - they stood not for themselves alone, but for the rights of women of many generations to come.
10 64 The President commended the progress the country has made to fight for women’s rights in the South African society.

He stated much has been achieved, in relation to the Constitution of the country which includes women’s rights in broadening access to education, provision of health care and social support, and participation in the economic activities and decision making.

However, he highlighted that the lived reality of many South African women is different to what is contained in the Constitution.
The President mentioned that millions of South African women still live in conditions of poverty and unemployment, and face discrimination and violence all the time.

His Excellency stated that South Africa has joined Generation Equality, which is a global campaign to achieve gender equality by 2030, but emphasised that South Africa is at the grip of two pandemics: the COVID-19 pandemic and the scourge of GBVF.
He said that women and children are abused on a daily basis and they lose their lives at the hands of men.

It cannot be that there are families who have lost their loved ones to violence that are perpetrated by South African men.

The nation can no longer ignore the deafening cries from women and children for protection and justice.

The President said it has been eleven months since he called for a joint Parliamentary sitting to address the issue of GBVF.
Since then, concrete actions to provide greater support to the survivors have been taken.

He then reflected on the ERAP on GBV, which is focused on mobilising all sectors of society and to guide coordination of the national effort.

He stated that the South African Government has made much progress thus far, which includes the following: • The number of shelters and care centres for GBV survivors has been increased.

• The capacity of police officers to deal with GBV is being increased.
• Law reform to give greater protection to survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

He indicated that the country has now introduced a National Strategic Plan on GBVF, which amongst other things is aimed at promoting economic participation of women in society, and to enable them to be financially independent.

He stated that, with the launch of Generation Equality and the implementation of the National Strategic Plan, there is an opportunity to refashion society and the lives of South African women.
He then emphasised that the urgency 11 65 to achieve gender equality, is even more important.

The President acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic has made the situation worse for those who face economic exclusion and discrimination, and poverty.

He stated that the Solidarity Fund has enabled the following: • About R17 million to expand shelter services and to support the network of Thuthuzela Care Centres.

A portion of this funding will also be directed to capacitate the GBV Command Centre.
• Of the 12.6 million social grant beneficiaries, 10.5 million (83 %) are women aged 16 years and older.

His Excellency, President Ramaphosa indicated that 33% of women-led SMMEs benefited from the COVID-19 relief scheme.

Furthermore, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has directed significant funding to support youth and women-owned businesses; and black-owned women enterprises have been reprioritised in the procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
The President stated that the generation of 1956 mobilised, organised and stood firm in their demands for their rights to be respected.

He reminded the delegation that more recently, women have taken to the streets to demand an end to GBVF and are carrying forward the flame of the struggle that the mothers and sisters of 1956 embarked upon.

The President stressed that this good work must not end when the pandemic is over.
He stressed that the country must maintain the momentum of women emancipation in the economy.

He went on to state that the time to talk is over, it is now time for action, and this is our responsibility as a nation.

SESSION TWO 7.
SESSION TWO 7.

STATEMENTS: PROVINCIAL STATEMENTS AND SALGA The statements by Provinces and SALGA were about reporting back on progress in relation to, institutionalisation of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF (NSP), progress in the implementation of the ERAP, women economic empowerment programmes; challenges preventing accelerated progress and future action plans to be undertaken.
The reports from Provincial delegates included information about the following: 12 66 • Institutional arrangements and outreach; • Mass mobilization programs; • Preventative measures for GBV; • Adequate care, support and healing for victims of violence; • Adequate provision of safe houses; • Adequate deployment of social workers across districts and municipalities; and • Measures to improve the economic power of women across all the districts in the provinces.
The nine Provinces provided feedback on these areas as follows: 7.1 EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE (EC) Ms F. Nkomonye, the MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC) represented the Eastern Cape Province, and, gave an account of strategies implemented to eradicate the scourge of GBVF in response to a call by the President of the RSA.
In line with the resolutions of the Presidential Summit convened in November 2018, the Province established an interim GBVF forum steering committee, which then developed a strategic intervention plan of action.
The provincial GBVF steering committee resolved to action a rapid response plan, and committed to the following: • urgently address all systemic challenges such as the backlog of cases and delays in DNA testing and availability of rape testing kits in all the police stations in the province; • establish more Thuthuzela Care Centres which must provide a holistic support to victims of violence and abuse; • increase access to mental and psycho-social support for victims of violence and abuse in key service points, and to implement programs aimed at strengthening families; • implement measures aimed at improving reporting lines by all departments in implementation of GBVF targets; 13 67 • establish traditional policing in rural communities to strengthen the GBVF interventions in rural areas; • establish more sexual offenses courts in the province; • urge the national government to expedite amending and /or introducing legislation in relation to all GBVF offences; • increase and reconfigure rehabilitation programs to reduce the number of repeat offenders; and • call the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to review old cases deemed not properly investigated, an exercise which led to reviewing of 1797 cases that had been struck off the court roll.
The Province also noticed that the increase in GBVF has led to a proliferation of response structures which has resulted in duplicated efforts which minimized the impact.

In this regard the EC Province revived the Provincial Gender Machinery, to coordinate all structures across all spheres of government and sectors dealing with GBVF.
The Provincial Gender Machinery, chaired by the MEC for DSRAC is comprised of MECs from various provincial departments, constitutional bodies, local government representation and CSOs.

The Provincial Gender Machinery reports regularly to the Provincial Executive Council (PEC).
In respect to mass mobilization, the EC Provincial government is driving a concerted effort for greater awareness of GBV through outreach and stakeholder engagement programs, the intensification of multi- mass media awareness programs, and, increased efforts to engaging men as main perpetrators of violence.
In implementation of ERAP, the EC Province has implemented the following: • In terms of providing psycho-social support, the Department of Social Development has recruited thirty (30) Social Workers on a contract basis to respond to GBV.

Permanent posts for Social Workers have been advertised, and, fifteen (15) have been appointed on a permanent basis to ensure that Social Workers are distributed equitably across the province.
• Piloted an ERAP project at OR Tambo district due to the escalation of GBVF in that district.

14 68 • The Thuthuzela Care Centres remained open throughout the Covid-19 lockdown.

• Courts dealing with GBV cases, also remained open during lockdown, and were operating from 10am to 1pm and prioritised GBV and protection orders.

A critical area of concern in the EC Province is DNA testing.
The Province therefore resolved to use private laboratory services as well as existing COVID-19 laboratories, because the South African Police Service (SAPS) has no financial muscle to construct a public DNA testing centre during the current financial year.

The SAPS is reporting some progress in fighting crimes against women.

In this regard, 2019/20 sexual offences have decreased by 5.3%, assault GBH cases have decreased by 3.2% and rape by 5.1%.
There has been a rise in incest cases which is a cause for concern.

In terms of advancing the inclusive growth for women, a range of programmes and interventions are implemented by the EC Province.
In addition to gender mainstreaming and monitoring of designated groups driven by the office of the Premier, several provincial departments have programmes aimed at advancing economic growth for women as follows: • The Department of Social Development has budgeted for various designated categories, and this includes R4 million allocation for women empowerment programmes, R228 million for children and R92 million for persons with disabilities.
• The Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reforms has budgeted R24 million for various categories of designated groups including women.

• The Department of Economic Development and Tourism is supporting women entrepreneurs.

The Province of the Eastern Cape, while noting progress achieved, is determined to scale-up its efforts by: • Expanding media and communication information.

• Increasing access to psychosocial support services to all victims.
• Strengthening and coordination of all GBVF structures.

• Effective monitoring and evaluation of impact of programmes implemented.

• Regular monitoring of Thuthuzela Care Centres.

15 69 • More appointment and deployment of Social Workers to rural areas.

• To ensure that the Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) of all Municipalities reflect and address GBVF, through allocation of funds towards GBVF programmes.
• DNA testing to be done by a private laboratory while waiting for SAPS to build a government-owned laboratory.

7.2 FREE STATE PROVINCE (FS) Ms SM Qabathe, the Acting Premier of the Free State Province reported on progress made in establishing the following institutional mechanisms in the Free State Provincial Government’s efforts to eradicate GBVF: • Functional Office of the Status of Women responsible for driving gender mainstreaming within the Province.
• Employment of five (05) GBV officers to drive the GBV programmes at a District and Municipal level.

• Gender focal points and special programmes units responsible for driving GBV programmes where there are no GBV officers.

• Establishment of multi-party women’s caucuses in all Municipalities to interface with the administration in relation to GBVF.

• GBV information sessions were conducted in 5 districts with the Premier and SALGA.
In respect of the mass mobilization programme, the Office of the Premier trained and deployed GBV prevention activists, conducted dialogues with the LGBTQIA+ community, and engaged with men through civil society organisations.

The FS Province hosted a GBV march in Kroonstad and awareness raising campaigns were held in QwaQwa.

Further, the Province hosted men’s dialogues and a Men’s Parliament, focusing on GBVF to increase the voices of men.
The Department of Social Development in partnership with stakeholders is responsible for implementing preventative measures to eradicate GBV, as well as provision of care, support, and healing programs to victims.

The FS Province has established ten (10) local drug action committees, aimed at the prevention of substance abuse in the Province.

The Province aims to 16 70 establish more of these committees during the course of the year.
The FS Province will be opening a substance abuse centre in October 2020.

All funded non-government organisations (NGOs) are to sign a pledge to commit to take a stand against GBVF, which is a new initiative implemented in the 2020/21 financial year.

The FS Provincial government is committed in addressing all identified challenges hindering the effective implementation of all key undertakings.

7.3 GAUTENG PROVINCE (GP) Ms F Mazibuko, MEC for Community Safety, represented the Gauteng Province.
She acknowledged the high rate of GBVF incidences in the Gauteng Province.

She assured the delegates that the Province is committed to intensifying efforts to eradicate GBVF.

The MEC reported on the availability of various task-specific structures within the Province, which include a Provincial Shelter Forum and Provincial victim empowerment programme Forum.
To guard against duplication of services, the Province established a GBVF Provincial Coordinating unit, to ensure the coordination of structures, and the monitoring and evaluation of all GBVF interventions.

In addition, the Province also established the following: • Integrated Provincial Response Plan; • Provincial Technical Committee comprised of senior government officials in all spheres of government within the province and CSOs; and • Consolidated Provincial GBVF reports tracking system.
In provision of support, care and healing to victims, the Gauteng Provincial government through the Department of Social Development and CSOs, increased access to provision of psycho-social support to victims.

The psycho-social support services are made available in key service points including in victim-friendly rooms at police stations, victim empowerment centres and Thuthuzela Care Centres.
The following is the number of victims who received psycho-social support services: • Approximately 35 469 GBV victims through Thuthuzela Care Centre across the Province.

17 71 • Victim Empowerment Centres have reached 7100 GBVF victims.

• Department of Health have reached 11 493 sexual offences victims and 5 201 domestic violence victims.

Currently, the Province is funding seven (7) Thuthuzela Care Centres and twenty-one (21) shelters for victims of crime, violence, and human trafficking.
The Province is confident of the available accommodation capacity for victims in safe houses provided by, twenty-four (24) shelters with 684 accommodation capacity, one hundred and forty-two (142) VEP centres, and seven (7) Thuthuzela Care Centres to cater for all victims of violence.
The Province has also employed and adequately deployed Social Workers across Districts and Municipalities as follows: • Thirty (30) contract Social Workers for GBV have been appointed and are working under the guidance of the Probation Unit.

• Twenty-nine (29) GBV Social Workers employed as from 1 April 2020 in all five (5) regions.

• Appointment of interns as from September 2020 for a period of one year, to strengthen the workforce in Victim Empowerment.
In relation to mass mobilisation, the Province, through the Department of Social Development and partnerships with funded non-profit organisations (NPOs) is implementing preventative measures against GBVF on an on-going basis.

Collectively the number of beneficiaries reached during the past financial year in awareness programmes was 395 570.
The Department of Community Safety with the leadership of the MEC and other stakeholders are conducting “Reclaiming the night” campaigns in several areas, for the purpose of creating safe places for women at any given time.

The Province will intensify its efforts by launching a ward-based GBVF Brigade Programme in September 2020.

The Province has put measures in place to improve the economic power of women across all the districts in the province.
To this end, a total of 1 886 women from SMMEs, cooperatives 18 72 and informal traders were empowered through the economic empowerment projects.
The following are some of economic interventions implemented: • Financial independence and economic empowerment workshop for GBV survivors; • Start-Up/Community Fund Grant to assist with procurement of start-up stock for women entrepreneurs; and • Township Business Renewal Grant to assist township-based businesses with procurement of equipment to improve business operations.
The Gauteng Province has also identified, and, in partnership with relevant stakeholders is addressing operational-related challenges including the following: • Backlog of DNA testing; • Unprofessional conduct by some SAPS officials; • Victims not given updates on cases; • Cases that remain unsolved; and • Long stay of victims in shelters which often results in withdrawal of cases.
7.4 KWA-ZULU NATAL PROVINCE (KZN) The KZN Province, represented by Mr J Nxumalo, emphasized the need to intensify collective efforts to end violence against women by ensuring that all places of work and worship are safe spaces for women.

The KZN Province noted the decrease in levels of crime during lockdown as (previously) indicated, by comparing statistics of sexual offences cases committed between April to June 2019 totalling to 1 896, as opposed to 769 during the same period this year (2020).
This indicates a 60% decrease in sexual offences statistics.

The Premier has taken a leadership role in ensuring accountability at the highest level for GBVF and embarked on a 365-day GBVF campaign.
The Premier is establishing several programmes to address GBVF and the following are some of the initiatives implemented: • Implementation of ERAP pillars by all relevant stakeholders; 19 73 • Establishment of KZN provincial action plan on GBVF; • Identification of hot spots areas, and a realisation that informal settlements and urban areas are mostly affected; • Establishment of a gender task team; • Mass media mobilization; and • Mentorship programs for men.
7.5 LIMPOPO PROVINCE (LP) Ms NC Rakgoale, MEC for Social Development, represented the Limpopo Province.

The Province extended its full commitment to women’s emancipation.

The Department of Social Development, established a technical committee on GBV and an implementation plan has been developed.

This Committee reports to the JCPS (Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster) cluster.
The committee representation includes the Department of Higher Education, Chapter 9 and 10 institutions, the NPA and Universities.

The Province has re-established the Specialised Unit on Family Violence, Child Protection and Family Services and has established two (2) shelters for victims of GBV.

The Province is funding 74 civil society organisations for healing and support programmes.

R76.2million is utilized to resource victim support services.
Food parcel distribution is also being undertaken and the province has received 152 856 applications for food parcels and has allocated R7 million for food parcels.

During levels 5 and 2 of the lockdown (during the COVID-19 pandemic), the Province recorded 480 GBV cases and 37 070 psycho-social support services were rendered during this period.

The technical committee facilitated awareness raising campaigns through the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster (JCPS) cluster.
The campaigns focused on the rights of victims and the functioning of the criminal justice sector.

The ‘Break the Silence’ project distributed information brochures at shopping malls and at ports of entry.

The GBVF efforts within the Province have led to increased implementation of psycho-social support, multi- mass media campaigns and effective complaints management against SAPS.
20 74 7.6 MPUMALANGA PROVINCE (MP) Ms BT Shongwe, MEC for Social Development, represented Mpumalanga Province and reported on various institutional mechanisms in place to intensify efforts to eradicate GBVF.
The mechanisms in place in the Province include the following: • Establishment of multi-party women’s caucuses in three (3) districts as well as in one (1) local municipality, which are functional and sitting quarterly, to lobby and advocate for women’s empowerment and to mitigate against the social divisions amongst gender diversities.
• Establishment of functional special programmes and transversal units within municipalities with effectively functioning gender focal persons, to deal with women’s empowerment.

• Establishment of the Office on the Status of Women in the Office of the Premier, which is responsible for monitoring, mainstreaming, and implementing women’s empowerment and gender policies.

• Revival and strengthening of provincial gender machinery with representation and participation of all relevant stakeholders.
In respect of mass mobilisation, each district conducts training for youth, women, and men as gender activists, in collaboration with all stakeholders.

The Department of Social Development is responsible for the implementation and integration of programmes to ensure the adequate education of communities.

All Departments are still implementing 365 days of activism in all districts and municipalities.
The Department of Social Development also provides care, support and healing services and has employed dedicated social workers to provide psycho-social support to victims of GBV.

The Province has employed and deployed twenty-seven (27) social workers in shelters, and an additional eighteen (18) social workers have been deployed in local municipalities.
The Province has twenty-two (22) functional shelters to provide services to women and children, and two (2) of these shelters are government-owned shelters.

The Province has identified a need to strengthen the awareness raising campaigns and to employ more social workers to deal with GBV.

21 75 The Province has not recorded any shortages of rape kits, however, there have been some delays with the processing of specimens as the specimens have to be taken to Pretoria.
The Province has 15 Family Violence, Child Protection and Family Services (FCS) units with 164 officials allocated to these units.

The Province is implementing the ‘Fortune 40 Flagship Programme’ to address economic challenges and to empower women.
Additional economic empowerment support given include: • Equipment provided to a waste management project owned by six (6) women; • Plant production programme assistance for 2 814 women; • Flagship programme for women farmers; • Carpentry programme for women; and • Debt relief to spaza shops.
The Province is committed in scaling-up its efforts, by, strengthening the existing mass media campaigns, address the DNA backlogs, ensure availability of testing kits, intensify capacity building initiatives for all officials including new SAPS recruits on GBVF related legislation, and employment and deployment of social workers in all municipalities at ward levels.

7.7 NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE (NC) Dr Z Saul, Premier of the Northern Cape (NC) represented the Province.
The Province recently established a fully functional Provincial Interdepartmental Task Team chaired by the Premier, and it meets weekly to address Gender Based Violence and Femicide.

The mass mobilisation programme to train and deploy activists to all municipalities has commenced in earnest, with 118 volunteers trained and will render advocacy awareness and support services to potential perpetrators and victims.
Community radio is being utilized as the main medium of reaching out to empower communities on GBVF.

Social workers have established support groups for victims to afford them an opportunity to share experiences and to learn coping mechanisms from each other with the aim of promoting holistic healing.

There 22 76 has been a mass distribution of pamphlets at clinics and other public facilities that are easily accessible which is intended to end the scourge of Gender Based Violence and Femicide.
The Province has registered progress in providing adequate care, support and healing for victims of GBV by rendering the following services: • Psycho-social support and victim empowerment.

• Social behaviour change programs; advocacy awareness and support to victims in court, pre, during and post court appearances.

• Eight (8) safe houses have been established in the Province.
In view of resource and related constraints, Thuthuzela Care Centres are operational in certain areas, namely Kimberley, Kuruman, De Aar and Springbok.

• Pertaining to the adequate deployment of social workers across local and district municipalities, sixteen (16) social workers have been allocated on a province-wide basis to render the full package of GBVF services.

However, in areas where the social workers are not placed, the probation officers are responsible for service delivery related to GBVF.
The Province is planning on establishing a DNA testing centre in the province to expedite testing and ensure successful prosecution and conviction of GBVF cases.

The Province also intends to establish a multi-sectoral coordination and accountability structure that will be responsible for a survivor-focused and well-resourced provincial response to GBVF that encompasses prevention, care, and support to victims.
The Province implements various economic support services to women including entrepreneurial skills; encouraging those who are sport inclined to pursue a career in their chosen sporting code; affording them opportunities in male-dominated industries and programmed absorption into government projects.
23 77 7.8 NORTH WEST PROVINCE (NW) Prof TJ Mokgoro, Premier of the North West Province represented the Province and reported as follows: • The Province has developed related provincial annual performance indicators, with time frames as well as implemented operational plans to guide the work of officials.

• NGOs are being funded in line with the Social Development funding policy to improve access to services.

Monitoring tools have been developed to ensure compliance with service delivery agreements.
• A Provincial GBVF committee has been established, which adopted the GBV action plan in line with the National Strategic Plan.

• The Province has a policy guideline which explains the services within the VEP sector and clarifies the roles of other Departments in the implementation of services for victims of GBV.

The Province has implemented capacity building programs for social services professionals to increase their sensitivity and responsiveness when dealing with GBVF victims.
The following are some of the achievements noted by the Province: • Increased access to psycho-social support; • • Increased community engagements reaching about 32017 people; Increased access to safe houses and Thuthuzela Care Centres; • Funding of twenty (20) NGOs to improve access to services of victims of GBV; • Establishment of twenty-four (24) crisis centres across four (4) districts and local municipalities; • Functional safe houses as white door facilities dealing with assessment of victims, assisting victims to report cases to SAPS and providing temporary overnight accommodation and court preparation; and • Renovation of an old clinic to operate as a state- run white door facility.
24 78 7.9 WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE (WC) Mr A. Winde, Premier of the Western Cape represented the Province.

The Premier expressed a need to set higher and clear targets to report on the actions taken and progress made.

The Premier expressed concern about the cost of GBVF to the fiscus of the country, as currently globally, GBVF accounts for 3.7% of the GDP, while GBVF is costing the South African economy about R28.4 to R42.4 billion.
The WC Province observes 365 days of activism and the Provincial Minister of Social Development hosts monthly engagements on GBVF.

The Province has initiated a Safety Plan and a Safety Cabinet which includes the whole of government, South African Human Right Commission, DSD and oversight departments.

As a result of lessons learnt through the COVID-19 pandemic, the Province has not closed the Cabinet but has included all district municipalities.
The following are some of the initiatives undertaken in the Province: • The Province has held a number of sessions linking GBV to economics which are aimed at enabling women.

• Currently, the Province has twenty (20) shelters for women and children with a dedicated program to empower women on court processes, protection orders, how to lodge a complaint and trauma counselling.

• The Province embarks on ‘Court Watching Briefs’ to ensure that GBVF cases do not fall off the court roll.
• The Province continues to monitor the implementation of protection orders.

• The Province conducts oversight of VISPOL and it has become clear that many SAPS officials have not received training on the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act; 57% VISPOL and 69% of detectives have not received the necessary training on the Act.

• The Province has trained and deployed 50/50 men and women as GBVF ambassadors in municipalities.
The Province has also identified a need to strengthen its programs by regularly training of Community Policy Forums and neighbourhood watches on GBVF, as well as training of SAPS officials on the Domestic Violence Act.

25 79 7.10 SALGA Progress made in implementing executive undertakings relating to GBVF (Local Government Perspective) Councillor T Nkadimeng, President of SALGA, voiced concern about the increase in violent crime statistics.
She then detailed the role that local government should play in eradicating GBVF in communities, as well as various measures at the disposal of the local government sphere to be utilised in order to contribute and respond effectively to GBVF, and these include the: • adoption of the District Development model; • use of IDPs to ensure that gender programs are included and adequately funded; and • establishment of a special programs unit with effectively functioning gender focal points.
Councillor Nkadimeng reported on some of the activities currently implemented by local government to create safe communities, as including the following: • Clearing of all bushy areas and regular removal of waste and rubbish; • Provision of adequate lighting; • Marking of all unused and vacant buildings; • Establishment and training of CPFs, neighbourhood watches and community patrols; • Establishment and regular monitoring of safe houses; and • Coordination and engagements of multi- stakeholders including whole of society involvement.
SALGA committed to assisting in increasing the responsiveness of all municipalities through the following areas: • The IDPs of all municipalities to include gender funded budgets to create units and run programs on GBVF.

• Clearly marking and naming all streets to make it easier for women and children to identify the areas to effectively report crimes.

• Municipalities to work closely with neighbourhood watches and with community policing forums.
26 80 • Development of service directories for communities detailing information about available resources and organizations offering assistance within municipalities.

• Creation of effectively functioning and funded gender desks in all municipalities.

• Careful planning of new residential areas in terms of gender sensitive spatial development.

The President of SALGA expressed the view that municipalities need to restructure accordingly, to promote the safety of women and children.
7.11 MESSAGE OF SUPPORT - MS L KOMAPE- NGWENYA The message of support was delivered by Ms Lydia Komape-Ngwenya and related to the challenges in accessing land, particularly for women living in rural areas.

She acknowledged the great achievements as a result of unity and activism amongst women in fighting for their rights, but also mentioned the issue of access to land by women as still being an obstacle.
Ms Komape-Ngwenya reminded the delegates about the history of apartheid system and laws, which regarded women as minors, and therefore not afforded the right to own land.

Ms Komape-Ngwenya encouraged women to realise the value of land ownership and that women should continue to fight for land ownership for women in rural areas.
While recognising achievement in terms of legislation that promote gender equality and as such equal entitlement to ownership of land, she was concerned about the implementation of current laws as women still struggle to have adequate access to land.

She viewed the inability of women to access land as an economic disempowerment that can perpetuate dependence of women on abusers, causing affected women to struggle to exit violent relations.
Ms Komape-Ngwenya advised that women as primary care givers of their households need to be empowered and have access to resources that would be utilised to benefit the entire household.

She further encouraged women to support each other, unite and work together in uplifting each other.
Ms Komape-Ngwenya also stressed that all responsible officials who are tasked with issuing land should be progressive and realise the importance of land ownership by women as a very 27 81 important economic empowerment tool.

This access to land should be coupled with adequate financial assistance.
She implored the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development to intensify its oversight efforts, to ensure that all government programmes in relation to land benefit women equally, and also to understand the challenges faced by women in respect of land ownership and resources.

SESSION 3 8.
SESSION 3 8.

CIVIL SOCIETY STATEMENTS A number of statements were received from various organisations that included academic and research institutions by the South African Medical Research Council and the University of Stellenbosch to non-governmental organisations such as Sonke Gender Justice, SANAC and a civil rights group Not in my name campaign.
8.1 PROF. R JEWKES AND PROF. N ABRAHAMS: SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (SAMRC) “GBVF: Strengthening the Rule of Law to Address GBVF” Prof. Rachel Jewkes, the Executive Scientist: Gender and Health Research Unit from the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) shared introductory remarks and then handed over to Prof. Abrahams.

Prof. Naeemah Abrahams is the Interim Director: Gender and Health Research Unit at the SAMRC.
She highlighted that based on their research on the global trends, intimate partner violence (IPV) is the most common form of GBV that women experience.

She said the second most common form of GBVF is by non-partners.

This might include rape or other forms of GBV by a perpetrator who might be a stranger, colleague or peer.

The third form of GBVF includes human trafficking and cultural practices such as “Ukuthwala”.
Prof. Abrahams presented to the delegates the research findings on the comparative studies conducted in different parts of the world.

The study was done in the past twelve months.

In South Africa, this research study was conducted in EThekwini.
The findings revealed that in 28 82 EThekwini, more than 60 per cent of women reported most cases of violence, compared to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Bangladesh, Nepal and Ghana, and what was reported in the South African Demographic Survey (2016), where only 10 per cent of women reported physical intimate partner violence (IPV) in the last twelve months.
The SAMRC also completed two studies on the Femicide statistics (1999 and 2009) and was collecting data for 2017 femicide that will be compared with 2020 statistics, to check the impact of COVID-19 related GBVF.

The findings from the two previous studies revealed that between 18 – 20 per cent of women killed, a perpetrator was never found.
In determining if the perpetrator was an intimate partner (current or ex-boyfriend/husband), the two studies revealed that in 1999, four women per day were killed by their intimate partner and in 2009, three women per day were killed by their intimate partner.

This reduction was in line with the overall reduction in the murder rate in the country.

However, behind every number reported there is a woman killed, so one murder is one too many.
In most cases where women are killed, evidence of rape was found, and this is referred to as the rape homicide, as in the recent case of Uyinene Mrwetyana in August 2019.

The preliminary findings of the 2017 study does not depict any reduction, it is likely that between three to four women per day were killed by an intimate partner.
The message these figures convey is that the intimate partner femicide is not decreasing in the country, meaning that South Africa is still faced with the same problems it had in 2009.

Overall, the trend of women killed by their intimate partners is increasing, it was 50.3 per cent in 1999, it increased to 57.1 per cent in 2009 and is likely to be 58 per cent in 2017.

Intimate partners are the leading perpetrators of femicide in our country.
Prof. Abrahams also shared with the delegates the statistics of firearm-related murders, which is still on the rise.

The 2017 statistics revealed that about 35 per cent of male homicides are gun related and about 26 per cent of female homicides are gun related, this shows that there is a need to strengthen laws in the country.

In cases of women killed by their intimate partners, the research shows that there is a history of abuse by the partners.
In some cases, these men have a history of very difficult childhood and traumatic experiences which affected their personalities.

In most cases these men feel generally powerless and they seek ways to gain power and they do this through abusing their intimate partner.

29 83 Prof. Jewkes highlighted that violence against women was one of many forms of violence in our society.

She provided drivers of violence, and stressed that poverty was not the only driver of violence against women.
Substance abuse, mental health, poor communication skills in the relationships, abuse and neglect of children in the society, and children who are exposed to trauma were much more likely to grow up to be violent adults, especially if they are boy children.

The SAMRC proposed a package of measures that is required to prevent GBV, including its extreme manifestation in femicide.

As research has shown that it is possible to prevent GBV in the short to medium term with the right interventions.
There is a very important legislative role that encompasses measures in the criminal justice system, but has a far wider reach with measures across a number of areas of the social cluster.

It was reiterated that there is a solid basis of knowledge from research conducted over three decades into measures needed for GBV prevention.

The challenge for Parliament was to ensure that there is the political support and funding for the programme of work.
Moreover, Prof. Jewkes highlighted some of the key issues that need to be attended to in order to address the issue of GBV, which were the following: • Reduce poverty and enhance school completion for both boys and girls; • Measures to promote gender equity and actions against GBV; • Actions to reduce all forms of violence in our societies; • Reduce alcohol and drug abuse; • Increasing funding for mental health and support for counselling programmes; • Vigorous enforcement for protection of women and children; • Increase parenting programmes to support vulnerable parents, young mothers, poor mothers; • Bring fathers into the full role of parenting, both emotionally and economically; and • Programmes to build gender equity and counter e GBV.
Herewith some proposed interventions shown to be effective when well designed and executed that could be adapted and scaled up: • Cash transfers to women (social grant programmes); • Combined economic and social empowerment programmes targeting women; 30 84 • Parenting programmes to prevent IPV and child maltreatment; • Community activism to shift harmful gender attitudes, roles and social norms; • Interventions that work with individuals and or couples to reduce their alcohol consumption and or substance abuse (with or without other prevention elements); • Couples interventions (focussed on transforming gender relations within the couple, or addressing alcohol and violence in relationships); • Interventions with female sex workers to reduce violence by clients, police or strangers (i.e.
non-intimate partners) through empowerment collectivisation or alcohol and substance use reduction; • Valuable school-based interventions to prevent dating or sexual violence and school-based interventions for peer violence; and • Child maintenance programmes.

Legislators played a crucial role in reducing all drivers of violence through strengthening of laws, promoting policies and exercising effective oversight.
A range of interventions was required to address these drivers but not only limited to the Criminal Justice System (CJS).

The new sexual offences courts were welcomed and the Person Identification and Verification Application system at police stations to apprehend ‘persons of interest’ as well as proposed reforms allowing for online applications for child maintenance and protection orders, as well as legislative amendments.
Moreover, a critical new role for the legislature was oversight of the work of the National Council on GBVF (NCGBVF), and its associated structures, in implementing the NSP on GBVF and its budget.
Professor Jewkes concluded by providing ten measures needed to end the scourge of GBVF, listed as follows: a) Resources must be allocated from National Treasury for measures required for GBV and femicide prevention; b) Effective Parliamentary oversight of the National Council on GBV and Femicide and its work in implementing the National Strategic Plan; c) Basic income grant to reduce most severe poverty in communities; d) Enhancing school completion: resourcing pre-school education, teenage pregnancy prevention, homework support, oversight of Department of Basic Education measures to prevent drop out before matric, action to ensure school year is not lost from COVID-19; 31 85 e) Gun, alcohol and drug control: enforcement of existing measures, prevention of corruption, action on illegal guns, measures to reduce harmful alcohol use and drugs; f) Resources for evidence-based prevention programmes to change harmful masculinities e.g.
Stepping Stones and Creating Futures; g) Resources for mental health programmes, in the health sector and through community- level interventions including psychotherapy from lay counsellors; h) Funding for shelters, parenting programmes for vulnerable parents, more efficient maintenance, protection orders etc.

; i) Stronger enforcement of existing legislation, and judicial review of sentencing; and j) Ensure solid research foundation to guide the GBV prevention strategy and monitor and evaluate its impact.
8.2 MR B KHUMALO: SONKE GENDER JUSTICE “What to do about men’s violence against women”.

Mr Bafana Khumalo presentation focused on the role played by men in ending GBV.

He informed the delegates that violence against women was a chronic crisis in South Africa by highlighting the following statistics and facts.
• 3 Women killed by their intimate partner everyday • Femicide rate 5 times the global average • Over 23000 sexual offences against children: 2016/17 SAPS • Women are not safe in homes, workspaces, public spaces • Violence against women (VAW) is a daily lived reality for many women!
• Second pandemic to COVID-19: President Ramaphosa, June 2020 According to Mr Khumalo, part of the challenges in addressing this scourge was the attitude that people have towards GBV as there were still people who excused the violence against women and blamed the victim.

It would appear that at times the cause of the violence could be attributed to how the society justifies some of the behaviours.
The common notions expressed for justifying why women are blamed, included utterances such as “why did she go to the tavern”?

“why did she drink”?

These attitudes were aiding violence against women.

There were 32 86 also myths in the society including the following which Mr Khumalo noted.

Firstly, violence against women happens in poor communities; the truth of the matter is that GBV happens everywhere, it happens in affluent suburbs, it happens in townships and in the rural areas.
Secondly; victims of violence provoke the perpetrator; the truth of the matter is that these perpetrators do not need any provocation to carry out these acts of violence.

Mr Khumalo stressed that rape has nothing to do with what women wear, it is about power, it is about the patriarchal notion where men feel they own the women’s bodies and therefore can do as they please.
Women who wear long dresses are raped in their own homes, women who are old are raped, infants are also raped, and therefore one cannot justify the rape on account of what the women wore.

Mr Khumalo also provided an overview of the legal and social interventions to address the scourge of GBVF in South Africa.

However, despite these progressive laws that have been enacted, the implementation remained a key challenge.
There appeared to be a lack of confidence in the justice system, as research has shown that only one in nine rape cases were reported.

South Africa’s prosecution rate was only about 8 per cent and the conviction rate was even less.

The high levels of impunity was concerning as only 8% of reported cases result in prosecution and even less result in a conviction.

There was also the fear of secondary victimisation within the criminal justice system alongside the protracted court processes.
Moreover, Mr Khumalo noted that in certain instances the solutions that women seek is to find alternatives besides redress within the criminal justice system.

Mr Khumalo argued that there was a need to work with men in resolving these issues of violence against women.

There is a need to challenge men to change the narrative of “risky masculinities” that are at the centre of the violence against women.

It was considered to be the key to advance the notion of equality, and improve lives of women.
In addition, there was also a need to promote behavioural changes in men and boys through the identification and promotion of positive notions of masculinities as there is no need for men to exhort to power in order to express their manhood.
Mr Khumalo maintained that the issues of violence against women cannot be resolved simply by the criminal justice system and concurred with Justice Khampepe for a combination of responses, as South Africa did not have enough correctional centres to incarcerate perpetrators.

The overcrowding in prisons also posed as another challenge.

Hence there was a need to promote these behavioural changes and to look at the combination of responses.
33 87 Emphasis was also placed on the NSP and the importance of working with men.

In so doing, creating spaces to confront patriarchal notions of being male - the root cause of gender inequality and negative/risky masculinities.

This was key to advancing gender equality, reducing inequalities and improving the lives of women and men.

By working with men, it promotes behavioural change in men and boys through the identification and promotion of positive notions of masculinities.
Moreover, it thus makes GBV a societal, not just a women’s issue: creating an opportunity to address the behaviours that lead to violence.

Mr Khumalo concluded his presentation by assuring delegates that men can change men, men can use the institutional power to promote change and by involving men in the fight against GBVF, women do not have to make changes alone.
8.3 DR M KGANAKGA, SANAC MEN’S SECTOR “SANAC Men’s Sector’s Response Plan to GBVF - Progress Update” Dr Matome Kganakga’s presentation was in line with MRC and Sonke Gender Justice focussing on the institutional arrangements and responding directly to psycho-social issues.

He highlighted the need to bring men and boys in the fight against GBVF.

Some of the challenges that they identified was the lack of coordination between different programmes that fight the violence against women.
Hence there appeared to be slow progress in seeing results and the impact of these programmes.

There was no platform to drive a coherent response and as such one of the objectives of the SANAC Men’s Sector was to coordinate and institutionalise the men’s organisation, as well as to develop the South African men’s charter in addition to working with men who are community developers.
Dr Kganakga echoed Mr Khumalo’s argument that it was important to engage the hegemonic masculinity, authority, power, men’s dominant position in society as toxic masculinity which results in the ways that the community raises boys and girls differently and ultimately encourages inequality in society.

The SANAC Men’s Sector was engaged in and discussing these issues.
He highlighted that violence was systematic, there was no isolated incident, it was explicit and it was often normalised through problematic language, victim blaming, sexist comments, homophobic comments as well as some of the views, gender stereotypes, and views 34 88 like ‘women belong in the kitchen’.

These ultimately translated to verbal abuse, and to explicit violence.

According to Dr Kganakga, this men’s forum wanted to ensure that there was accountability, and adherence to the rule of law.
The National Men’s summit was launched in 2018, and the process of initiating the Men’s Parliament commenced since then.

Once every two years they meet to discuss issues that affect men in South Africa, men in all nine provinces met to launch the Men’s Parliament.

He also noted that plans were underway for a 2020 Men’s Parliament.
8.4 MR T MASANGO, NOT IN MY NAME SOUTH AFRICA Mr Masango presented on behalf of the Campaign “Not In My Name South Africa” (NIMNSA) which was to mobilise men’s active participation in prevention programmes.

The purpose of the campaign was outlined as firstly, instilling a sense of activism in Parliament; secondly, fostering accountability and personal responsibility and lastly developing a sustainable approach to GBVF.
Mr Masango indicated that NIMNSA was a people’s movement that focuses on sustainable positive change in the lives of our people.

And to achieve that the they were mobilizing sectors, organizations, and individuals to fight any form of social injustice, corruption, and the erosion of our democracy, and to restore pride and dignity in our people.
Furthermore, Mr Masango emphasized the need for a multi-sectoral approach which included ununderstanding victim-blaming, dealing with secondary victimisation, advocating for active citizenry amongst others.

Thus the NIMNSA was instilling a sense of activism among ordinary people in the long term through building institutional capacity for active citizenship at all levels of society.

To this end, civil society’s role was to ensure that the country has civil leadership.
8.5 PROF. A BOSCH, STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY In a recorded video, Prof. Anita Bosch of the University of Stellenbosch shared research work on gender pay gap and interventions to address the economic inclusion of women in South Africa, and future directions for gender pay transparency, as well as key recommendations.

35 89 The gender pay gap has recently been publicised internationally and locally.
In her presentation, she highlighted the most common reasons for pay gap as follows, firstly, women are regarded as working short hours than men; women have lower levels of education; and women do not have suitable qualifications for high paying jobs.

It is estimated that 37.9 per cent of South African households are headed by women.
Women headed households are approximately 40 per cent poorer than those headed by men and 48.2 per cent of female headed households support extended family members, in comparisons to 23.1 per cent of male headed households doing the same.

Women prioritise spending on household and parenting responsibilities and have a longer life expectancy than men.

Economic dependency of women also leads to power relations and may lead to GBV.
The attainment of pay parity for women’s financial independence was significant.

Similar to the Women’s Charter in 1954 and the Women’s March in 1956, women have a duty to respond to the legislation that is proposed.
Some of the transparency mechanisms and proposals required a phased approach in order for the unintended consequences to be addressed before more stringent policies are implemented, these recommendations include the following: • Key data on women’s economic participation, such as the data governed by the Companies’ and Intellectual Property Commissions should be made available to university and research institutions, to do an analysis and tracking of progress, for both listed and unlisted companies and their governing bodies; • Post training permanent employment of women in male dominated industries should be regulated and incentivised; • Further strengthening of pay report as mandated by the Employment Equity Act by refining the measures used in the income differential statement.
The report should not be “too” generic as it is presently the case with the income differential statement in South Africa conceals structural inequalities leaving policy makers to apply a ‘one size fits all’ approach instead of targeted solutions.

A rapid gain could be made if the JSE could expand its interpretation on King IV listing requirements for gender remuneration.
• An employee’s right to query another employee’s pay, could be problematic in South Africa due to rights of privacy and confidentiality, despite the issues of the Protection of Personal Information Act, the legislatures should seek to give an employee a right to obtain 36 90 pay information when the employee is attempting to prove a claim in terms of section 6(4) of the Employment Equity Act.

In which case, the correct comparator is needed.

• Pay audits should be mandated for designated employers.
There should be a differentiation between pay report and the pay audit, as there is in-depth analysis during the pay audit.

Such analysis should enable the employer to track and eradicate unfair pay discrimination.

• Companies should discuss, as a separate issue, equal gender pay including pay audit results during the collective pay bargaining, a soft law should be introduced in the King report as a matter of remuneration good governance.
Prof. Bosch concluded by saying that much has already been done in South Africa to positively influence employers towards pay equality, but as most transformation actions, there is still a need for more work to be done.

Gender pay equality can be an achievable probability rather than an ideology.

SESSION 4 9.

INTERACTIVE SESSION The interactive session was co-chaired by the Ms Gillion in the House and Ms. Lucas via the virtual platform.
Participants in the House were afforded the opportunity to make a brief input and this was followed by those on the virtual platform.

9.1 INPUTS FROM THE CHAMBER 9.1.1 DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE (DA), MS HS WINKLER (MP) The presentations were considered to be helpful and informative.

The role of men in combatting GBVF was noteworthy in the programmes outlined by the various NGOs.
To this end, an example of consent classes which was being conducted in countries in Africa was provided and highlighted the value of teaching young men and women about GBV and female empowerment as well as the autonomy of females in society.

As such, a question was posed as to whether similar programmes existed in South Africa and whether this could be included in the current NSP.
37 91 9.1.2 AFRICAN CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY (ACDP), MS ME SUKERS (MP) The impact and failure of fathers to provide maintenance to wives and children was highlighted and how this attributed to women’s vulnerability.

A call was made to members of Parliament to take up the matter so that courts could respond faster.

More needed to be done in this regard.


9.1.3 NPO: SA WOMEN FIGHT BACK, MS BRONWYN LITKIE With respect to the issue of rape kits as of 26 August 2020, the NPO called thirty-five (35) police stations and only seven (7) had rape kits, two (2) did not know about the rape kits and five (5) did not answer the telephone calls.
This highlighted the major concerns about the availability of rape kits without which important evidence cannot be collected and this impacts directly on the outcome of court cases 9.1.4 FREEDOM FRONT PLUS (FF+), MS T BREEDT (MP) Hon.

Breedt reflected on the manner in which women dressed and the correlation with the reasons for being raped and how this mindset was institutionalised and pervasive.

To this end, a question was posed as to how to change society’s perceptions in this regard.
In many instances, women are not believed when disclosing that they have been raped and instead they are second guessed.

As such, it was imperative to look at how to change that perception by focussing on how one talks about GBV.
9.1.5 UNITED DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT (UDM), MS N NONTENJA A question was posed as to what could be done to get government departments to work in synergy as opposed to silos particularly in cases where SAPS apprehends the perpetrator but the perpetrator is then released on bail which in many instances is not befitting.

Similarly, in instances where perpetrators are out on parole but reoffend.

The collaboration between SAPS, Justice and Correctional Services is then key to addressing these issues.
38 92 9.1.6 AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (ANC), MS T TYALANA Ms Tyalana place particular emphasis on the need to focus more on the economic empowerment of women and that the respective Ministers and MECs should have been present to provide insight in that regard as well as matters pertaining to GBV.

More clarity was also sought from Premier of the Western Cape, Mr Winde about the targets and programmes he referred to.
It was important to understand what these targets entailed, what the targets hoped to achieve and how these targets are being measured.

The representation of more Black females in the Western Cape with respect to economic inclusion was also highlighted.

9.2 INPUTS FROM VIRTUAL PARTICIPANTS 9.2.1 ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS (EFF), MS PHIWAWA Concerns were raised about the consequence management for officials who do not implement Government programmes and policies.
Examples cited related to manner in which the police and magistrates carried out their duties.

Furthermore, concerns were also raised about the forced sterilisation of HIV+ women and the secondary victimisation of women.

9.2.2 FETUSA - MARTINIQUE MARINUS An appeal was made to Government to ratify the ILO convention 190 together with the Recommendation 206 that deals with the elimination of violence and harassment in the work place.
This was said to go a long way to protecting women in their place of work from violence.

The gender pay gap was also highlighted as an area that still requires more work in the country.

9.2.3 INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY (IFP) - MS Z MAJOZI Ms Majozi highlighted the pandemic of drug addiction and that many young women were involved in abusing drugs.

Concerns were raised as to how to help these women particularly those living in rural areas as access to treatment was a challenge.
With respect to programmes focussing on boys and men, Ms Majozi noted that these needed to be visible and accessible in 39 93 all communities especially in rural areas.

A request was made to the presenters to share more information about the programmes in terms of the location, the contact persons and how this information could be shared.

9.2.4 EMBRACE DIGNITY - MS GRISZELDA GROOTBOOM Ms Grootboom spoke of the plight of sex workers and the GBV they endure.
The lack of support for survivors of sex trafficking was also highlighted.

With respect to the NSP, Ms Grootboom noted that it was not clear in the policy how sex workers and survivors of sex trafficking would benefit from the programmes and interventions as outlined in the policy.

The complexities of sex work was highlighted and the need to addresses the decriminalisation of sex work.
9.3 RESPONSE FROM PRESENTERS 9.3.1 SAMRC - PROF. NAEEMA ABRAHAMS Prof. Abrahams highlighted the research done by the MRC that focussed on interventions with men and cash transfers.

The research focussed on primary prevention and secondary prevention (response) programmes and this was tested in EThekwini.

The study findings revealed that it was imperative to work with men and women in communities.

This included a combination of gender transformative programmes and cash support for women.
The 18-month project revealed that men eventually used less violence having gone through the programme.

A key issue was now looking at how to scale up the programme and understanding how to do that at a national level.

9.3.2 SAMRC - PROF. RACHEL JEWKES Prof. Jewkes reiterated the importance of implementing evidence based programmes which is a key premise of the NSP.

Hence there was value in gender transformative programming.
It was thus imperative to ensure that the right programmes are implemented in the right way.

Furthermore, economically empowering women was a key aspect of the intervention discussed by Ms Abrahams that the SAMRC had researched.

In addition, it was also important to educate 40 94 women about their rights and to recognise the value of unpaid work by women.

More support was also required for survivors of GBV.

The child maintenance system required attention.


With respect to women blamed for being raped, the stigma in this regard must be addressed.

This could entail looking at terminology, by not referring to the alleged perpetrator and instead start from the premise that the victim was raped and believe the person who disclosed the ordeal.
9.3.3 DA – MS N. MARCHESI (MP) Ms Marchesi noted with concern that the Executive had not responded to issues raised and questioned this as it was important drive resolutions for Women’s Parliament.

In closing the session, Ms Lucas acknowledged the concerns raised by the Hon.

Marchesi and apologised to all delegates at Women’s Parliament.

She reassured delegates that it was not the understanding as all presenters were requested to be part of the entire programme for Women’s Parliament.
It was unclear as to why certain presenters had left the platform but Ms Lucas indicated that she would take up the matter with all speakers who did.

SESSION 5 10.

STATEMENTS BY POLITICAL PARTIES Political parties represented in Parliament were afforded the opportunity to make statements in relation to Women’s Parliament and the theme for 2020.

These are reflected below in order of appearance.


10.1 DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE (DA) Ms M Clarke (MP) representing the Democratic Alliance reflected on the significance of the month of August which is dedicated to the celebration of women.

Despite the gains achieved since the dawn of democracy Ms Clarke noted that South African woman are still at the mercy of the heinous scourge of gender-based violence, many of whom were financially dependent on the perpetrator and in most instances their intimate partner.
She reiterated the important role of a Member of Parliament, an elected representative that affords the opportunity to make a 41 95 difference in people’s lives and to champion the rights of women.

Economic freedom was not a reality for a significant number of women in the country which has been exacerbated by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown regulations.

Ms Clarke also provided a personal account of her fight against the corona virus when she was hospitalized during this time.
Ms Clark continued by paying tribute to firstly, the wonderful women who formed part of the medical teams that looked after herself and other patients whilst hospitalised and secondly the thousands of unsung heroines.

The female health care professionals put their own lives at risk to ensure patients recovery, working under extremely challenging conditions.

Notwithstanding that, concerns were also raised about the fraud and corruption amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ms Clarke called for the backlog of DNA testing to be addressed so that perpetrators are arrested and successful prosecutions realised.

To this end, the lack of rape kits at police stations requires urgent attention so too the lack of enforcement of protection orders.

Moreover, concerns were also raised about the quarterly crime statistics that reveal the scourge of GBVF this despite the reassurance that measures have been put in place to deal with GBVF.
Ms Clarke concluded by saying, “Honorable speaker, action speaks louder than words and we need action right now.

Enough with platitudes.” 10.2 ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS (EFF) Ms D. Ngwenya (MP) represented the EFF and commenced her statement by noting that she spoke on behalf of women who were considered to be merely subjects on enquiry for all present at Women’s Parliament.
To this end, Ms Ngwenya placed special emphasis on HIV+ women who were forcibly sterilised in public health care facilities; sex workers who were also subjected to GBVF and discriminated against; lesbian women who were victims of corrective rape; and so many women who endure secondary victimisation within the criminal justice system (CJS) and do not get the justice they deserve.

Ms Ngwenya pledged the EFF’s support to these women and reaffirmed the importance of concrete action.
To this end the following recommendations were provided: 42 96 • The need for the reform of the criminal justice system to be done with greater speed.

The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services should attend to the number of Amendment Bills that have been with it since February 2019 and more progress is required in this regard.

• The National Strategic Plan on GBV requires a mechanism to hold line departments accountable for the roles assigned to them if it is to be effective.
• The Department of Small Business and Development must be empowered to play a much stronger role in supporting women owned businesses, in order to free women from depending on men for their livelihoods.

• The Department of Social Development should work more closely with police to provide shelters for women in abusive domestic relationships.

• Capacity building of the police as well as up-skilling prosecutions and the judiciary to ensure more stringent sentencing of perpetrators.
Ms Ngwenya concluded by saying that the aforementioned proposals have been tabled numerous times before.

The EFF would also be establishing a GBV desk to assist all abused women in the country to obtain justice.

To this end, the EFF would continue the pursuit of justice until women are able to walk the streets of South Africa without fear.
10.3 INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY (IFP) The IFP was represented by Ms Z. Majozi (MP) who commenced by saying that generation equality could not be achieved in the face of GBVF in South Africa as there were women in the country fearing for their lives.

Reflections were also made on the horrific rape and killing of Uyinene Mrwetyana by a Post Office official.

To this end, Ms Majozi noted that despite the rage and sorrow expressed and the action demanded the scourge of GBVF has continued.
Due acknowledgement was given to the development of the NSP on GBVF but concerns were expressed about how long it would take to implement the policy.

Questions were also raised about the NCGBVF which was still not established at the end of August 2020.

This was deemed as unacceptable.

The IFP demanded urgent transparency on the establishment of the NCGBVF.
Ms Majozi also highlighted the vulnerable position of rural women and how this was absent in many of the presentations flighted at Women’s Parliament.

The IFP strongly supported 43 97 initiatives focusing on providing greater financial independence to women as it plays a major role in making women less vulnerable to abuse in relationships.

To this end the IFP called for the following: • The need for visible protection for women in our country.
Pandemics were said to exacerbate vulnerability and, as a result of COVID-19, rural women had even less access to police services.

The urgent need for more visible policing was emphasised especially in rural communities as rural women have less access to police.

Many women report secondary victimisation of women by Police.

Victims seeking protection orders from their abusers are told to serve these protection orders to their abusers.
• The training of police officials in dealing with victims of abuse was also a critical matter.

Too many women report secondary victimisation at police stations, and there were far too few reports about sanctions against these officials.

• The IFP remained very concerned about reports that victims of abuse seeking protection orders were being told that they need to serve these orders on the offenders themselves.

This creates further secondary victimisation.


The IFP demanded an urgent national investigation by the Police Ombudsman on secondary victimisation at police stations across the nation, and more visible sanctions for the officers responsible.

In concluding, Ms Majozi noted that action from the government should be demanded along with accountability for funds that have been made available for fighting GBV; harsher sentences for perpetrators and lastly that the NCGBVF be established urgently.
10.4 FREEDOM FRONT PLUS (FF+) The FF+ was represented by Ms T Breedt (MP) who noted that the collective efforts for addressing GBVF was failing as there may in fact not be one.

In addition, legislation such as the Domestic Violence Amendment Bill which would be introduced soon was deemed progress.

However, Ms Breedt maintained that such efforts would be futile without implementation.
To this end, budget should be allocated and spent on safe houses, employing more social workers and creating more legislation but the basics have to be done which included the following, ensuring protection orders are served and enforced, that victims of abuse are treated with dignity, police officers guilty of abuse and harassment are charged and 44 98 that perpetrators are held to account.
Ms Breedt also reflected on brutal killings of Uyinene, Baby Lee Jegels and the many other women who were killed by men and many of whom has since not seen justice.

Several of the examples cited pointed to failure of SAPS to enforce protection orders.

The official statistics and research revealed high levels of impunity.

Concerns were also expressed about the NCGBVF being merely a talk shop, meetings regarding GBV were postponed or did not start on time and presentations were incorrect.
A year later despite the discussions being held it would appear that nothing has been done to curb the scourge of GBV.

Ms Breedt concluded by saying, “We as a Parliament are failing.

We are failing our women.

We are failing ourselves.

We need to stand up and be the change we want to see.” 10.5 AFRICAN CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY (ACDP) The ACDP was represented by Ms. ME Sukers (MP) who commenced by acknowledging her guest at Women’s Parliament, Ms Bronwyn Litkie, from SA Women Fight Back.
Ms Sukers noted that violence against women and children was symptomatic of a fractured society and the breakdown of the nuclear family.

The economic disparity and inequality, sustained by systemic failures in the health, education, and justice systems perpetuated the seemingly never- ending cycle of violence that was gripping South Africa.
Ms Sukers went on to render a very impassioned personal account of her lived experienced and acknowledged that there were millions of women, like her mother, Bettie Annie Rex, a single parent, a domestic worker, abandoned economically and forced to live a life of terrible hardship.

She affirmed this by saying, “We are their daughters, we know their stories, and we have now become their voices!” Furthermore, Ms Sukers placed emphasis on the importance of leadership in these times.
To this end, Ms Sukers noted that society was caught in a cycle of violence.

Helplessness and apathy in the face of this crisis were noted as the biggest obstacles to changing the narrative and story of both the current and next generation of women.

Ms Sukers maintained that GBV hid in the silent voices in the face of sexual, mental and economic exploitation of women, and the children they raise.
The sexual abuse of children was said to be the country’s silent pandemic, and the linkage between sexually explicit material and the role of pornography in perpetuating violence, was missing from the NSP and the research in this regard that illustrated the link, cannot be ignored given the escalating violence against women and children.

45 99 In addition, Ms Sukers noted that one cannot advance equality whilst not addressing these evils that further promote the enslavement of women and children.
Nor could one not ignore the fact that most women are homeless and without a place to call their own, putting them at the mercy of benefactors - many times at an emotional and physical cost.

Neither could one allow for the economic abandonment to continue that leaves a woman and her children vulnerable.

Ms Sukers indicated that as leaders, it was an important time to take cognisance of the current period and the influential role played by members of Parliament.
In concluding, she said, “Let the daughters of the women who lived through oppression of the worst kind now show leadership, and ensure that the measures of our leadership is in the courageous actions we take against evil!

We must turn the tide.” 10.6 UNITED DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT (UDM) The UDM was represented by Ms Nongenga (MP) who reflected on the women’s march of 1956 and stated that women’s issues and GBV have no political boundaries, there is a need for women to be united.
A clarion call was made to unite as women and fight the scourge of GBV together.

The ruthless cases of GBVF were also noted in the examples pertaining to the killing of women in Sterkspruit due to allegations of witchcraft, to the school girl who was raped after having been sent home by the school for not wearing a mask.

It was imperative for government to work more collaboratively.
Ms Nongenga lamented the fact that there were no actions taken against the perpetrators yet women were violated on a daily basis.

Hence it would appear that the perpetrators have more rights than the victims.

In conclusion, Ms Nongenga concluded that women decision making positions should represent the rights of women and influence the laws and policies that protect women.

Thus leaders should advocate for the rights of women.
10.7 AFRICAN TRANSFORMATION MOVEMENT (ATM) The ATM was represented by Ms F Khuzwayo (MP).

Ms Khuzwayo indicated that GBVF was a symptom of a very sick society, a broken nation and it was not what the 1956 women fought for.

There was a need to fight all forms of GBVF in all spheres of society.

She went on to state that women were less likely to become victims of GBVF if they were liberated economically.
46 100 To this end, suggestion such as the ring fencing of informal trade should be considered as there were many women operating in this sector.

Lastly, the ATM urged the Government to introduce justice based punishment, that is equivalent to the death penalty.

10.8 GOOD The GOOD party was represented by Ms CW Nare (MP).
In Ms Nare’s opening remarks, she acknowledged the pervasiveness of GBVF and that it required a collective effort between government, civil society organisations, faith-based organisations, the private sector, members of society, including men and women, boys and girls.

Ms Nare noted that it was important to acknowledge that policies and strategies were nothing if not successfully implemented and progress was not monitored and evaluated.

In turn, this required political will and resources.
Hence, until budget and laws translated into action, women and girls would continue to suffer and die.

GOOD, called on government to: • Prioritise organisations and initiatives that were doing the hard work acting on behalf of victims and survivors.

• Shelters and organisations providing services to survivors must be considered vital as they provide a crucial service.

• Action-based partnerships must not be tied up in red tape by government departments as this would hinder progress.
Ms Nare maintained that in order to eradicate GBVF it was important to recognise the root causes or else the problem would persist.

As such, this included identifying social ills and behavioural traits that lead to unacceptable conduct and habits.

Due recognition was given to work done by the police and judicial system.
However, Ms Nare noted that the systemic challenges in police services and courts often put women and girls at risk of continual victimisation and prevent their access to protection and justice.

Economic empowerment of women was also considered to be key as it would tip the socioeconomic scale and address gender power relations by giving females the financial independence to stop tolerating abuse and the confidence to leave these relationships.
In so doing, Ms Nare indicated that this would also eliminate the gender ideals linking masculinity to the provider role and femininity to submission and victimhood.

In conclusion, Ms Nara quoted GOOD’s Leader, Ms Patricia De 47 101 Lille by saying, “Gender-based violence is a disease that infects the whole of society.

There is no vaccine.


It requires a whole of society’s response.” 10.9 NATIONAL FREEDOM PARTY (NFP) The NFP was represented by Ms T Kleinhans (MP) who indicated that there was a need to break the silence against this pandemic of GBV.

She indicated that it was important to give credence to not only violations of women’s rights that have taken place in the last 26 years but the last 368 years.

Ms Kleinhans also reflected on the death of Leigha Williams who was killed in St Helena Bay.
This incident highlighted the role of the police and the dangers of children being killed in cross fire in communities but also how communities who are left vulnerable without compensation and justice on account of police brutality.

Moreover, Ms Kleinhans reiterated that despite the legal framework in place the implementation thereof was poor and consequence management for non-adherence to legal statutes was lacking.

She stated that victims must be supported and not ignored.
It was imperative for the voices of victims to be heard.

Ms Kleinhans questioned why those in decision making positions were silent when provided an opportunity to change policies.

As such, where relevant, policies should be reviewed and amended in order to leave behind a legacy of true change.
10.10 AFRICAN INDEPENDENT CONGRESS (AIC) The AIC was represented by Councillor M Arnolds, who noted that despite the gains the country has made since the development of the of Women’s Charter, and South African women assuming key decision making positions, the advancement of women’s emancipation required attention.

From the onset, Ms Arnolds clearly stated that women who succumb to GBV were not victims but survivors.

She paid tribute to many of these women such as Karabo Mokoena.
She went on to state that many women were still economically dependent on their perpetrators, because they provide for their basic needs.

To this end, South Africa has been confronted with daily news of women killed without any justice obtained against the perpetrators.

Ms Arnolds reiterated that there was a need for action, as a country was being robbed of the most important resources, its women and children.

And questioned whether such measures were able to save any GBV survivors.
To this end, Government was responsible for creating an enabling environment for law enforcement.

The AIC called for harsher sentences to be imposed for these 48 102 heinous crimes.

Ms Arnolds concluded by saying, “This delegation should be part of a generation that will bring equal future for all.” 10.11 AL-JAMA-AH Mrs F Hendricks (MP) represented Al-Jama-Ah.

She noted that based on what was presented at Women’s Parliament, it was evident that most perpetrators of violence were abused as children.
Reflections were also made on the women’s march of 1956 which demonstrated the strength and commitment of women in the fight against oppression and this fight continued in the 2020’s.

In reflecting on the Constitution, Ms Hendricks noted that it was established on the equality and dignity of all South Africans and that Section 9 of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights specifically prohibits any person to discriminate against another on the basis of gender.
However, despite this clause in the Bill of Rights, Muslim women, women from the Hindu and Jewish faiths who are married according to their own religious rights, are still being discriminated against, because when their husbands die, their death certificate shows ‘never married’.

To this end, Mrs Hendricks provided a personal account of her own situation in this regard.

A call was made to urgently address the increasing and horrific gender-based violence against women and children in our society.
Al-Jama-ah called on government to give more constructive support to shelters for abused women.

Government was urged to expedite the registration and funding processes for shelters for abused women to enable women to play a constructive role economically, socially and politically in society.

To this end, Mrs Hendricks noted that women who were once victims also have an important role to play in helping and empowering victims of abuse.
Moreover, Mrs Hendricks also highlighted the importance psychological, financial and emotional abuse as an area requiring attention all of which was exacerbated by COVID- 19.

And as such, it was important to change attitudes to this kind of financial and emotional abuse as these forms of abuse were as devastating as physical abuse.

Al-Jama-ah recommended that State pays more attention to the provision of mental health facilities which means more psychologists, social workers and psychiatrists.
Therapy needs to be made available to women with mental health issues and will empower women to leave abusive relationships.

The link between pornography and the exploitation of women and 49 103 children was also made.

In view of the shortage of shelters, it was recommended that perpetrators be evicted from their homes and protection be granted to the wife and children.

Furthermore, it was also reiterated that imprisonment of the perpetrators should be treated as a priority.
Mrs Hendricks concluded by indicating that Al-Jama-ah constituency office in Surrey Estate started an armed response unit to assist women who were in danger.

10.12 AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (ANC) The ANC was represented Ms Nkondlo and focussed on what she termed, “Unity of purpose”.

Ms Nkondlo reflected on the killing in Sterkspruit, the availability of rape kits at police stations and why the face of poverty was still dominated by a Black female.
Ms Nkondlo reiterated that no woman in South Africa was immune to GBVF and that the economic impact of the pandemic affected women disproportionately due to a loss of income.

Challenges pertaining to UIF pay- outs or conversely women who were not on UIF and therefore could not benefit, corporates delaying payments were but some of the examples cited by Ms Nkondlo that impacted on households where women lived.

These were the unintended consequences of the lockdown which adversely affected women.
The interrelationship between patriarchy and race was also highlighted.

As such, Ms Nkondlo reiterated that patriarchal socialisation cannot continue by treating the girl child different to the boy child.

Emphasis was also placed on mainstreaming women’s economic participation but that was more than just a call for 50/50 as it went beyond just the representation of women.

Instead it as about ensuring that poverty no longer mirrors the face of a woman.
Ms Nkondlo, put forward several recommendations namely; • The Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities should prioritise women’s economic participation.

• An audit of the Economic cluster was required with a particular focus on budgets by assessing quarterly reports.

• Civil society was urged to utilise the public participation opportunities afforded and encouraged to join committees as a means of strengthening oversight.
• Civil society was advised to affirm their own power by engaging with public representatives and to start demanding accountability around economic participation.

50 104 • The Department of Trade and Industry should make known how many new and existing enterprises were owned by women which they have supported.

• An assessment of the Infrastructure development programme is required to determine how are women benefitting and which organisations of women would be participating in those projects.
Ms Nkondlo concluded by saying, “Be the change you want to see.

Charity begins at home …Voices of women are being suppressed.

As we speak we must act - Unity of purpose”.

The Hon.

Gillion closed the session by firstly thanking all political parties for their input and secondly reiterating the importance of unity in addressing the scourge of GBVF in the country.

10.13 MESSAGE OF SUPPORT - MRS GN SHOPE A message of support from Mrs GN Shope shared was via video.
Mrs Shope reflected on gains made since the advent of democracy insofar as the representation of women in decision making positions.

A special tribute was made to women working in the health sector given the COVID- 19 pandemic.

The increase in GBV was also acknowledged and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on everyone with particular emphasis placed on disabled people and refugees who endure particular difficulties.
Gratitude was expressed for the humanitarian work undertaken during this time in the country which reinforced the pride and patriotism to being South African.

Notwithstanding that, Mrs Shope was dismayed and ashamed at the corruption especially during this period.

Her disappointment and sense of betrayal was noted toward those implicated in corruption.
Moreover, Mrs Shope reiterated the important role of members of Parliament in ensuring that those guilty of corruption are held to account and that the laws are strengthened to eradicate GBV.

Mrs Shope concluded by saying that it was important to rebuild the country together by making it a democratic, “non-racial and non-sexist country of our dreams.

Let us make it a country of prosperity for all”.

11.
11.

CLOSING The vote of thanks was rendered by Ms Lucas who expressed her gratitude and appreciation to the Chief Whip of the Majority Party, all presenters and delegates at Women’s Parliament 51 105 2020.

She acknowledged that the report back was necessary and that Women’s Parliament was not merely a talk shop but that, “We are busy moving.

Not just in August Women’s Month but a 365 day programme” and that Parliament was leading in that regard.
The sessions highlighted key issues impacting women, such as the importance of women’s economic empowerment and liberation; equality and equity; safety concerns and the need to focus on the boy child.

Ms Lucas reassured delegates that the presentations would be made available to all participants as the information would be empowering.

12.

SUMMARY OF KEY CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS 12.1 CHALLENGES Herewith key challenges that emanated from the presentations and engagement at Women’s Parliament.
12.1.1 GBVF • Increase in GBVF • Delays in finalisation of the costing of NSP likely to compromise implementation.

• Implementation of NSP slow.

• NSP silent on linkage between sexually explicit material and the role of pornography in perpetuating violence.

• Delays in establishment and constitution of the NCGBVF.

• Psychological, financial and emotional abuse not given the same recognition as physical abuse.

• Sexual abuse of children recognized as the country’s silent pandemic.
12.1.2 Criminal Justice System • Systemic challenges in police services and courts • Backlog of DNA testing • Shortage of rape kits at police stations • Secondary victimisation endured by victims of GBV • Quarterly crime statistics reveal the scourge of GBVF • Protection orders failing victims of GBV 52 106 • Sex workers subjected to GBVF • Discrimination towards LGBTQIA+ persons • Corrective rape • High levels of impunity • Silo operations and lack of coordination and collaboration between Departments 12.1.3 General • • Interrelationship between patriarchy and race Impact of COVID-19 • Corruption in government and poor implementation of laws and policy • Forced sterilisation of HIV positive women • Mental health concerns • Lack of awareness of women’s rights • Recognition of rights of Muslim women, women from the Hindu and Jewish faiths who are married according to their own religious rights, are still being discriminated against in terms of marriage.
• Financial entrapment of women in abusive relationships.

Many women were still economically dependent on their perpetrators.

• Inadequate funding of shelters and places of safety.

12.2 RECOMMENDATIONS Herewith recommendations that emanated from submissions made at Women’s Parliament.

12.2.1 National Government • Government Departments to create an enabling environment for responsive law enforcement by ensuring adequate resourcing over short, medium and long term.
• Government in partnership with research institutions to regularly conduct society wide research in order to be updated on emerging trends, and to ensure adoption and implementation of evidence based programmes and interventions.

The Interim Steering 53 107 Committee overseeing the implementation of the NSP should ensure this is given effect to.
• All Government Departments and entities should ensure strict adherence to stipulated preferential procurement quotas for women with consequence management for non- compliance.

• National departments to actively address all related challenges in implementation of programs aimed at eradication of GBVF within the context of Annual Performance Plans and Strategic Plans.

• National departments to report at least annually on progress in relation to the implementation of national NSP targets.
12.2.2 Provincial Government • Provinces should have functional and effectively positioned gender mainstreaming offices to ensure effective coordination.

• Provinces should ensure that all institutional mechanisms in relation to the NSP are in place and capacitated in line with the identified timeframes stipulated in the policy.

• Provinces to localise the NSP framework to cater for needs and realities of provinces in line with the identified timeframes stipulated in the policy.
• Provincial departments to regularly report on progress in relation to implementation of provincial NSP targets on an annual basis at least.

• Provinces to actively address all related challenges in implementation of programs aimed at eradication of GBVF within context of Annual Performance Plans (APPs) and Strategic Plans.

12.2.3 Local Government • All municipalities to adopt GBVF responsive IDPs annually.
• There is a need to assist and improve the capacity of all municipalities to effectively implement constitutional mandates towards creation of safe communities as key aspect of APPs and Strategic Plans.

• All municipalities to appoint gender focal points with adequate funding and capacity to effectively implement GBVF programs in line with timeframes stipulated in NSP.
54 108 • All municipalities to capacitate and train community policing forums, neighbourhood watches and others safety groupings in communities on GBVF and the NSP framework as a key aspect of APPs.

12.2.4 Department of Health, Department of Social Development • Department of Health to ensure adequate provision of mental health facilities across all provinces over the MTSF period.
• Psycho-social therapy needs to be made more available and accessible for all women with mental health concerns in the short, medium and long term.

• To increase access to psycho-social support and services by, employing and adequately deploying psychologists, social workers and psychiatrists across all municipalities.

• Adequate and more constructive support to be given to all shelters for victims of GBVF by the Department of Social Development in the short, medium and long term.
12.2.5 SAPS • Backlog of DNA testing to be addressed and progress reported back to the Portfolio Committee on Police on a quarterly basis.

• Protection orders should be served and enforced in line with the provisions as outlined in the law and policy.

• Prevent secondary victimisation of GBV victims by SAPS.

• Police officers that are guilty of abuse and harassment must be prosecuted in keeping with the statutes.
• Reform of the criminal justice system to be done with greater speed as outlined in the NDP.

• Capacity building of the police to deal more effectively with victims and perpetrators of GBVF.

• A national investigation by the Police Ombudsman on secondary victimisation at police stations across all provinces and more visible sanctions for the officers responsible.
• Gun, alcohol and drug control: enforcement of existing measures, prevention of corruption, action on illegal guns, measures to reduce harmful alcohol use and drugs 55 109 12.2.6 Judiciary • To implement programs aimed at transforming the judiciary to be gender responsive and victim friendly in the short, medium and long term.

• To up-skill prosecutors and magistrates to ensure more stringent sentencing of perpetrators.

• A judicial review of sentencing.


12.2.7 Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) • The Department of Trade and Industry should publicise all women owned, new and existing enterprises funded and/or supported on an annual basis at least.
12.2.8 Department of Small Business and Development (DSBD) • The Department of Small Business and Development to implement more economic empowerment programmes aimed at capacitating and supporting women owned businesses, towards economic independence of women over the short, medium and long term.

• The Department ringing fence budgets to support informal traders in the short, medium and long term.
12.2.9 Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) • An assessment of the infrastructure development programme is required to determine beneficiation of women and participation of women owned businesses in those projects annually.

12.2.10 Department of Social Development (DSD) and or Health • Resources for evidence-based prevention programmes to change harmful masculinities e.g.

Stepping Stones and Creating Futures.


• Resources for mental health programmes, in the health sector and through community- level interventions including psychotherapy from lay counsellors • Funding for parenting programmes for vulnerable parents in the short, medium and long term.

56 110 • The Department of Social Development should intensify efforts to increase the provision of care, support and healing programs to all victims in line with targets outlined in its Strategic Plan and APPs.
• The Department of Social Development should work more closely with all stakeholders to provide and support shelters for victims of GBVF annually.

12.2.11 Department of Women Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) • The Department should ensure transparency and expedite the establishment of the NCGBVF in keeping with the timeframes stipulated in the NSP.
• To assist all national departments to integrate NSP targets in strategic and annual plans and regularly report on implementation as outlined in the NSP.

• To develop a mechanism to hold line departments accountable for implementation of NSP targets as outlined in the NSP.

• To adopt and intensify implementation of programmes focussing on men and boys in the short, medium and long term.

• To finalise the costing of NSP before the next financial year 2021/22.
• An audit of the Economic cluster is required with a particular focus on budgets by assessing quarterly reports over the short, medium and long term.

• Ensure solid research foundation to guide the GBV prevention strategy and monitor and evaluate its impact in keeping with the provisions as outlined in the NSP.
12.2.12 Department of Labour • Key data on women’s economic participation, such as the data governed by the Companies’ and Intellectual Property Commissions should be made available to university and research institutions, to do an analysis and tracking of progress, for both listed and unlisted companies and their governing bodies; • Post training permanent employment of women in male dominated industries should be regulated and incentivised; • Strengthening of pay report as mandated by the employment equity Act by refining the measures used in the income differential statement.
• Pay audits should be mandated for designated employers.

There should be a differentiation between pay report and the pay audit, as there is in-depth analysis during 57 111 the pay audit.

Such analysis should enable the employer to track and eradicate unfair pay discrimination.

• Companies should discuss, as a separate issue, equal gender pay including pay audit results during the collective pay bargaining, a soft law should be introduced in the King report as a matter of remuneration good governance.
12.2.13 Department of Home Affairs • To address the discrimination against Muslim, Hindu and Jewish women married in religious rights in terms of the official marriage status being recognised.

12.2.14 National Treasury • Resources must be allocated from National Treasury for measures required for GBV and femicide prevention.

• Basic income grants to reduce most severe poverty in communities.
12.2.15 Department of Basic Education • Enhancing school completion: resourcing pre-school education, teenage pregnancy prevention, homework support, oversight of Department of Basic Education measures to prevent drop out before matric, action to ensure school year is not lost from COVID-19 12.2.16 Parliament • The Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities should prioritise women’s economic participation within the 6th Parliament.
• Members of Parliament should ensure that those guilty of corruption are held to account and that the laws are strengthened to address GBVF in the 6th Parliament.

• The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services should urgently process the Amendment Bills related to GBVF.

• The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development should intensify oversight over equitable ownership of land by women in rural areas in the 6th Parliament.
• Ratify International Labour Organisation’s Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No.

190) together with the related Recommendation R206.

58 112 • Legislatures should seek to give an employee a right to obtain pay information when the employee is attempting to prove a claim in terms of section 6 (4) of the Employment Equity Act.

• Stronger enforcement of existing legislation.


12.2.17 Civil society • Civil society was urged to utilise the public participation opportunities afforded by Parliament annually.

• Civil society should be encouraged to join committees as a means of strengthening oversight when Parliament is in session.

• Civil society was advised to affirm their own power by engaging with public representatives and to start demanding accountability around economic participation.
59 113 COMMITTEE REPORTS National Council of Provinces 114 1.

REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON PETITIONS AND EXECUTIVE UNDERTAKINGS ON ABATHEMBU PETITION HEARINGS HELD IN MTHATHA, EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE, ON 23 OCTOBER 2019 AND PARLIAMENT, 21 NOVEMBER 2019, AS ADOPTED ON 23 SEPTEMBER 2020 1.
BACKGROUND The petition is dated 2 November 2018, and was referred to the Chairperson of the Select Committee on Petitions and Executive Undertakings (Committee) by the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) for consideration and resolution, reports as follows: The petitioner, Mr Votani Majola, filed a petition through Ms Thembi Tembe, a Chief Protocol Officer on behalf of the Thembuland Royal Empire.
The petition urges the NCOP to intervene in respect of the alleged prejudice against the Thembuland Royal Empire.

The petition notes a number of concerns that centre on the treatment and prejudice suffered by the Thembuland Royal Empire.
The petitioner alleges that based on the incidents, events, and activities that have occurred in the past few years, the Thembuland Royal Empire reasonably believes that the justice system in South Africa has been, and is still being manipulated and abused, in the same manner as it happened during apartheid era.

This with the intention to destroy the Nation of AbaThembu.
The petitioner seeks the intervention of the Committee for the following: • To ensure that the Rule of Law is enforced in certain cases where it is possible for Parliament to do so; • On a long term basis for Parliament to investigate the extent, impact and the severity of prejudice that has been suffered by the AbaThembu people and possibly put in place corrective measures within the context of the justice system; • In relation to the issue of land, the petitioner is of the view that a genuine debate on land should firstly start with the original landowners, that is the Thembuland Royal Empire.
The relief sought is that while the issue of land ownership is being debated, the Thembuland Royal Empire should be afforded some special dispensation, legislatively and/or otherwise to be 115 able to access their old heritage sites of AbaThembu Nation.

This would help the petitioners accelerate growth and economic development for the AbaThembu people.

2.
2.

HEARING On 23 October 2019, the Committee held a hearing on the Abathembu petition at Savoy Hotel, Mthatha in Eastern Cape, where the petitioner and relevant stakeholders were invited.

The purpose was to afford the petitioner and relevant stakeholders with an opportunity to make first- hand oral submissions in relation to the subject matter of the petition.
2.1 Committee Members and Officials The following Committee Members were present during the hearing on the petition: 2.1.1 Hon Z V Ncitha, ANC, Eastern Cape; 2.1.2 Hon E M Mthethwa, ANC, Kwa-Zulu Natal; 2.1.3 Hon C Visser, DA, North-West; 2.1.4 Hon K Motsamai, EFF, Gauteng; and 2.1.5 Hon S E Mfayela, IFP, Kwa-Zulu Natal The Committee Members present were supported by the following Committee officials: 2.1.6 Mr N Mkhize, Committee Secretary; and 2.1.7 Adv.

T Sterris-Jaffer, Committee Researcher .
3 Hearing on the Petition 3.1.Stakeholders The following stakeholders attended the hearing on the petition: 3.1.1 Mr V Majola, Petitioner ;( attendance list of individuals who were accompanying the petitioner, will be made available upon request) 2 116 3.1.2 Representatives from the Land Claims Commissioners; Mrs. Gabon (Chief Land Claims Commissioner); Mr T Ntombela (Legal Advisor); Mrs. N Matya (Regional Project Manager, Advisor), Mr L H (Legal Advisor), Ms I J Pillay (Acting Manager Real Estate); Mr ZM Nduma (Acting Divisional Head_ Real Estate); Ms N Ntswaki (Town Planner) and Mrs. B Motimone (Land Surveyor); 3.1.3 Representative from the O.R Tambo District Municipality, Ms N K Zibi (Senior Coordinator; 3.1.4 Representative from the O.R Tambo District Municipality-Legislative Services, Ms N P Mkontwana (Public Participation-Manager); Mrs. L Rolobile (Chairperson Public Participation and Petitions); Mr S Mxego (Sergeant at Arms); Mr M A Lutinto (Public Participation); Mrs. V V Mbiza (Public Participation Officer) 3.1.5 Representative from the AbaThembu Chief, Chief B Mtirara and Ms T Wana 3.2.
Submissions by the Petitioner In his opening remarks, Mr Majola who calls himself Emperor Thembu II of the AbaThembu Royal Empire, submitted that he represents AbaThembu from all nine provinces.

The petitioner alleges that the AbaThembu were the first to arrive in South Africa more than 2,300 (two thousand three hundred) years ago.
He further alleges that for this reason, and many other reasons “this land called South Africa belongs to AbaThembu Nation in its entirety” According to the petitioner, all the nine South African Provinces belong to the Nation of AbaThembu.

He submitted that this is informed by a variety of factors that include, but are not limited to historical factors, heritage factors, traditional factors, cultural factors and many more.
He then submitted that the current approach by the government on land restitution is not likely to yield to positive results to resolve the land question.

That a genuine debate on land must start with the original land owners who are AbaThembu Nation.

He then touched on the housing petition, informing that, “housing forms the basis of prosperity in the country to such an extent that without effective housing in place it is hard to achieve economic prosperity”.
The petitioner noted a number of means that could be employed to increase the speed of housing delivery.
3 117 • simplified policies and procedures for easy access to adequate housing delivery to the public; • improving the law-making in the housing sector in order to design policies and procedures that would address directly the intended housing issues; • raising finance for housing by government outside the normal fiscal allocation; developing the Small Medium Micro Enterprise (SMME) sector in the housing industry; and • understanding the broad legal framework on housing.
The petitioner then suggested that the government should intervene in respect of alleged prejudice against a Thembuland Royal Empire on land restitution.

He argues that the justice system is flawed and sabotages socio-economic development projects initiated by the Thembuland Royal Empire.

The petitioner submitted that the process of land claims prejudices his people.

Indicating that they have given submissions to the Commission on how to fast-track the process of land claims.
Further indicating that Thembuland Royal Empire rejects the proposition that land must be given to the State.

Pointing out that the current debate on land that has been running since 2018, and with due respect he feels it unstructured and incomprehensible hence this process is not likely to yield to any positive results to address the land question.

He then alleged that Parliament was stalling the process with the Amendment Act.
Pointing out to discrepancies in the legislative mandate averring that Parliament was meant to rectify the unconstitutional provisions contained in the Restitution of Land Rights Amendment Act (No.

15 of 2014) as decided in the Land Access Movement of South Africa and others v Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces and Others judgement.1 The Amendment Act was meant to extend the period of time for the lodgment of land claims.
Submitting that the Act originally provided that claims for restitution of land had to be lodged by no later than 31 December 1998.

However, by such date not all those who were entitled to lodge a claim had timeously done so.

The petitioner contends that the failure by Parliament to timeously enact the amendment resulted in Parliament being in contempt of the court order.

This has further prejudiced the process around land restitution.
1 2016 (10) BCLR 1277 (CC) 4 118 3.3 Submissions by the Land Claims Commissioner The oral submissions on behalf of the Land Claims Commissioner (Commissioner) were led by the Mrs N Ntloko-Gobodo (Mrs Ntloko-Gobodo), Chief Land Claims Commissioner.
She commenced her submission by outlining the Land Reform mandate as follows: The 1996 Constitution sets out the following framework for land reform: The state must take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, • To foster conditions, which enable citizens to gain access to land on equitable basis (Section 25(5)).
• A person or community whose tenure of land is legally insecure as a result of past racially discriminatory laws or practices is entitled, to the extent provided by an Act of Parliament, either to tenure which is legally secure or to comparable redress (Section 25 (6)).
• A person or community dispossessed of property after June 1913 as a result of past racially discriminatory laws or practices is entitled, to the extent provided by an Act of Parliament, either to restitution of that property or to equitable redress (Section 25 (7)).

Mrs Ntloko-Gobodo then informed that the Restitution of Land Rights Act, 22 of 1994 establishes the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights (CRLR).
The functions of the Commission are to solicit, investigate, and to resolve through negotiations and mediation claims for restitution from persons and communities dispossessed of rights in land, after 19 June 1913, as a result of past racially discriminatory laws and practices.

Where a claim cannot be resolved by negotiations or mediation it is referred to the Land Claims Court for adjudication.
Mrs Ntloko-Gobodo further informed, that a claimant is only entitled to restitution “to the extent provided for by an Act of Parliament” i.e.

the Restitution of Land Rights Act, 1994.

Indicating that Restitution is defined as restoration of a right in land; or equitable redress.

Restoration is defined as the return of a right in land or a portion of land dispossessed after 19 June 1913 as a result of past racially discriminatory laws or practices.
Equitable redress is defined as any equitable redress, other than the restoration of land, including the granting of an appropriate right in alternative land, or the payment of financial compensation.

5 119 Mrs Ntloko-Gobodo submitted that the CRLR is prohibited from processing any claims lodged in terms of section 10 of the Restitution of Land Rights Act 22 of 1994 (Restitution Act) between 1 July 2014 and 28 July 2016 (Interdicted Act) until the earlier of the dates.
When it has settled or referred to the Land Claims Court all claims lodged on or before 31 December 1998 (Old claims) by way of a referral of the claim in terms of section 14.

The Land Claims Court, upon application by any interested party, grants permission to the Commission to begin processing interdicted claims, whether in respect of the whole or part of the Republic of South Africa and whether in respect of part or all of the process for administering an interdicted claim.
Informing that until the date referred to , no interdicted claim may be adjudicated upon or considered in any manner whatsoever by the Land Claims Court in any proceedings for the restitution of rights in land in respect of old claims, provided that interdicted claimants may be admitted as interested parties before the Land Claims Court solely to the extent that their participation may contribute to the establishment or rejection of the old claims or in respect of any other issue that the presiding judge may allow to be addressed in the interest of justice.
Citing that on 28 July 2016 the Constitutional Court ordered that the Restitution of Land Rights Act, 1994 must be read as though the Amendment Act was never enacted.

Potential claimants who had not lodged claims by 27 July 2016 may no longer do so.
The Commission is interdicted “from processing in any manner whatsoever” already pending new order claims unless: • Parliament enacts new legislation reopening the lodgement of claims; or • The Commission finalises claims lodged by 31 December 1998 in the entire country to the point of referral to the Minister or the Land Claims Court.
Further submitting that the Restitution Amendment Act 15 of 2014 was declared invalid by the Constitutional Court in July 2016, stating that Parliament failed to consult adequately with affected parties.

A new Restitution Amendment Bill was introduced through Parliament as a Private Member’s Bill.
Pointing out that Parliament’s Constitutional Review Committee undertook public hearings on the Bill throughout the nine provinces between 18 June until 03 July 2018, unfortunately Parliamentary processes could not be concluded for the passing of the Bill within the timeframe indicated by the Constitutional Court on the Lamosa 1 Judgement.

6 120 In conclusion, she informed that it the Ministers mandate to deal with transformation and land reform.
The Commission can only operate within the parameters of the current legislation, ttherefore, the Commission can only wait for Parliament to either comply with the court order as introduced in the LAMOSA 1 and 2 judgement or for the process to be taken through the Cabinet process.
In concluding, Ms Ntloko-Gobodo, further informed that the first claim lodged by AbaThembu in 1998 had been dismissed as the dispossession happened in the 1800s and the land claim law caters only for those dispossessed after 1910.

Another claim, filed by King Buyel'Ekhaya Dalindyebo in 2014, has not yet been looked at.

3.4 Supplementary Submissions Chief Bhovulengwe Mtirara, briefly submitted on behalf AbaThembu Chiefs, he indicated that he distanced himself from the petition.
Submitting that there is no way that one tribe can claim all of South Africa.

He further submitted that this is not the first time this thing is happening, it has happened in 2006, even then he distanced himself from it.

He further informed that the acting AbaThembu king Azenathi Dalindyebo has no signature on that petition as the representative (leader of AbaThembu).

Concluding that Mr Majola was not even a Chief of AbaThembu.
4 SECOND HEARING ON THE ABATHEMBU PETITION The second hearing on the petition was held on 21 November 2019 at Parliament.

4.1 Committee Members and Officials The following Committee Members attended the second hearing on the petition: 4.

1.1 Hon E M Mthethwa, ANC, KwaZulu-Natal (Acting Chairperson of the Committee); 4.
1.2 Hon A B Gxoyiya, ANC, Northern Cape; 4.1.3 Hon M P Mmola, ANC, Mpumalanga; 7 121 4.1.4 Hon S Zandamela, EFF, Mpumalanga, The Committee Members present at the hearing on the petition were supported by the following Committee officials: 4.1.5 Mr N Mkhize, the Committee Secretary; 4.1.6 Adv.
T Sterris, -Jaffer, the Committee Researcher; 4.1.7 Mr J Russouw, Committee Assistance; 4.1.8 Mrs N Fakier, Executive Secretary; 4.1.9 Mr M Nkwali, Researcher, Office of the NCOP Chairperson; and 4.10 Ms F L Lombard, Parliamentary Communications Officer.
4.2 Stakeholders The following stakeholders attended the hearing on the petition: 4.2.1 Mr V Majola, Petitioner; (attendance list of individuals who were accompanying the petitioner will be made available upon request) 4.2.2 Mr A M Sithole, Secretary to the National House of Traditional Leaders; 5.

Submissions by the Petitioner Mr V Majola, Petitioner (the petitioner), reiterated most of the oral submissions he made before the Committee on 28 October 2019 and expanded on some of them.
In his submissions to the Committee, the petitioner maintained that they have submitted the following four petitions: 1.

Housing Petition; 2.

Land Restitution Petition; 3.

Social Economic Development Petition; and 4.

Justice System Petition.

The petitioner, then went on to clarify what is AbaThembu Royal Empire.
He informed that it is a tribe of AbaThembu, that was revived in 2005, which is based on the following pillars: • Reviving the Kingdom of AbaThembu Nation, by having Kingdoms in each of the nine provinces, correcting the damage that was done by colonialism and the apartheid era.
8 122 • In terms of land restitution, the petitioner wants their land back as it forms part of their heritage; • Social Economic Development, their people must be economical developed; • Thembuland Royal Empire to revive it norms, customs and traditions.

In his submissions, the petitioner also addressed the issue of locus standi regarding the four submitted petitions, indicating that Chiefs who were present at both hearings have signed a resolution that they want these issues to move forward.
And ordinary members of AbaThembu Nation in all the nine provinces have also signed individual resolutions supporting the revival of AbaThembu Nation.

He then based the locus standi that it is in line with Section 38 of the Bills of Right.
The petitioner, then briefly went through all the petitions that he submitted and reported as follows: 5.1 Land Restitution: The Committee was informed that this is not a traditional petition, it was more than placing issues on record, that as AbaThembu Nation, all the nine provinces belong to them (Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Free State and North –West Provinces).
He further informed that it is common knowledge and it undisputed fact that among the Nations (tribes) that reside in the Republic of South Africa today, the AbaThembu Nation were the first to arrive in this territory.

That was more than 2,300 (two thousand three hundred) years ago.

For this and for many other reasons this territory that is called the Republic of South Africa today belongs to AbaThembu Nation.
The petitioner submitted that the current debate on land that has been running since 2018, it unstructured and incomprehensible hence this process is not likely to yield any positive results to address.

And the AbaThembu Royal Empire rejects the proposition that land must be given to the State.
9 123 Indicating that the relief sought from Parliament is that a genuine and legitimate debate on ‘the land question’ should firstly start with the original land owners, the Thembuland Royal Empire (AbaThembu Nation).

And the debate shall be properly structured.


5.2 Housing Petition: The petitioner then touched on the housing petition, by informing that, “housing forms the basis of prosperity in the country to such an extent that without effective housing in place it is hard to achieve economic prosperity”.

The petitioner noted a number of means that could be employed to increase the speed of housing delivery.
• simplified policies and procedures for easy access to adequate housing delivery to the public; • improving the law-making in the housing sector in order to design policies and procedures that would address directly the intended housing issues; • raising finance for housing by government outside the normal fiscal allocation; developing the Small Medium Micro Enterprise (SMME) sector in the housing industry; and • understanding the broad legal framework on housing.
The relief sought from Parliament is that Parliament should interrogate this petition thoroughly and eventually develop a mechanism either in a form of a Special Task Force or other that would oversee the implementation of these strategies and tactics.

5.3 Social Economic Development The petitioner reported that they are being sabotaged by members of government, effectively denying them an opportunity to exercise free political will.
Further reporting that most of the Chiefs had approached the Premier of the Eastern Cape to process the appointment and issuing of pending certificates in recognition of rightful Chiefs.

Indicating that in terms of the Framework Act, they should now have been given a budget so they can pursue their royal development.

Submitting, that the Premier of the Eastern Cape has not yet processed the applications which has now been a year and half.
His concern is that most people in the rural areas will 10 124 be flocking to urban areas affecting and collapsing the economics of the country due to failure of some government officials’ failure to execute its mandate.

He then requested that relief sought, to order the Premier to do his job (e.g.

Parliament to set up a certain structure).


Further submitting that they are representing thousands of Land Claimants who are severely prejudiced by the slow movement of settlement of the land claims in South Africa.

In this regard they have taken it upon themselves to put forward suggestions aimed at improving these processes.

Propose that land claimants who have the ability to do their own research, at their cost, or otherwise must be allowed to do so.
However, the report that they present should be subject to authentication and validation by the Commission.

This means that the Commission will merely validate reports that already exist.

There are several institutions that would be willing to do this task for the poor communities who cannot afford to appoint expensive consultants.

Believe, that this task must be left with the Commission to minimize fraud and corruption.

This seeks to resolve disputes between the interested parties.
That in their experience more than 90% of the disputes are caused due to the lack of required information about the legal processes, rights and duties that the relevant parties have, or think that they have.

Once one sits down with these parties and highlight the legal issues, most people withdraw their participation in the ‘dispute'.

The point is simply that if proper legal education is given to the land claimants most disputes would be prevented, instead of attempting to resolve them.
He proposes that this legal education aimed at minimizing disputes could be carried out by the senior law students at different universities.

Most universities do have a Street Law Project whereby senior students go out to teach communities about various legal issues.

This program counts for the students’ marks in some institutions, as such students take it seriously.

If this were to be done, the Commission would spend very little money on this aspect.
A broader National Campaign could be undertaken targeting all land claimants in all nine provinces as these universities are also found scattered in all nine provinces anyway.

11 125 The petitioner then indicated that some matters that would ordinarily be referred to the Land Claims Court would be reduced substantially if preventative measures as set out.

This involves acquisition of land, and / or payment of financial settlement.
He assumes, without being judgmental that this is probably where the major backlog occurs, mainly since there could be several payments that must be done but with less cash at the hands of the government to pay out.

Put differently and clearly, government must make payment of 5 billion rand in 2016, but there was only about 1 billion rand at hand in 2016.

The question is how does one manage this situation.
Proposed that there are several options that can be implemented and suggested the following option: Instead of giving cash to the hands of claimants, claimants should be assisted in starting up a profit making company in their respective areas where they reside.

Some cash can be used to finance the start-up capital for this company.

All the claimants are made shareholders, and/ or this company issue bonds in favour of these claimants.
In this manner these claimants have a lifelong benefit that will also benefit their children.

The danger in giving cash to the claimants is that X gets paid the cash.

Within 5 months X has abused that cash, and X is back to where X was, extremely poor as if X had not just been paid a huge sum of money.

This payment process does not help to alleviate poverty among our people at all.
The petitioner pointed out his concern, that if Parliament takes too long to enact a new Act, any interested party has an option to approach the Constitutional Court to apply for a variation order, or in terms of LAMOSA 2, approach the Land Claims Court for a special permission to have certain claims processed.
However, if there is still a deadlock with regard to the old claims of 1998, it may not be easy for the court to allow the special permission to process these interdicted claims hence it is necessary that a new system that really drives the land claims settlement process has to be designed as a matter of urgency.

People on the ground are getting very impatient of waiting endlessly to get their ancestral land back.

As the Nation of Thembu they have thousands of these claims.
Once the new system is designed and implemented this will open up smooth processing of these new claims too.

Indicating that there are several claims that they have under the umbrella that were duly lodged in 1998 but they do not get cooperation from the Commission when they ask for progress report.

12 126 They would be grateful if they could get commitments with regard to these issues raised.
They believe that an open and frank dialogue is the way to go as the issue of land that affects all of us as citizens.

The Commission is duly empowered by legislation to spearhead this dialogue.

5.4 Justice System Petitions Lastly, the petitioner highlighted that the justice system in South Africa is manipulated with the sole purpose to destroy the Nation of AbaThembu.

The petitioner noted a number of instances in which he felt that the justice system had failed the AbaThembu nation.
These relate specifically to the manner in which people of AbaThembu decent were treated by the justice system.

According to the petitioner, the attack on the AbaThembu was done through the implementation of the Xhosa Nostra Project or the Xhosa Domination debate.

According to this debate, which has apparently spanned since the 1990’s, it aimed at eradicating Xhosa leadership in top government positions.
The petitioner mentions that this project as the source underpinning the disjuncture between the progress of the AbaThembu.

Outlining the following specific examples of specific matters to substantiate these submissions.
Mentioning that the list is not exhaustive of issues that constantly attack the Nation of Thembu in South Africa: The late Mrs Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, found herself in the middle of various schemes, scams, criminal cases, controversies, plots and the like that had been hatched by the members of the ANC at large.

Her mining company Chuma Holdings Ltd that she formed in 2002 appears to have been sabotaged from within government circles.
The former King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo of AbaThembu Nation faced political persecution that was disguised as a criminal case was revived after almost 11 (eleven) years.

As a result, that Dalindyebo was eventually sentenced to 15 (fifteen) years in imprisonment in 2009.

The dismissal of the former State President Mbeki from the cabinet in September 2008 was based on the comments that were made by a former judge Nicholson in a case involving Mr Jacob Zuma.
Such comments were patently unlawful, irregular and invalid hence the 13 127 dismissal was likewise unlawful.

In January 2009 the Supreme Court of Appeal confirmed that the comments that were made by the then judge Nicholson were unlawful.

The dismissal of General Bantu Holomisa from the ANC and government in 1996 was unlawful, irregular and invalid at law.

6.
6.

Submissions by the National House of Traditional Leaders Submissions on behalf of the National House of Traditional Leaders (NHTL) were led by Mr A M Sithole, Secretary to the NHTL (Mr Sithole).In his opening remarks, he indicated that he won’t deal into the merit of the petition, since they don’t have access to all the documents that the petitioner made mentioned off.

However, he did acknowledge Abathembu as an old community.
Pointing out that there are critical things to consider once there is a community established.

Submitting that the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act, 2003 (Act No 43 of 2003) (the Act) provides for the process of recognition of traditional leaders and traditional communities.

Pointing out that the Act guides the process to be followed in the recognition process of both the communities and leadership.
And the Act provides for the functions of traditional councils, kings council, principal councils and traditional council.

It further provides the roles of traditional leadership in different competencies.

That you will need to have structure that will manage that community.
He then made the following examples of such structures: • • • In the case of Kingship, it called the Kingship Council; In the case of Principal Traditional Leader, it called Principal Traditional Council; and In a case of a Senior Council, it called a Senior Traditional Leader Council.

Informing that these are the government structures of a Traditional Leadership.
Further informing that in terms of the Framework Act, 2003 (Act No 43 of 2003) (the Act), that the terminology that was used by the petitioner, such as Chiefdom is not mentioned in the Act.

Therefore, will not refer them as such.


The position of Traditional Leaders in SA is informed by the Act that provides for the recognition of the following positions of traditional leadership in the Republic of South Africa • King or Queen • Principal Traditional Leader 14 128 • Senior Traditional Leader; and • Headmen/headwomen Further informing that the above are the only positions of traditional leadership in the country.

Any position not mentioned is not part of those that government recognize.
Mr Sithole then addressed the position of Traditional Leaders on land matter.

Submitting that the Traditional Leaders met on a number of occasions on the matter of land.

The first critical meeting that was held at an Indaba of 2017.During the Indaba, one of the critical resolution taken was that Government must transfer the current land that is occupied by traditional communities to traditional leadership structure which is the Traditional councils as indicated previously.
The Indaba agreed that government should transfer land within six months or twenty-four months if there is no tool (legislation) to do that.

The twenty-four months was for government to pilot a law through Parliament for the creation of a tool to transfer.

Further, the indaba resolved that there must be a land summit to handle the issues of communal land.

Further submitting that such has not happened, instead government established an Advisory Panel on Land and Agriculture.
The panel has almost completed its work, though it is finalizing the consultation now, but the first report which indicates its direction was released.

Government further established the Inter-Ministerial Committee headed by the Deputy President that is looking at the land issue.

The land summit has not been held and it is proposed that it will be held in December 2019.

The NHTL further held the Lekgotla in 2018 and Tshivhidzo in 2019 to monitor progress on the 2017 Indaba resolutions.
During the Tshivhidzo, traditional leaders acknowledge the report of the Panel but requested Government to speed up the land summit so as to finalize the issue of land.

In conclusion, Mr Sithole indicated that the NHTL only recognise the King of AbaThembu, Acting King Azenathi Dalindyebo.

It further recognises that AbaThembu have two major communities which are, AbaThembu of Rhode under Matanzima and AbaThembu of Dalindyebo under Acting King Azenathi.
According to the decision of the Commission on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims all AbaThembu in the Republic of South Africa are under Acting King Azenathi and nobody else.

Any position that a person calls him/herself with which is not as per the provisions of the law cannot be entertained by the NHTL.

15 129 7.
15 129 7.

OBSERVATIONS AND KEY FINDINGS The Committee made the following observations and key findings in relation to the various submissions made in relation to the subject matter of the petition: 7.1 The Committee noted that in all the four petitions submitted, the petitioner seeks the intervention of the Committee to ensure that the Rule of Law is enforced in certain case where it is possible for Parliament to do so.
7.2 The petitioner further seeks the intervention, on a long term basis for Parliament to investigate the extent, impact and the severity of prejudice that has been suffered by the AbaThembu people and possibly put in place corrective measures within the context of the justice system.

7.3 In its submissions, the Lands Claims Commissioner indicated that it can only operate within the parameters of the current legislation.
Therefore, they can only wait for Parliament to either comply with the court order as introduced in the LAMOSA 1 and 2 judgement or for the process to be taken through the Cabinet process.

7.4 The Land Claims Commissioner further informed that the first claim lodged by AbaThembu in 1998 had been dismissed as the dispossession happened in the 1800s and the land claim caters only for those disposed after 1910.Another claim, filed by King Buyel’Ekhaya Dalindyebo in 2014, has not yet been looked at.
7.5 Chief Bhovulengwe Mtirara informed that the acting AbaThembu king Azenathi Dalindyebo has no signature on that petition as the representative (leader of AbaThembu).

Indicating that Mr Majola was not even recognised as a chief of AbaThembu.

7.6 The NHTL, informed that government has established the Inter-Ministerial Committee headed by the Deputy President that is looking at the land issue.

16 130 7.7 The NHTL only recognise the King of AbaThembu now Acting King Azenathi Dalindyebo.
It further recognises that AbaThembu have two major communities which are AbaThembu of Rhode under Matanzima and AbaThembu of Dalindyebo under Acting King Azenathi.

7.8 According to the decision of the Commission on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims all AbaThembu in the Republic of South Africa are under Acting King Azenathi and nobody else.

Any position that a person calls him/herself with which is not as per the provision of the law cannot be entertained by the NHTL.
8 RECOMMENDATIONS 8.1 The National House of Traditional Leaders (NHTL) only recognises Acting King Azenathi as leader of the AbaThembu and therefore the NHTL cannot entertain the request of the petitioner.

The Committee as advised, is of the view that the petitioner lacks the necessary locus standi to act on behalf of the AbaThembu nation.

8.2 That the Land Claims Commissioner has to await the outcome of the Parliamentary process as introduced in the LAMOSA 1 and 2 judgment.
This has to be taken through Cabinet processes.

Once calls for public submissions emanate from the amendment of the Restitution of Land Rights Amendment Act the petitioner is advised to use this avenue to claim the relief he seeks.

8.3 The Committee is not best placed to deal with the issue of land since there is a concurrent Parliamentary process underway that deals with the issue.
It is therefore recommended that the petitioner await the outcome of the concurrent Parliamentary process on the issue of land claims, more specifically the amendment of Section 25 of the Constitution.

Report to be considered.

17 131