Hon Chairperson and hon members, it gives me great pleasure to stand before you to present this statement after a process that I think represents yet another milestone in the fight for the emancipation of women in our country.
On 27 April 2014, a month from today, our country will be celebrating 20 years since the advent of the democratic dispensation. During that time we have made much progress in laying the groundwork for advancing the rights of women, starting with the founding document that binds us all, the Constitution of the Republic, and ending with this Bill before us today, the Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill.
Hon Chair, this progress was made possible through the efforts of the ANC and its deployees in government, as well as other role-players in the arena of the struggle. As the ANC we are proud of the progress we have made but, at the same time, we acknowledge that a lot more needs to be done to do away with discrimination based on gender and also to empower women.
The point we seek to make here is that whereas the historical realities of our country continue to hold us back, the material conditions that prevail today are much more conducive to enabling society to accelerate empowerment programmes for women.
I want to take this opportunity to salute Mama Mahlangu, a stalwart and freedom fighter. Mama, you have sacrificed much of your life and that of your children for the liberation of women and gender equality in this country.
Farewell Mama, and go tell others that South Africa is a better place for women to live in. Tell them the good story that the ANC-led government is passing a Bill that calls for 50% representation of women in the public and private sectors. In other words, as women we are no longer objects or subjects in the hands of others, but we are masters of our own destiny.
In terms of the Social Institutions and Gender Index of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, we are number 4 out of 87 countries in the 2012 index. [Applause.] The same index places us as the top country in Africa. This is indeed a good story to tell.
It is in this context that we, as the ANC, recommend to the Council that it consents to this Bill, which seeks to provide a legislative framework for both private and public bodies for the empowerment of women, as well as the appointment and representation of women in decision-making positions and structures.
It is our considered view that there ought to be sufficient consensus across all political parties on this piece of legislation because its passing here today will represent a victory for women, and this will be part of the good story of our country. We are very disappointed that the DA and the Western Cape provincial legislature are voting against the Bill as they are again showing their disregard for the ability of women in this country. Women of corporate South Africa must remember when they go out to vote on 7 May 2014 that the DA does not support their progress and empowerment. [Interjections.] They do not believe that women can be leaders in the business and private sectors. [Interjections.]
[Inaudible.]
MS B P MABE: Hon Tau, you are right - except for their leader, hon Helen Zille, the madam.
The main aim of the Bill is to give effect to section 9 of the Constitution in so far as the empowerment of women and gender equality is concerned. The Bill further seeks to establish a legislative framework for the empowerment of women and to align all aspects of laws and the implementation of laws relating to women empowerment.
The Bill also seeks to align aspects of law and the implementation of laws relating to the appointment and representation of women in decision-making positions and structures.
The Bill requires of the public and private bodies, designated by the Minister, to facilitate the development and implementation of plans and strategies for the promotion of women empowerment and gender equality. It further requires that the designated bodies submit their plans and strategies to the Minister for consideration, evaluation and guidance. This places the responsibility of training and empowering women on the shoulders of both the government and the private sector. Business must take responsibility.
South Africa is indeed a better place to live in than it was before 1994. We are proud to tell the good story of women empowerment in the 20 years of our democratic government. As we celebrate our second decade in government, we are proud to say that we have opened doors for women and we have recognised the role and value of women because they constitute the majority in our society. Women in South Africa sing a song that says:
Ayadum' amakhosikazi, Azongena ePhalamende.
I want to task the composers of this song to rewrite it and add the good story of women empowerment and development, and say:
Ayadum' amakhosikazi, Ayongena emkhakheni wezomnotho Ayongena emabhizinisini" Ayongena emabhodini Ayongena emkhakheni wezamajaji Ayongena kuhulumeni.
Fifty-fifty, no compromise! We are fighting for our space.
[Applause.]
While the Bill reminds us that the struggle for women's economic empowerment is not yet over, it puts paid, once and for all, to the myth that a woman's place is in the kitchen. The ANC-led government says a boardroom is as much a woman's place as any other space in South Africa.
We are saying that with the strength we receive from God and the commitment of the ANC, nothing is impossible and nothing will stop us. I say forward with 50% representation and I therefore move that this House adopts the Bill. Thank you, Chair. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
Declarations of vote:
Chairperson, the Western Cape legislature cannot support the Bill because of the following reasons.
After the department was allowed to oppose the amendments that were submitted by the province, people were not given sufficient time to express their views. The Western Cape Provincial Parliament supports the empowerment of women, but it does not believe that this Bill will bring about meaningful change to the millions of unemployed women. The feasibility and constitutionality of the Bill is a major concern; and this Bill duplicates the constitutional mandate of the Commission for Gender Equality and certain provisions contained in legislation, such as the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, Act 4 of 2000, the Employment Equity Act, Act 75 of 1997, and the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, Act 53 of 2013.
The Western Cape legislature cannot support attempts to impose quotas and the top-down manipulation of the labour market. This Bill fails dismally to adequately consider economically vulnerable women, such as unemployed women, rural women, disabled women, women working in the informal trading sector, lesbians, bisexual women, transgendered women and sex workers.
This Bill should be abandoned and not allowed to become an Act before all the areas of concern have been addressed and rectified. The Western Cape legislature opposes the Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill. Thank you, Chairperson. [Interjections.]
Chairperson, it is not surprising that the Western Cape legislature will vote against this Bill because if one looks at the Western Cape legislature, it's all men. Let us remind the DA that in 1954 Verwoerd said that girls should not be sent to school. [Interjections.]
That is how we grew up and today, because of what the ANC has put forward, and because of the ANC - as the hon Mabe has said - we are fourth in the world. It is not because of other parties, but because of the ANC, which recognises that women should be there. [Applause.]
We are saying that it does not have to apply to Parliament only. We support this and say that it must be everywhere. Fifty per cent - phambili! [forward!]
HON MEMBERS: Phambili! [Forward!]
Mr Chairperson, ... [Interjections.]
Order! No, we ... [Interjections.]
... on behalf of the Gauteng province ... [Interjections.]
Oh, you are speaking on behalf of the Gauteng province? Oh, all right.
On behalf of the Gauteng province, I support this Bill. It is the Gauteng province that started the entire process. It is because 60% of people in Gauteng are women. That is the situation. We are saying in the Western Cape, it represents ... [Interjections.]
Chairperson, on a point of order: I thought you asked political parties if they wanted to make their declarations. [Interjections.] Provinces have had their say. [Interjections.]
No, this is a section 76 Bill and according to Rule 71, we give provinces an opportunity to make declarations. So, he is speaking because he has been asked by the head of the Gauteng delegation to speak on behalf of the province. That's why I've been asking. Continue, hon Matila.
Thank you, Chairperson. The point we want to raise is that the Western Cape still represents the old order. That is what they are doing in the Western Cape. You know, what you see in the Western Cape is that you find only white men. In fact, even my coloured colleagues are not properly represented in the Western Cape. [Laughter.]
This is because in the Western Cape you have hon Helen Zille as the only female leader. This tells us that in the DA there are no other leaders. She is the only leader; she is the premier-elect and she is president-elect. The same person! No other women are empowered in the DA. That is a problem. Thank you very much, Chairperson. [Laughter.] [Applause.]
We are not surprised!
Order! Mr Gamede, have you been delegated by your province?
Kunjalo, Sihlalo. [Indeed, Chairperson]
Chairperson, KwaZulu-Natal supports this Bill. I happened to pass by a meeting of this committee and I got to know that women from the DA supported this Bill, but males do not support it. [Laughter.]
We don't even have to refer to the Western Cape province - even in this House, the majority of members in the DA are white males; white females are not given this opportunity. So, for us, as KwaZulu-Natal and as the ANC, we are saying: All females, black and white, must be fairly represented. Thank you, Chair. [Applause.]
Chairperson, it is not a surprise that the DA opposes this Bill. I hear and believe that they never went for public hearings - as usual.
Izinqumo abazithathayo, zithathwa amadoda kuphela. [The decisions that the DA takes are only taken by males.] The only credit that can be given to the DA is the "Zill'Mphele" kiss. That's all. [Laughter.]
Hon Makunyane, have you been delegated by your province?
Yes, I have been delegated by Limpopo.
In fact, there is one thing that I think we need to point out: Before 1994 there were very few women in Parliament. Now, today, we see the beneficiaries of the reforms that were brought about by the ANC.
The beneficiaries are not only the women who are members of the ANC. Even women who are members of the DA and all the other parties have also benefited from these reforms.
Now, we want to bring about these reforms not only in the Public Service but also in the private sector. The only way to ensure that these reforms are implemented is to pass this Bill. This will ensure that the changes that we have brought about in the Public Service are also introduced in the private sector. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, in supporting this Bill one is again reminded of the activity, the round-table discussions, that we had yesterday, as the NCOP. The total absence of the members of the DA in yesterday's exercise is a reflection of how they are dealing with issues related to women.
Perhaps I should just remind members of the Western Cape that under the leadership of the DA, it took their predecessor, Helen Suzman, more than 30 years to be the only woman represented in Parliament. That, in itself, is a structural-historical issue that we are trying to deal with.
This Bill, in particular, tries to break that historical, colonial and structural economist ideology. At the heart of it is to break the barriers of patriarchy in our society. And, for as long as they do not see that patriarchy is the oldest ideology, which has been at the centre of the oppression of women, there is no way that the DA or the Western Cape will transform to the point where women in leadership will emerge.
It is not only about women in leadership on the basis of wanting to appease women but, as the Bill says, over and above issues of women empowerment, it is about skilling; it is about empowering women in so far as knowledge is concerned. It is about giving them the capacity to lead, to own and to give direction in our society.
Hence, as the Northern Cape, we are continuing to say we shall move South Africa forwards, together with the women of this country. [Applause.]
Order! The Eastern Cape? You haven't spoken.
Sihlalo, siliphondo leMpuma Koloni siwuthathele ingqalelo lo Mthetho osaYilwayo. Siwucingisisile siliphondo leMpuma Koloni safumanisa okokuba kukokuqala mhlawumbi nokokugqibela ukuba amalungelo abantu abangomama aviwe elizweni. Kungenxa yalo mbutho kaKhongolose obangele ukuba nathi sifumane ithuba.
Lo Mthetho osaYilwayo ugxininisa ikakhulu kubantu abangathathi ntweni; abangazanga bazi ukuba bangaze bavule amashishini; nabantu abangazange bathathelwe ngqalelo kumashishini abasebenza kuwo nakwiindawo abasebenza kuzo eburhulumenteni. Siyavuma siliphondo laseMpuma Koloni ukuba uMzantsi Afrika siyawuthatha siwubhekisa phambili. Enkosi. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[Ms D Z RANTHO: Hon Chairperson, we support this Bill as the province of the Eastern Cape. We thought about it as a province and found that it is the first, and maybe the last, time that the rights of women will be considered in this country. It is the ANC that gave us this opportunity.
This Bill focuses on poor people, who do not know that they may own businesses; and those who were not taken into consideration in the industries and government sectors where they worked. We are happy as the province of the Eastern Cape because we are moving South Africa forwards. Thank you.]
Chair, the Free State also supports this piece of legislation because it is a progressive piece of legislation.
But I just want to expose the DA for what it is. It has used blacks in the past and it is still using blacks even in the present. If one looks at their campaigns, most of the people who are there are blacks. Where are the whites, their children and their families?
Therefore the blacks who are out there, or the voters who are out there, must see the DA for what it is. Because it is ... [Interjections.]
Chairperson, on a point of order: I just want to correct the gentleman there. The DA is not against women's empowerment, but certainly against quotas, which the Bill seeks to impose on the public and private bodies. This will have an adverse effect on .. [Interjections.]
Order! Order, hon members! [Interjections.]
... job opportunities and business. Thank you. [Applause.]
No, that's not a point of order.
Chair, if they say they support women's empowerment, why is their list dominated by white males? So I think I should just warn the voters that there is no future in the DA. Let them vote for the ANC. Thank you. [Applause.]
Chairperson, it is not surprising to see that the Western Cape is not in support of this Bill. You can just see that even at the podium, they were represented by men. Instead of women rejecting this Bill, the men are the ones who are here to reject the Bill.
I fear for the women of the Western Cape and their empowerment. The lack of women's representation here means the DA rejects every Bill and whatever the ANC tries to do for the empowerment of women, and as a result they are leaving women behind.
The North West supports the Bill because, before 1994, we were in total darkness and we didn't know what was happening with regard to women. We were oppressed by the then government.
I want to make this humble plea: Even though they are not in support of the Bill, no one is above the law. The ANC is leading. The ANC is alive. So they must please implement whatever the ANC says or they will remain behind, and remain behind for ever and ever. Thank you, Chair.
Question put: That the Bill be agreed to.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West.
AGAINST: Western Cape.
Bill accordingly agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
Consideration of REPORT OF joint standing committee on intelligence - annual report of joint standing committee on intelligence for financial year ending 31 March 2010
Consideration of REPORT OF joint standing committee on intelligence - annual report of joint standing committee on intelligence for financial year ending 31 March 2011
Consideration of REPORT OF joint standing committee on intelligence - annual report of joint standing committee on intelligence for financial year ending 31 March 2012
My apologies, Chairperson, it seems as if the Table was not informed that the reports on intelligence have been deferred to tomorrow. Thank you.
Chairperson, I think we have dealt with that matter. The Table has been consulted and the reports will be adopted without a statement. Thank you.
Orders disposed of without debate.
Question put: That the Report on Annual Report of Joint Standing Committee On Intelligence For Financial Year Ending 31 March 2010 be adopted.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report on Annual Report of Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence For Financial Year Ending 31 March 2010 be adopted accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
Question put: That the Report on Annual Report of Joint Standing Committee On Intelligence For Financial Year Ending 31 March 2011 be adopted.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report on Annual Report of Joint Standing Committee On Intelligence For Financial Year Ending 31 March 2011 be adopted accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
Question put: That the Report on Annual Report of Joint Standing Committee On Intelligence For Financial Year Ending 31 March 2012 be adopted.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report on Annual Report of Joint Standing Committee On Intelligence For Financial Year Ending 31 March 2012 be adopted accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.