Hon Chairperson, Minister, Deputy Minister, hon members and personnel, how does the department justify a payment on average of R1 million to a third of its employees when we pay 48 skilled and qualified individuals on salary level 13 to 16? What are we getting in return? During the oversight visit in Pretoria, the offices were empty; there were no officials in sight. The filing was not done, and it was a complete mess.
One of the department's crucial roles is to promote gender equality by gender mainstreaming. However, we do have equality courts and the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act. It is for this reason that Cope makes it categorically clear that the department has failed the majority of women in South Africa.
During the 2010 Fifa World Cup criminal justice was very swift. One hundred and twenty-two people were brought before the special World Cup courts. That shows that swift action is possible.
Regarding sexual and gender-based violence, the brutality inflicted routinely on women, young and old, is one of the human rights problems paramount in this country. South Africa is leading in violence against women. A woman is raped every minute. Official statistics shows that around 65 000 sexual offences were committed in South Africa last year alone. South Africa's Constitution is famously progressive, but the criminal justice system is out of step.
Only a few reported cases do not fall through the cracks of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Act. In the 6% of reported rape cases that end in conviction, the Act is not implemented by policemen and women. A police official that receives the report of rape is required to inform the victim verbally and in writing about the existence of prophylactic treatment, its time constraints and where to access it.
Gender-based violence increases the risk of HIV for women in South Africa. According to UNAids, women who have experienced violence are up to three times more likely to be infected with HIV and Aids than those who have not.
The rape of elderly women has become a norm in our country. The rape of a 100-year-old partially blind woman in the Eastern Cape highlights just how far our society has sunk into the pit of moral decay. Minister, this shows that there is a fundamental problem in our society. How can the National Council Against Gender-Based Violence help to address this scourge when no funding has been allocated to it? How will it function?
Despite the two-day National Rural Women's Summit held in 2011 in Tzaneen, Limpopo, on which Rl million was spent, rural women are still poor and landless. Forty-five percent of all female-headed households live below the poverty line and the majority are rural women.
The challenges women presented at the summit are still there; nothing has been done. They lack assets and the right to own land. They lack access to electricity, water and sanitation. Rural women also lack safety and security, and this includes awareness campaigns thereon. Summits and campaigns are only useful when they actually make a difference to the women who attend them. Have any of the women who attended the summit benefited?
The budget for the programme on children's rights and responsibility has decreased. This is hugely problematic, given the challenges faced by children in the country at present, for example sexual violence, abuse and neglect, poverty, violence in schools and bullying.
Cope wishes to express its utter dismay at the shifting of goals and targets by the department. The department is still developing a national and provincial plan of action for children's rights, and has put aside R2,4 million for that in the Estimates of Expenditure.
How can it be that the first plan developed on 16 June 1994 by our icon former President Nelson Mandela has taken more than 19 years to be updated? This plan is crucial and serves as the overarching policy plan for guiding the country on children's rights. This plan must be implemented and made available within government and civil society.
The justice system is also failing children who are victims of sexual and psychological abuse. Only 40 offenders are on the Child Protection Register and yet thousands of children are victims of sexual abuse from their minders. Again, Minister, how will the National Council Against Gender- based Violence, with no money, help these children?
In respect of people with disabilities, Cabinet reviewed the target in terms of employment equity and decided that the 2% target of employment of people with disabilities was the correct percentage and should be achieved by 31 March 2010. Reports, including the Minister's reply, are that the target has not been achieved.
Intswelangqesho yande kakhulu kwaye ukungaphangeli akuphazamisi nje ubomi bodwa, buchaphazela nempilo. [Lack of job opportunities is a huge problem and it does not only disrupt human life, but also affects health.]
Our public hearings have shown that people with disabilities still lack access to transport and buildings. Many disabled children are denied their right to attend school or early childhood development programmes. Government buildings do not enact the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act, amended in 2008. This violates the constitutional right of people with disabilities to an environment that is not harmful to their health or wellbeing. It is a disgrace.
The budget for programme 4 on the rights of people with disabilities has also decreased. How will this department promote, protect and fulfil the rights of persons with disabilities with limited resources?
Regarding consultants and contractors, Cope's real problem with this department is expenses that aren't necessarily justifiable; for example, the hiring of consultants over the medium-term budget for R3,9 million to work on the wage bill. Why is the department bringing in consultants when there are four skilled personnel members in the wage programme paid an average of R1,2 million? Are they not skilled enough? Why is the department bringing in consultants at a cost of ...