Madam Deputy Speaker, hon Deputy President, hon members, even though Cope, owing to unforeseen circumstances, missed some of the interviews, it agrees with the methodology that was followed to reach the recommended list of candidates. So, we are not questioning the procedure.
However, with regard to the Commission for Gender Equality itself, we would like to point out the following: It is a good thing for the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities to interact with the Commission for Gender Equality. The questions that the department needs to answer are: How often does this interaction occur? To what extent does the CGE participate in national gender programmes and initiatives? With regard to the recent spate of violent attacks on women because of what they chose to wear, what is the CGE's response? This we ask because we saw the Minister and her entourage carrying out this campaign.
What are the interventions of the CGE in the escalation of hatred for gays and lesbians? What about employment opportunities for women? What has the CGE got to say? Women want the CGE to be clearly visible in all factors that affect their lives.
Cope agrees, however, that strides have been made to address inequalities as far as education is concerned. Yet, even though there are more women enrolled in higher education than men, few women graduate in science, engineering and technology. The skills gap between women and men and between rural and urban women are still huge. The masculine culture is perpetrating inequalities. How many teachers in the foundation phase are men? The majority of women are unemployed. Inequalities in the remuneration between sexes are conspicuous. Women in the same category as men are still paid less than men for equal input and output.
These are some of the challenges the new commissioners will be confronted with. We hope that they will be able to address them and that the CGE is going to be more visible than we have observed lately. However, we support the appointment of the new commissioners. I thank you. [Applause.]