Deputy Chairperson, hon Minister and hon members, one takes pride that for the first time in the history of South Africa our council is convening to consider a budget allocated to the most vulnerable of our society. As the ANC, we are proud because this budget is clearly expressing our nation's commitment to advancing the needs of women, children and people with disabilities.
It is a statement indicating that we have broken with the past and are on the path to prosperity. It is decisive and a reassurance to our people that we should remain committed to our nation with regard to great prospects of social, economic and political equity of all its citizens.
Without a shred of doubt, we would like to indicate that we are welcoming this gender-sensitive budget and its strategic focus in leaving no stone unturned in seeking more ways of ensuring that the lives of the most vulnerable sectors of our population are changed for the better.
As has already been indicated, you will remember that the department was established after the inauguration of President Jacob Zuma. This was after a comprehensive political review by the ANC and Parliament that showed the previous structures that were put in place in order to protect women were severely constricted by complex institutional arrangements and a lack of adequate resources. The ANC envisages that the new department will drive government's strategic agenda for meeting the needs and challenges facing women, children and people with disabilities.
Women, children and people with disabilities in South Africa were very vulnerable and rendered helpless by a racially orchestrated system that was designed to keep them in the homelands and townships. They were faced with discriminatory legislation, practices and policies, which restricted their participation and empowerment in most spheres of life.
The demise of the apartheid state in 1994 echoed deliberate efforts by the ANC to systematically dismantle apartheid and create a democratic society based on the principles of equity, nonracialism and nonsexism. The ANC committed itself to addressing the needs of the most vulnerable sectors of our society, and ensuring the advancement of the lives of women, particularly those in rural areas.
Without a doubt, we would like to indicate that we remain committed and are on course in ensuring that women are also beneficiaries of all programmes and initiatives that are geared toward redressing the legacy of apartheid in our society. We are saying this because, as the ANC, we saw the advancement and empowerment of women and changing the lives of people with disabilities as the cornerstone of the struggle for equality in our society.
The Ministry is one of the many visible symbols that have made a declaration to our people that our nation is no longer regarding gender issues and gender equality as peripheral. Hence, we are welcoming the development of the Gender Equality Bill which the Minister mentioned in her speech. It is a visible symbol of progress that clearly indicates that the conditions of women, children and people with disabilities have radically changed for the better.
It is a political declaration showing the people of South Africa that the ANC remains even more committed to placing the issues and conditions of vulnerable groups at the very centre of our transformative agenda for an equal, nonsexist and nondiscriminatory South Africa. Despite many interventions by the government, women, children and people with disabilities are still facing the harshest conditions in the workplace, on the streets of their communities, and behind the closed doors of their homes.
The position of women in the economy remains weak, as the majority of them battle with job insecurity and low employment levels. Women are continuing to enter the labour force at the lowest level of organisational establishments. Statistics from Census 2001 and labour force surveys conducted in 2000, 2001 and 2002 highlight women's over representation in casual, part-time, seasonal and temporary work.
As the ANC, we are concerned that despite those changes the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities has been allocated a mere R97,8 million. This allocation constituted 0,02% of the total appropriation of all departmental Votes and is the smallest allocation of them all. In total, 22% of the department's budget has been allocated to the programme for women, children and persons with disabilities, with the remainder being spent on administration and the transferring of payments to the Commission for Gender Equality.
As far as the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, Cedaw, the 365 days national plan, the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, and so forth, is concerned, the budget will not be able to cater for all of them. Although the allocations have increased substantially from what was previously allocated to the Offices on the Status of Women, the Rights of Children and on the Status of Disabled People, this is still inadequate in terms of improving the functioning and output of what had been achieved under these previous offices. Much more would need to be made available in the way of resources.
The effects of the insufficient resources allocated to this Ministry are clearly visible in the provinces where structures that previously drove its mandate are left with grossly underresourced offices. We are also concerned that the department's allocations did not show any allocation for intersectoral liaison and interaction. The ANC believes that together we can do more, therefore nothing must be done without the voices of those affected.
We would like to request the Minister to consider requesting the National Treasury to allocate some resources towards engaging the relevant sectors, particularly NGOs. We are saying this because we know that NGOs are playing a crucial role in articulating government's policies and educating our people about their rights and obligations as democratic citizens. Nongovernmental organisations are playing an important role in assisting government to identify the challenges facing our people and seeking better ways to resolve them.
We welcome this budget, but also reassure this House that the ANC will always remain committed to the advancement of the lives of the marginalised sector of our society. We will continue engaging with the government to ensure that the vulnerable sectors of our society are prioritised in the allocation of government resources. I thank you.
UMntwana M M M ZULU: Phini likaSihlalo wale Ndlu, mam' uMemela mhonishwa Ngqongqoshe, malunga ahloniphekile ale Ndlu, ngithi kuleli lizwekazi, lapha eNingizimu Afrika sijatshuliswa ukuthi kuyaye kuxoxwe obala ngazo zonke izabiwomali zeMinyango, ukuze bonke abantu bazi ukuthi kwenzekani.
Nakuba sikwesekela ukuba khona kwalo Mnyango kodwa kukhona izinto ezithile ezingenza ngibe nokungabaza - kufana nalesi sabiwomali esinikezwe uMnyango wakho. Ngalokho ngifisa ukwazi ukuthi uyokwazi yini ukufeza lezi zidingo zabo bonke laba bantu bakithi abahluphekile baseNingizimu Afrika na?
Okunye futhi ukuthi lezo zinqubo noma izinhlelo zoMnyango ozibekele ukuthi zisize laba bantu bakithi abampofu kanye nalabo ababedla izambane likapondo emiphakathini yethu, ngifisa ukwazi ukuthi ingabe lesi sabiwomali osinikeziwe esingu-R156 wezigidi kuleminyaka emithathu ezayo, sanele yini?
Angiboni ukuthi uzokwazi ukufeza izidingo zabantu ngaphandle kwalezi ziNdlu Ezimbili ngoba zona kufanele zikwazi ukukwelekelela ukuthi usize abantu bakithi abampofu. Ngoba ngiyazi ukuthi uma kwenziwa inqubongomo njengoba kunguMnyango omusha nje, yonke leyonto kuba yingxenye yomsebenzi okhona kanti futhi ngiyazi ukuthi kunomthelela omkhulu ezimalini okufanele uzisebenzise ukuze kusizakale izwe lakithi lonke.
Okunye futhi engikukhathalele yikuthi ngiyazi ukuthi ukulingana ngokobulili obebukade bukhona sonke lesi sikhathi okumanje isifakwe phansi koMnyango wakho, ngizocela impela ukuthi njengeqembu leNkatha ukuthi welekelelwe ngayo yonke indlela ngokuthi inkece ibekhona. Ngoba ngiyazi ukuthi ukuhlupheka kwethu kubhekene nenselele yezingane ezihlukunyezwayo, omkethu abahlukunyezwayo, kanti futhi ubhekene nabo bonke labantu abakhubazekile. Futhi nezinto zokuhamba ezenele azikabibikho kuleli lizwe ezikwazi ukuthi zisize laba bantu abangakwazi ukuzihambela ngenxa yokukhubazeka kwabo.
Kepha thina njengeqembu leNkatha sizosesekela lesi sabiwomali ngoba sizofeza izidingo zabantu nakuba nginokungabaza ukuthi kungase kwenzeke lokho ngenxa yobuncane bemali oyinikeziwe. Kuyimfanelo ukuthi lezi ziNdlu zikhumbule ukuthi uma usugxekwa kusasa, akwaziwe ukuthi ugxekwa nje ube wanikezwa uzuka esikhundleni sokuthi unikezwe usheleni. Ngithi-ke egameni leqembu leNkatha siyasesekela lesi sabiwomali sakho. Sikufisela inhlanhla nokuthi uMnyango wakho ukwazi ukusimama kanti futhi ubheke nezigebengu ukuthi zingadli kakhulu kulenkecana engekho. Ngiyabonga. (Translation of isiZulu speech follows.)
[Prince M M M ZULU: Deputy Chairperson of this House, hon mama uMemela, hon Minister, hon members of this House, what I am saying to this continent is that what excites us here in South Africa is that all the departmental Budget Votes are always dealt with openly. It is done in this way so that everybody knows what is taking place in the departments.
Although we support the existence of this department, there are some issues which are a cause for concern for me - like the budget that is allocated to your department. I would therefore like to know whether you will be able meet all the needs of all the impoverished South Africans?
Another thing I want clarity on is whether the budget of R156 million that has been allocated to you for a period of three years will be enough to have those processes or programmes running which are set aside by the department to assist both our poor people and those who were rich within our communities.
I am not sure whether you will be able to accomplish your mission without the help of these joint Houses because they must be able to assist you in helping our poor people. I know that when a policy like this is drafted, since this is a new department, all that will be part of the same work that exists and I also know that that has a major impact on the funds which you are supposed to use in order to improve the standard of living of the whole nation.
One other thing that concerns me is that I know that the concept of gender equality has always existed and it has now been incorporated into your department. As the IFP we request that you be assisted in any way possible to receive the necessary funds to do your work. I am aware that we are faced with the challenge of assisting abused children and abused wives and that you are also dealing with people who are living with disabilities. There is also not sufficient transport for these people who cannot walk on their own as a result of their disabilities.
But we, as the IFP, are going to support this budget because it will meet the needs of our people although I still have doubts as to whether that will be possible due to the small allocation you received. It is a matter of necessity for these two Houses that they should remember that, should you be blamed in future, it should be borne in mind that you are falsely blamed because you were allocated 5 cents instead of 10 cents. I am saying this on behalf of the IFP; we support this budget. We also wish you good luck and hope that your department can be stable and be able look out for fraudsters so that they cannot steal the meagre funds you have. Thank you.]
Me C LABUSCHAGNE (Wes-Kaap): Voorsitter, Minister en agb lede, baie dankie vir die geleentheid om vandag aan hierdie debat deel te neem. Hierdie begrotingsdebat vestig weereens die aandag op 'n paar aspekte wat in ons Suid-Afrikaanse konteks deur almal as uiters belangrik, noodsaaklik en onontbeerlik beskou word, naamlik die stand van vroue en kinders in Suid- Afrika, aspekte wat die jeug en hulle toekoms raak, asook aspekte wat persone met gestremdhede verseker dat hulle ten volle deel is van die gemeenskap en die samelewing in Suid-Afrika.
Die skep van 'n nasionale ministerie hiervoor word dus deur die DA en die Wes-Kaap regering verwelkom, aangesien dit noodsaaklik is om bestaande nasionale beleidsraamwerke ten opsigte van vroue, kinders, die jeug en persone met gestremdhede te kordineer, asook om die nuwe beleidsraamwerke, gegrond op weldeurdagte feite en inligting, waar dit toepaslik is te skep, en om, tweedens, bestaande, gefragmenteerde wetgewing te hersien en aan te pas om gentegreerde dienslewering van hierdie aspekte te bespoedig en te vergemaklik, asook om dit binne die hoofstroom te plaas.
Die taak van hierdie ministerie ten opsigte van geslagsgelykheid, jeugsake en persone met gestremdhede kan net begryp word as ons na die stand van hierdie aangeleenthede in ons land kyk. Suid-Afrika word tans gekenmerk deur 'n ho syfer van kinder- en vroueverkragting. Onlangs het die Nasionale Vervolgingsgesag in 'n vergadering wat ek bygewoon het die statistiek gegee dat daar 2 085 sake van seksuele geweld teen vroue en kinders aangemeld is die afgelope ses maande in slegs vier howe in die Wes- Kaap.
Gesprekke met vroue by 'n onderhoudshof in die metropool het aan die lig gebring dat vroue tot twee jaar wag dat onderhoudsake hanteer en afgehandel word. Intussen is dit nie net die vrou nie, maar ook die kinders, wat in gebreke bly ten opsigte van bestaansmiddele. Tans bestaan die opvatting by die gemiddelde vrou dat hierdie stelsel en prosesse van onderhoudshowe die Suid-Afrikaanse vrou faal. Ons doen dus 'n beroep op die Ministerie vir Vroue, Kinders, en Mense met Gestremdhede om indringend ondersoek in te stel na die regstelsels en prosesse om hierdie probleme uit die weg te ruim. Dit is een van die groot oorsake en bydraende faktore van armoede onder 'n groot groep enkellopende vroue.
Wat die jeug betref, is dit onrusbarend dat soveel jeugdiges in Suid-Afrika skool verlaat op 'n vroe ouderdom voordat hulle matrikuleer, en dat daar geen effektiewe stelsel en prosesse bestaan om verdere geleenthede vir hulle te skep om toe te tree tot die arbeidsmark nie. Selfs jongmense wat tersire opleiding ontvang het, kan nie outomaties en met gemak tot die huidige arbeidsmark toetree nie. Genoemde aspekte is slegs bre kategorie van die werklikhede ten opsigte van vroue, kinders, jeugdiges en mense met gestremdhede in Suid-Afrika.
Die problematiek ten opsigte van MIV/Vigs, tienerswangerskappe, kinder- en vrouehandel, eiendomsregte vir die geskeide vrou en die weduwee, asook die veelvuldige behoeftes van gestremdes en bejaardes is aspekte wat nog nie eens aangeraak is nie en wat baie intense en lang debatte behoort te ontlok om genoemde komplekse sosiale, ekonomiese en maatskaplike aspekte aan te spreek dat, soos reeds genoem, beleid en wetgewing in plek moet wees om programme en projekte op nasionale vlak te implementeer, sowel as om provinsiale en plaaslike regeringsvlakke te ondersteun. Dit is dan ook vir my verblydend om te sien dat dit deel is van die mandaat van die nuwe ministerie.
Telkemale word die klem gel op die belangrikheid van die gesin as basis vir 'n gesonde samelewing. Die jeug is die toekoms van ons land, en die wyse waarop gestremdes en ander kwesbare persone hanteer word vergestalt die karakter van 'n nasie. Ten spyte hiervan is gesinsgeweld, verkragting, moord, misdaad, dwelmmisbruik, bendegeweld, tienerswangerskap, en noem maar op, die nuus wat daagliks die koerante se voorblad haal.
Die provinsiale regering van die Wes-Kaap rig dus 'n ernstige versoek aan die Ministerie vir Vroue, Kinders en Mense met Gestremdhede om hulle te beywer om navorsing te doen oor wat die werklike oorsake van die geweld in die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing is, en om programme en projekte te implementeer op nasionale, provinsiale en plaaslike regeringsvlakke, in samewerking met nie-regeringsorganisasies.
In ons land, wat gekenmerk word deur verskeie mylpale, waarvan die grootste mylpaal gelykheid en vryheid vir almal is wat vervat is in die Grondwet van Suid-Afrika, is dit egter tans ontstellend om te sien dat ons vinnig vordering maak op die pad van volkome vryheid en gelykheid, maar, ten spyte daarvan, dat ons 'n siek nasie is. Ons is emosioneel en geestelik siek, en dit word weerspiel in die hoeveelheid geweld teen vroue en kinders op alle vlakke. Dit is vir my regtig baie jammer, ten spyte van die feit dat ek die begrip "om in die hoofstroom te plaas" verstaan, en dat hierdie aspekte in elke departement self hanteer moet word, dat daar so 'n geringe begroting gegee word aan so 'n belangrike departement. Ons sal graag wil sien dat met die aansuiweringsbegroting daar nog verandering sal wees.
Dit sal vir ons baie jammer wees as die tendens voortduur dat daar gepraat word, dat daar wette geskryf word, en dat daar strukture en raamwerke geskep word om hierdie aspekte aan te spreek, net soos met Maatskaplike Ontwikkeling, maar wanneer dit daarby kom om "to put your money where your mouth is" [daadwerklik op te tree], die begrotings van juis hierdie ministeries gesny word. Die klagtes bly dieselfde en die probleme groei, dus sal die Wes-Kaap regering met groot belangstelling die vordering van hierdie departement dophou om te sien of die huidige regering werklik daad by woord voeg. Die skep van 'n ministerie is 'n wonderlike inisiatief, maar ongelukkig los dit nie die probleme op nie. Die probleme kan nie opgelos word sonder 'n grondige begroting nie.
Voorsitter, die verdere aspek waarna u ook verwys het, is vroue- en kindergesondheid. Een van die mees onrusbarende feite wat aan die lig gekom het en bekend gemaak is deur die Raad vir Geesteswetenskaplike Navorsing, RGN, onder die opskrif "The Health of Women and Children," is dat ten spyte van die feit dat 90% van babas in Suid-Afrika tog in hospitale gebore word, ons sterftesyfer steeds styg. Met ander woorde, 7% van Suid-Afrikaanse kinders haal nie die ouderdom van vyf jaar nie. Wat is die oplossing, of moet ons liewer vra waaraan dit toegeskryf word?
Dit kan slegs toegeskryf word aan die feit dat ons nie gesondheidsorg van 'n ho gehalte in ons hospitale het nie. Ons wil 'n beroep doen op hierdie ministerie om ook na die gesondheid van vroue en kinders in die bre aspek te kyk en hulle te beywer vir gesondheidsorg van 'n beter gehalte in hospitale, veral in die landelike distrikte.
Die provinsiale regering van die Wes-Kaap sou graag wou sien dat die begroting van die Departement van Vroue, Kinders, en Mense met Gestremdhede nie net gespandeer word om 'n raamwerk te skep waarbinne programme en projekte gemplementeer kan word nie, maar dat werklike, praktiese programme en projekte op grondvlak gemplementeer word wat die geleenthede skep vir genoemde gemarginaliseerde groepe, en ook aan hierdie persone die geleentheid gee om ook in hulle gemeenskappe werklik te kan ontwikkel en om bemagtig te word om persoonlike keuses uit te oefen oor hul eie lewenstyl, hul eie loopbaan, en hul eie toekoms.
Laastens wil ek 'n beroep doen dat bemagtiging vergestalting moet kry deur die uitbreiding van menseregte, maar in die vorm van die kweek van verantwoordelikheid. Suid-Afrika is 'n land wat gekenmerk word deur gelykheid en vryheid, en daarom wil ek net vra dat verantwoordelikheid geskep word deur byvoorbeeld 'n manifes vir verantwoordelikheid. Baie dankie en sterkte met u groot taak. [Applouse.] [Tyd verstreke.] (Translation of Afrikaans speech follows.)
[Ms C LABUSCHAGNE (Western Cape): Chairperson, Minister and hon members, thank you for the opportunity to participate in this debate today. This budget debate once again draws attention to a few aspects that in our South African context, are regarded by everyone as extremely important, essential and indispensable, namely the position of women and children in South Africa, aspects which affect the youth and their future, as well as aspects which assure persons with disabilities that in South Africa they are fully part of the community and of society.
The creation of a national Ministry in this regard is therefore welcomed by the DA and the Western Cape government, as it is essential to co-ordinate existing national policy frameworks in respect of women, children, the youth and persons with disabilities, as well as to create, where appropriate, new policy frameworks based on well-considered facts and information, and secondly to review and adapt existing, fragmented legislation to expedite and facilitate integrated service delivery of these aspects, as well as placing them within the mainstream.
This Ministry's task in respect of gender equality, youth issues and people with disabilities can only be understood when we look at the position of these issues in our country. South Africa is currently charactirised by a high rate of rape of children and women. In a meeting which I attended recently, the National Prosecuting Authority released the statistic that in the past six months 2 085 cases of sexual violence against women and children had been reported in just four courts in the Western Cape.
Conversations with women at a maintenance court in the metropole brought to light that women wait up to two years for maintenance cases to be heard and finalised. Meanwhile it is not just the women, but also the children, who are left wanting in respect of means of support. Currently the average women is of the view that the system and processes of maintenance courts are failing the South African woman. We are therefore appealing to the Ministry of Women, Children and People with Disabilities for an intensive investigation of the legal systems and processes in order to remove these problems. It is one of the major causes and contributory factors of poverty among a large group of single women.
As regards the youth, it is alarming that so many youths in South Africa are leaving school at an early age before they have matriculated and that there are no effective systems and processes to create further opportunities for them to enter the job market. Even young people who have received tertiary education cannot automatically and easily enter the current job market. Said aspects are merely broad categories of the realities in South Africa regarding women, children, youths and people with disabilities.
The problematic nature of HIV/Aids, teen pregnancies, child and women trafficking, property rights for divorcees and widows, as well as the multiple needs of the disabled and the aged are aspects that have not even been touched upon which ought to occasion many intense and long debates in order to address said complex social, economic and community aspects so that, as already mentioned, policy and legislation must be in place in order to implement programmes and projects at a national level as well as to support provincial and local government tiers. It is therefore a hopeful sign for me to see that this forms part of the mandate of the new Ministry.
Time and again the importance of the family as the basis for a healthy society is emphasised. The youth are the future of our nation and the way in which the disabled and other vulnerable persons are treated embodies the character of a nation. Despite this, domestic violence, rape, murder, crime, drug abuse, gang violence, teen pregnancies and you name it constitute the news that reaches the front pages of our newspapers on a daily basis.
The provincial government of the Western Cape therefore earnestly appeals to the Ministry of Women, Children and People with Disabilities to worth towards research into the real causes of the violence within the South African society and, in conjunction with nongovernmental organisations, to implement programmes and projects on national, provincial and local government levels.
In our country, which is marked by various milestones, the biggest of which is the milestone of equality and freedom for all as enshrined in the Constitution of South Africa, it is, however, alarming to see that we are making rapid progress on the road to total freedom and equality, but that, in spite of this, we are a sick nation. We are emotionally and spiritually sick, which is reflected in the amount of violence against women and children at all levels. It is a great pity to me, despite the fact that I understand the notion of "placing in the mainstream" and that each department itself will have to deal with these aspects, that such a small budget is allocated to such an important department. We would like to see some change regarding that in the additional estimates.
It would be very sad if the trend were to continue that a lot of talking, drafting of legislation and creation of frameworks and structures to address these aspects takes place, as with Social Development, but that when it comes to putting your money where your mouth is, the budgets of these very Ministries are cut. The complaints remain the same and the problems are growing, so the Western Cape government will be watching this department's progress with great interest in order to see whether the current government will stop talking and start doing. The creation of a Ministry is a wonderful initiative, but unfortunately it does not solve the problems. The problems cannot be addressed without an adequate budget.
Chairperson, another aspect to which you have also referred is women and children's health. One of the most alarming facts to have come to light and which has been published by the Human Sciences Research Council, the HSRC, under the heading "The Health of Women and Children" is that despite the fact that 90% of babies in South Africa are born in hospitals, the death rate is still increasing. In other words, 7% of children in South Africa do not reach the age of five years. What is the solution, or should we rather be asking what this can be attributed to?
It can only be attributed to the fact that we do not have health care of a high standard in our hospitals. We want to appeal to this Ministry also to look at the health of women and children in the wider sense and to strive towards health care of a better standard in hospitals, especially in the rural districts.
The provincial government of the Western Cape would like to see that the budget of the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities is not only spent on the creation of a framework within which programmes and projects can be implemented, but that actual, practical programmes and projects are implemented at grass-roots level which will create the opportunities for the said marginalised groups and will also give these people the opportunity to be able to really develop within their communities and become empowered to exercise personal choices regarding their own lifestyle, their own careers and their own future.
Lastly, I would like to make an appeal that empowerment be embodied by way of extending human rights, but in the form of fostering responsibility. South Africa is a country which is charactised by equality and freedom, which is why I just want to ask for the creation of responsibility by way of, for instance, a manifesto for responsibility. Thank you and all the best with your big undertaking. [Applause.] [Time expired.]]
Ms U KEERATH (KwaZulu-Natal): Madam Chair, hon Minister, members of the Council, women have made remarkable gains in education, health and the recognition of human rights but, despite this progress, much more needs to be done. Deep poverty among women remains all too prevalent. Two thirds of women's total time spent in developing industrial countries is unpaid, and among 1,3 billion illiterate adults, two thirds are women.
Discriminatory laws governing marriage, matrimonial property, land, inheritance, divorce and family persist. Violence against women at home, in the workplace, and on the street continues unabated.
These challenges persist not only at home but also in other areas, such as women's health care, especially reproductive health where women are more likely to be infected with HIV and affected by Aids than men. Also, women are unable to access antenatal facilities. Many hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal still exhibit high rates of infant mortality. Many women cannot access the equality courts and maintenance courts. Despite the constitutional guarantees of freedom, liberty and access, most women have not been able to translate these rights into tangible gains for themselves.
The very low budget allocated to this Ministry is a cause for major concern, and I think many of the previous speakers have alluded to this. It is mind-boggling to understand how this Ministry, a brand-new Ministry, will fulfil all of its functions with a limited budget.
It is imperative that gender has to be taken into account when financing all decisions. Just in this morning's Business Day, research shows that sub- Saharan women spend 40 billion hours per year collecting water. This is equivalent to France's entire labour force. The report also says that women are more vulnerable to climate change, because they are more likely to be poor and more likely to be vulnerable to water-borne diseases, so we need to know that gender is being taken into account whenever we talk about decisions.
As we review our track record and achievements towards gender equality, we need to be fully aware and informed of new challenges. The current level of transformation must be heightened, and the Minister spoke about 73 companies listed on the JSE which did not have a single woman on the board of directors.
Whilst women constitute 52% of the overall population, they only make up 45% of South Africa's working population. We must not tolerate superficial changes, and we cannot pay lip service to this. We must ensure that equity targets are being met.
To address the flagrant abuse of women's human rights, persistent gender discrimination and the potential of millions of girls and women to contribute to development, whether economic, social or political, requires collective action and this, in turn, also requires collective resources. We know about the elimination of all forms of discrimination which, I think, is a vision and mission of this department, but this can only be translated into real gains if the budget is gender-friendly.
These programmes must not be seen as programmes but must be seen as investments in the lives of women and children. It is about developing the productive capacities of the vulnerable. Yet, more remains to be done to integrate gender equality dimensions into our normative policy and operational work, to ensure that the twin goals of economic growth and expansion of human capabilities are attained. Here again, gender and developmental opportunities must go hand in hand. I am afraid that time is also racing with me!
Another area that I am deeply concerned about is human trafficking, and even as we begin to count down the days to the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup, this problem remains a real one. There is also drug trafficking, forced prostitution and pornography, and the Minister referred to that.
We are also concerned about the escalating cases of abuse at schools, because most of these girls - females - have a double burden when they are either disabled or oppressed because of their gender.
Also, Madam Minister, you spoke about access and transportation of people to the stadiums, and this also has to be addressed. We cannot exclude the disabled; we cannot have them maimed; we cannot have them marginalised. Whilst we know that this is a brand-new department, one would expect more resources to match the programmes.
Madam Chair, we are extremely concerned about the financial and human resources. Gender needs must not be pushed to the periphery. Gender needs must be in the nucleus. They cannot be pushed to the periphery. Sorry, my time has almost expired. We must ensure that this will change in the future, and adjustments must be made to ensure a gender-sensitive budget. KwaZulu-Natal supports the budget. I thank you. [Applause.]