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Presentations to the portfolio committee on women, youth, children and people with disabilities yesterday showed that only 10% of the provisions in the Children's Act have been implemented so far, although the Act was passed four years ago.

The DA will be asking the newly instituted minister for women, youth, children and people with disabilities, Ms. Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya, exactly what her plan is to ensure that this law is fully implemented, and to therefore prove that she is not just a crony appointment.

The presentation showed that the government is failing children in a number of other ways. While it continues to accumulate billions of rands in unnecessary expenditure on perks and privileges for its own members, it has done little but make empty promises to poor children. This government has, for example:

Reduced the number of dedicated children's courts;
Disbanded the specialised family violence, child abuse and sexual violence courts;
Passed the Children's Act, but implemented only 30 of the 300 provisions;
Implemented a child support grant, but failed to make it accessible, so only 38% of children under the age of one currently receive it;
Allowed the SAPS to get away with turning away victims of sexual assault to make their statistics look better.

There was much speculation at the time that the new Cabinet was announced that various posts, including the ministry for women, children and people with disabilities, were created only to appease certain interest groups. As a former president of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union, Ms Mayende-Sibiya's appointment seems to be an attempt to appease the trade union movement.

She must now prove that she is able to the important job she has been given.