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The Portfolio Committee on Women, Children and People with Disabilities applauded the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities and her Deputy for presenting a strategic plan and performance plan that addressed relevant and key issues.

“It is clear the department addressed the issues that the committee raised previously. I’m satisfied with what has been presented to us.”, said Mr Danny Kekana, member of the Committee. The Committee’s chairperson, Ms Dorothy Ramodibe, added: “There has been a great improvement in aligning the Annual Performance Plan to the Strategic Plan compared to the previous year”.

Minister Lulu Xingwana and Deputy Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu appeared before the Portfolio Committee on Women, Children, Youth and People with Disabilities yesterday to present the Department’s Strategic Plan and Annual Performance Plan.

As part of its presentation, the department reminded committee members that the department was established to “monitor other government departments to ensure the mainstreaming of gender, children’s rights and disability considerations into all programmes of government and other sectors. This will help government to respond to issues of these targeted groups in an integrated and coherent manner”

“The mandate of the department is to promote, facilitate, coordinate and monitor the realization of the rights of women, children and people with disabilities. In this regard, the department aims to integrate gender equity measures into governments programme of action and ensure that women, children and persons with disabilities can access developmental opportunities”.

The Portfolio Committee was informed that the department has identified the following key priorities; advocating for the promotion and protection of the rights of women, children and people with disabilities; monitoring and evaluating gender, disability and children’s rights; ensuring that mainstreaming of gender, disability and children’s rights happens at Cabinet, departmental, provincial and local government levels, as well as public-funded institutions, the private sector and the community at large; strengthening institutional capacity to deliver quality service; and strengthening participation in strategic bilateral and multilateral initiatives that contribute to the empowerment and equality for women, children and people with disabilities.

The department reiterated that it would continue to discharge its international obligations. “As a signatory to various conventions and protocols, South Africa, through the department, is compelled to present country reports in these international fora.

The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee, Ms Ramodibe, commended the Minister and Deputy Minister for presenting a clear plan that showed that a lot of work and effort had been put into the process.

Enquiries: Cornelius Tanana Monama
Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 082 578 4063 \ 012 359 0224