CGE not yet satisfied with gender equality

MBOMBELA – The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) is still not yet completely satisfied with policies addressing gender equality, discrimination, affirmative action and sexual harassment in the private, government as well as municipal institutions, including Mbombela.

Although a lot of progress has been made according to the commission, the CGE still feel institutions, some more than others, can do more to accelerate gender equality. “Institutions need to affirm women and strive to include them on a decision-making level,” commissioner Lulama Nare said.

Last week it continued with its follow-up employment equity hearing after the committee last year found that gender mainstreaming is unfolding at a very slow place in the public sector as well as certain government departments.

In 2012 the CGE embarked on a series of nationwide employment equity hearings when several of these institutions, including the Mbombela Local Municipality (MLM), were invited to report and account on the status of gender mainstreaming and transformation.

In 2012 MLM, however, did not attend the original meeting and was subpoenaed. They managed to reschedule and presented their findings last year in Braamfontein.

Although the committee was overall satisfied with the progress made by institutions, including Mbombela, the local municipality was unfortunately unable to present strategies and policies implemented, as well as statistics to show the progress made, as they alleged they did.

“At this moment we are not able to present statistics to show our progress, but we can say that we are satisfied with everything at this point although we know we still need to do a lot more,” Mr Selo Ditshego, acting municipal manager of Mbombela said.

He assured the committee that they would work closely together and submit the necessary documents as soon as possible.

The CGE urged them not to look at the present but rather focus on the future. “As the city of excellence, we see a lot of progress but also a lot of opportunity to develop. Mbombela should be transformed, one should look at issues of equality and increase women’s roles on all levels,” Nare said. “It is difficult for us to see how much progress has been made without the presentation of statistics.”