BuaNews (Tshwane)
Gabi Khumalo
10 July 2009
Johannesburg — The success of the newly established Department of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities is dependent on the participation of civil society, says Minister Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya.
The minister said a common agenda in championing children's issues must be set among both stakeholders and government.
"We need to ensure that we complement each other in our efforts to protect and promote the rights of the vulnerable groups," said the minister. She said that it was important to be guided by the principle of one message. "After all, we have one goal, which is protection and promotion of the rights of the child."
The minister, addressing stakeholders during her first consultative meeting with the National Children's Rights Advisory Council on Thursday, acknowledged that the new department was able to hit the ground running due to the support of stakeholders. The new ministry was formed when President Jacob Zuma announced his new Cabinet in May. The ministry was tasked with emphasising the need for equity and access to development opportunities for the vulnerable groups of society.
The minister said the department's division which is responsible for children would be headed by a very senior official. She hoped it would be at the level of Deputy Director General (DDG).
"That person will be responsible for the coordination of all issues relating to children throughout government and in our relationship with civil society and other sectors, the same will apply to sections dealing women and persons with disabilities," she said.
As the national office is within the Presidency and there are no departmental MEC's in the provinces, the minister said there would be branch offices within the premiers' offices and at the local government level. "We must ensure that the different components are given the necessary priority and we have a responsibility to ensure equal attention is given to all components," she explained.
The minister added that the process to establish the department was expected to be completed within the next two months and that all employees would have a specific role to play in the ministry. The department's Budget Vote is expected to be presented in October, when the Appropriation Bill is tabled by government. This Bill will make provision for all the new departments within government to have budget allocations.
She said they were working on how best to structure the budget to be responsible in provincial and local government with the Premiers giving political oversight. The minister will also announce the department's programme of action for the next five years in October. Ms Mayende-Sibiya warned that the department would ensure that the gender issues are taken serious.
"Gender issues are not taken as a priority and this is one of the things we want to do, we have to fight for them and that is why the ministry is there, to champion and strengthening our programmes.
"We won't allow our programmes to be compromised because of lack of funds, we will have a meeting of all government departments' DG's and DDG's as well as premiers and present the programme and for their support and dedication towards the implementation of them," Ms Mayende-Sibiya said.
She said added that the department would not fail women, children, elderly people and the disabled.
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