GENDER EQUALITY BILL TO LIBERATE AND EMPOWER WOMEN
4 March 2014
The Office of the ANC Chief Whip today joins South African women in celebrating the National Assembly's passing of the crucial Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill, which criminalises discrimination against women, ensure gender equality and empower women in South Africa.
The Bill represents a significant turning point in our endeavour to liberate women from all forms of discrimination and oppression.
It is firmly in line with the provisions of our constitution and will enforce 50% gender representation, thereby empowering women by ensuring that they participate meaningfully in our economy.
Public bodies and designated private entities will therefore be required to develop and implement measures to protect and promote women. Unlike the existing legislation on women empowerment and gender equality which has suffered challenges such as lack of enforcement and implementation, this Bill provides for a fine of about 10% of companies' annual turnover and/or imprisonment for non-compliance. The Bill also requires the relevant minister to annually publish a report to recognise those who comply with the Act and name and shame those who do not.
The Bill will ensure that institutions in both private and public sectors do not just pay lip service to women empowerment and gender equality but put in place appropriate measures to ensure the advancement of women.
The DA's failed effort to sabotage the passing of this progressive piece of legislation by staging a walkout does not come as a surprise. The party's sexist and racist ‘fit for purpose' deployment strategy, particularly in the Western Cape cabinet, is illustrative of a party that does not believe women are worthy of certain positions of power. The DA's disgraceful rejection of this Bill today, same as its rejection of the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment, once again shows it is anti-gender equality, anti-transformation; anti-redress, anti-social justice and anti-Blacks.
Statement issued by the ANC Office of the Chief Whip, March 4 2014
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