Pretoria - When she assumed her duties as Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Lulu Xingwana made a commitment to build the department's capacity. Seven months later, the department has an almost complete top management structure.
Presenting a report on building departmental capacity during her department's Budget Vote on Tuesday, Xingwana told Parliament the department has made progress with the key appointments, including Director General and Deputy Director General responsible for the disabled and children's rights, as well as Deputy Director General: Corporate Services.
She said the process is underway to recruit the Deputy Director General responsible for women empowerment and gender equality.
"All these appointments complete the top management structure of the department," said Xingwana, adding that the department has also appointed the Chief Financial Officer, who is now responsible for strengthening the department's accountability and financial management system.
Other key appointments already made include the head of research, who will assist in establishing base line data and conducting the necessary research within the sectors.
"Legal services are already working on the Gender Equality Bill, other key positions relating to advocacy, mainstreaming and capacity building for all three sectors are being filled."
However, Xingwana noted that while the department is committed to excellence in serving women, children and people with disabilities, limited and inadequate budget remains a major challenge to respond adequately to the vast and desperate needs of the three groups.
She said the department has compiled a submission to treasury costing all the tasks expected to perform in line with its mandate.
"Discussions are underway in an effort to improve the current budget allocation of R117 million, with R55 million of which is a transfer to the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE).
"The ad-hoc committee formed by this House has looked at the reports of the Auditor General, Public Protector and Treasury with regard to the CGE and has made its recommendations to Parliament, we await the guidance of Parliament on this matter," Xingwana said.
