An evaluation of the SADC gender and development protocol on equality, empowerment and gender based violence in South Africa (2008-2012)

(1)

(2)

An Evaluation of the SADC Gender and

Development Protocol

on

Equality, Empowerment and Gender Based Violence

in

South Africa

(2008-2012)

By

Mothepane Yaliwe Petunia Selebogo

20954492

A dissertation submitted

in

fulfilment of

the requirements of the Masters of

Social Science Degree in

International

Relations to the

Department of

History, Politics and

International Relations,

in

the faculty of Human and

Social Science of the North West University:

Mafikeng Campus

Supe

1

rvisor:

Prof. Victor Ojakorotu

January 2013

\

liBRARY

MAF

,KENG

CAMft\IS

Call No --

₁

-H

::,o~.,

'-t(;;-20~3 -Ofi-

2 0

;e

L

Ace. No.:

1

3 (

.b0"6~

---

'

NORTH

-

WEST

\~~}1

i/EBSI

r

·

"----·----~--·- ·

ll

lll

ll

llll

ll

lll

ll

lll

l

ll

l

ll

l

lll

ll

l

lll

l

ll

l

060044018N

North-West Un1versity Mafikeng Campus Library

(3)

DE

C

LARATION

I declare that this dissertation/thesis is my own unaided work. All citations, references and borrowed ideas have been appropriately acknowledged. The thesis is being submitted for the Masters of Arts Degree in International Relations in the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, in the Department of History, Politics and International Relations ofthe North West University: Mafikeng Campus, South Africa. None of the present work has been submitted previously for any degree or examination in any other University.

...

~l~R

... .

~

.

..

.

/.~~

--

~

· ··

..

·

· MYP

Selebogo Prof. V Ojakorotu

J

.

~

.

~

.

':

.

'"X~!"l

.

~!

...

~l.S

.

....

..

...

.

....

!/1.!~

.

~---

· ··

···

··

(4)

DEDICATION

My FATHER in heaven. hallowed js thy holy name! Despite my frailties, YOU have come

through for me once again. This time YOU have enabled me to attain an important degree in my life, and for this I am eternally grateful! This is your doing, and the least I can do is to dedicate it to YOU alone. I pledge to use it to glorify YOU always as YOU take me to the next level with it.

(5)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I will like to first and foremost appreciate my supervisor, Prof Victor Ojakorotu for his ever

kind disposition towards me from the moment 1 lirst stepped into his office for assistance

through the course of my study in the North West University. I could not have wished for a

better supervisor; ever so kind, supportive in every ramification, friendly and yet firm as a

mentor. I would also like to thank Mr. M. Mosenogi. from Commission on Gender Equality

(North West Office) for all the information he gave me so that I could complete this study.

To Gaolebalwe, my truly supportive husband, please accept my gratitude for your invaluable

support and for putting up with almost endless months of neglecting you in my quest to get

this degree. I thank you for having faith in me. especially in the last few months when I lost

my manuscript and almost gave up. You told me I could do it afresh, and I did. I can only

promise to be a better wife to you.

My family members: my parents (Selina Selebogo. Isaac and Yvonne Pei). my brothers

(Basego, Bongane and Sandilc) and sister (Tiisetso) all deserve some gratitude for

understanding my need to study further. The pursuit of my studies sometimes made me

appear negligent of my .. big sister .. role and I thank you all for your patience in this regard.

Finally. this study v ould have been a mirage >vvithout adequate funding. In this regard. I

acknowledge the support of the North West University Postgraduate Bursary (20 11-20 12).

for making my dream of studying further a success.

(6)

LIST OF ACRONYMS

AAWC All /\frican Women's Conference

AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

ANC African National Congress

ANCWL African National Congress Women's League

BPA Beijing Platform for Action

CALS Centre for Applied Legal Studies

CASE Community Agency for Social Enquiry

CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women

CGE Commission on Gender Equality

DA Democratic Alliance

EEC Employment Equity Commission FGM Female Genital Mutilation

GFP Gender Focal Point

GSI Gender latus Index

HSRC Human Sciences Research Council

ID Independent Democrat

IEC Independent Electoral Commission

JMC Joint Monitoring Committee

MDG

Millennium Development Goals

M&E

Monitoring & Evaluation

NGM National Gender Machinery

(7)

NPA

osw

RSA SAHRC SAPS SOCA UNESCO U HCR WNC

National Prosecuting Authority

Office on the Status of Women

Republic of South Africa

South African Human Rights Commission

South African Police Services

Sexual Offence and Community Affairs Unit

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation

United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees

Women's National Coalition

(8)

EXPLANATION OF TERMINOLOGY

Commission for Gender Equality is an independent body established in terms of Chapter ine. Section 187 of the Constjtution of South Africa.

Constitutional Court is the highest court of South Africa on constitutional matters.

Joint Monitoring Committee on the Improvement' of the Quality of Life and Status of Women is a national parliamentary committee which is part of the South Africa gender machinery and must monitor and evaluate progress with regard to the improvement of the quality of life and status of women in South Africa.

Judicial Service Commission is an institution responsible for judicial recruitment. appointments and governance matters.

Thutbuzela Centre is South Africa ·s unique one-stop. integrated response to the burgeoning incidence of violent sexual acts against women and children and its intersect with HIV/AIDS.

Ukuthwala is an Nguni cultural practice whereby an intending bridegroom. together with one or two friends, would waylay a desired bride in the neighbourhood of her own home. and forcibly take her to the young man·s home. thereby pre-empting marriage negotiations.

(9)

ABSTRACT

Southern Africa must confront a myriad of challenges as it attempts to address eiTcctively the

needs and aspirations of its hundred million people, 40 per cent of whom live in extreme

poverty with per capita incomes ranging from $256 per annum in Zimbabwe to $5099 in

Mauritius. The greatest challenge of the Southern African Development Community (SADC)

continues to be the need to build a life for its people free from poverty, diseases, human

rights abuses, gender inequality and environmental degradation.

Gender activists played a lead role in innuencing the development and adoption, on the 17

August 2008. of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development. In 2005, they undertook

comprehensive regional research on sector-specific gender equality issues and gaps.

Following the adoption of the SADC Gender and Development Protocol, gender activists

came together between 2005 and 2008 to form cross-border and national alliances to

undertake a campaign to inl1uence the content of the Protocol, as well as lobby for its

adoption. The adoption of the Gender and Development Protocol is one of the fastest in

SADC Protocol history.

This study is an evaluation of the SADC Gender and Development Protocol. focusing on

gender equality, women's empowerment and the reduction of gender based violence in South

Africa. The protocol has a direct bearing on all its signatories in both the ··developed" and

''developing'' countries within the SADC region.

Furthermore, this research focused only on South Africa, one SADC country, in order to evaluate the progress made since the adoption of the Protocol in 2008. The most salient

progress has been made with regards to women's representation and participation in state and

political governance. Target-setting within the structures of the Protocol greatly contributed

to appointment and promotion of women into leadership and decision-making positions. The

target

.

-of

50% representation of women has already been achieved in Cabinet, the National

Assembly, Provincial Premiers, Provincial Council of Provinces and Provincial Legislatures.

Policies. strategies and plans have been put in place to address gender based violence.

Despite legislative reform, trends continue to indicate that in South Africa there is still a

gender division of labour. Fear of gender-based violence on the one hand. and real life

experiences of gender-based violence continue to be deterring factors that keep women from progressing and advancing in the workplace, in schools and institutions of learning. in

business and in governance.

(10)

(11)

(12)

(13)

(14)

(15)

(16)

(17)

(18)

(19)

(20)

(21)

(22)

(23)

(24)

(25)

(26)

(27)

(28)

(29)

(30)

(31)

(32)

(33)

(34)

(35)

(36)

(37)

(38)

(39)

(40)

(41)

(42)

(43)

(44)

(45)

(46)

(47)

(48)

(49)

(50)

(51)

(52)

(53)

(54)

(55)

(56)

(57)

(58)

(59)

(60)

(61)

(62)

(63)

(64)

(65)

(66)

(67)

(68)

(69)

(70)

(71)

(72)

(73)

(74)

(75)

(76)

(77)

(78)

(79)

(80)

(81)

(82)

(83)

(84)

(85)

(86)

(87)

(88)

(89)

(90)

(91)

(92)

(93)

(94)

(95)