The Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities is concerned that South Africa’s sixth periodic report on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was taken to Cabinet before the committee had an opportunity to engage with it meaningfully.
Committee Chairperson Ms Liezl van der Merwe noted that the committee is being asked to consider a report after Cabinet had already approved it, which limits the committee’s ability to influence the final submission of the report. Committee members must be given reports of this nature timeously, so they can scrutinise them properly.
The committee made these remarks during a briefing on the report from the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities. The report outlines progress made on addressing continuing challenges and the measures taken to advance women’s rights and gender equality.
CEDAW is a key international human rights instrument aimed at eliminating discrimination against women. South Africa ratified the convention in December 1995 and is required to submit periodic reports to the United Nations on steps taken to protect and promote the rights of women and girls.
Briefing the committee, the department reported progress in strengthening South Africa’s legal and policy framework for gender equality, including the adoption of gender-responsive planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation. This framework is intended to ensure that government planning and budgeting processes respond to the needs of women, youth and persons with disabilities.
The briefing also highlighted the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Act, and amendments to key gender-based violence legislation as important interventions aimed at improving protection, prevention, accountability and support for survivors.
On women’s economic empowerment, the department referred to measures such as the 40% procurement target for women-owned businesses, the Women’s Economic Assembly and dedicated funding support for women entrepreneurs. However, it acknowledged that public-sector spending on women-owned businesses remains below the desired level and requires focused intervention.
Ms van der Merwe said the committee’s concern was not only about compliance with reporting obligations, but also about whether those obligations translate into practical improvements in the lives of women and girls. “Reporting to international bodies must be accompanied by demonstrable implementation at home. The committee expects departments to show clear evidence of progress, coordination and accountability,” she said.
Committee member Dr Kgosi Letlape a emphasised the importance of sustained interventions to address gender-based violence, improve women’s health outcomes and advance women’s empowerment. Dr Letlape urged the department to ensure that South Africa’s reporting reflects comprehensive strategies to promote equality and protect the rights of women.
Ms Meaghan Adonis-Chauke was concerned about the late tabling of the report and the effect this has on parliamentary oversight and accountability. She said reports must be submitted in a manner that enables committee members to make substantive inputs, adding that “gender-responsive budgeting cannot remain on paper; it must be implemented and tracked across government”.
Ms van der Merwe asked whether the report addressed recommendations relating to a standing interministerial committee on women’s rights, training for judges on gender-based violence and the strengthening of victim support services. She also asked whether the 30 June submission deadline had been known in advance, and which departments had delayed or failed to provide timely information.
In its response, the department identified persistent challenges that continue to affect the full realisation of women’s rights, including gender-based violence and femicide, economic inequality, unemployment among women, wage discrimination, limited access to services for rural women, and gaps in implementation and accountability.
The committee also raised concerns about women’s representation in leadership, access to justice and victim support services, the role of the Commission for Gender Equality, and the need for stronger coordination among departments responsible for implementing gender equality commitments.
The committee welcomed the briefing but stressed that future CEDAW reports must be presented to the committee earlier to allow members to make substantive contributions.
Yoliswa Landu
23 June 2026
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