Parliament, Thursday, 5 October 2023 – The Speaker of the Eastern Cape Legislature, Ms Helen Sauls-August, has called for Commonwealth parliaments to engage political parties to secure the political will necessary to enact legislation to ensure that the 50/50 gender quota is met by all Commonwealth countries.
Ms Sauls-August was representing South Africa in the workshop discussing the theme “Gender Quotas in Parliament: A means to an end?” during the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference taking place in Accra, Ghana this week. She pointed out that according to research conducted by the United Nations, only one country is compliant with the 50 per cent gender quota target. South Africa is currently 46.3 per cent compliant but does not have legislation on women representation and gender equity.
Ms Sauls-August reiterated that compliance with gender quotas should also translate into action that improves the lives of the people. It is also important for societies to understand that it is not only the executive that has a role to play in improving their lives. Legislators also play a critical role in enacting legislation and reviewing and rescinding outdated legislation that no longer adds value to society.
Ms Vuyiswa Caluza, a delegate from the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature representing South Africa in the workshop raised the issue of lobbying the South African government in legislating the 50/50 women representation. Currently, in South Africa it is only the African National Congress political party that has a policy that speaks to a compulsory 50/50 women representation.
It is important that a drive for advocacy is conducted by lobbying political parties in countries that are due for general elections globally to ensure the 50/50 gender quota is implemented. This is in line with the workshop recommendation which states that Parliaments of the Commonwealth, with less than 30 percent women, should implement a percentage of gender quotas through legislative means or via political party candidate selections.
South Africa has also called for the inclusion of the LGBTIQA+ community into the gender quota conversation. Conversations on gender equity often focus on women and overlook vulnerable groups such as the LGBTIQA+ community that is under represented. It is important that the process of compulsory 50/50 women representation is expedited in order to fast-track the inclusion of vulnerable groups such as the LGBTIQA+ community in the gender quota conversation.
For interviews with the leaders of the parliamentary delegation, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula or the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Mr Amos Masondo, please contact Ms Faith Ndenze through WhatsApp call on +27 81 377 0686.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN DELEGATES, MS HELEN SAULS-AUGUST AND MS VUYISWA CALUZA.
Enquiries: Mr Moloto Mothapo
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