THE SADC GENDER PROTOCOL SUMMIT 2014 LEADERSHIP GENDER TRANSFORMATION THROUGH THE LENS OF A DRIVER OF CHANGE: “HER – STORY”. SOUTH AFRICA, POLOKWANE 23 APRIL 2013 MABATHO EVELYN(GLEN) MHANGO 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

SYNOPSIS “The time for policy formulations and talks is over; now is the time for Action, Application and Implementation ”. THE BIRTH OF POLOKWANE L M SPECIAL FOCUS UNIT In 2009 I was instructed by the Executive Mayor to see to it that the HIV/AIDS unit be expanded to the Special Focus Programmes Strategic Business Unit (SBU). Much as I was excited to finally see the municipality taking the stride in addressing issues and needs of women, disabled people, youth and older persons, the question was how will that be implemented. It took me about 12 months of presentations, report writing, proposals, negotiations, pleading and arguing with Finance, Human Resource, Occupational Development and other relevant units to assist me with human, financial and physical resources. The unit had only2 HIV/AIDS officers, me and 2 support staff. I kept on telling myself that “leaders neither give up, nor quit”.

The birth…continue After more negotiations, a senior official on salary level 4 was deployed from the office of the Executive Mayor with experience of protocol and municipal systems and functions. She signed a new contract of the Gender Focal Person with a clause that intensive training on community development and gender mainstreaming will be provided by the municipality. That was the birth of the Gender Focal Point that seemed like it was 10 years in operation. With a zero budget, I assisted the Gender Focal Person to concentrate on activities that could be done without a budget, such as site visits to VEP centres and women organisations, internal campaigns like the black Friday for employees to emphasise the fight for GBV, men’s pledge against GBV, women’s day messages on pay slips and rates statements for the citizens, electronic billboard messages, and many others.

The birth…………Continue I established rapport with other government and private sectors and forged partnership with some of them. The Capricorn District Municipality has always been a pillar of strength and support structure. Through more negotiations, I made it possible for 4 additional officers to be deployed to the unit for the coordination of the youth, disability, older persons and child advisory programmes. The entire unit is currently operating with a budget of R and will be increased to R for the 2014/15 financial year. Polokwane is one of the few municipalities in South Africa with a fully-fledged special focus unit, with a coordinator for each programme. Through my support and mentorship the disability coordinator received 3 awards for the most innovative casual day support from ADP and DPSA, Provincial and National office, while 3 awards were received from Gender Links and SALGA on gender best practices that I presented.

OBJECTIVES To demonstrate and promote a high level quality service that enhances equal rights, justice and benefits for all citizens, at all times. To provide psychosocial and socio-economic empowerment to men, women, and youth irrespective of colour, race or creed in order to sustain their wellbeing. To encourage men and women to work together towards the elimination of gender based violence through meaningful programmes that will change their lives for the better. To facilitate and ensure gender mainstreaming at all levels of service delivery. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

BACKGROUND Institutional Leadership roles Senior Social Worker Gender Focal Person/District VEP coordinator Head of special Focus Programmes Leader Enhancement Skills MA(SW) UP VEP Facilitation and UNISA UNISA Project Wits BS DPhil in UL Leadeship positions Chairperson of the Polokwane LM AIDS Committee Secretariat of Polokwane LAC Chairperson of Polokwane LM Peer Educators Chairperson of Board – Fundisizwe Health and Social Development Centre Gender Protocol Awards 2012: Prevention of GBV – Gender Links 2012: Best Gender practices – SALGA Limpopo 2013: Prevention of GBV- Gender Links 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

KEY ACTIVITIES  Administrative management as head of the unit  Overseer for 6 Programmes  Facilitate Community outreach/mobilisation  Facilitate Capacity building for staff, councillors and community.  Facilitate mainstreaming of Special Focus Groups 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA Amount local currency (specify) Amount in Rand Gender specific allocation R /14 Gender in mainstream projects LED Incubation and SMME plan R R Communications promotional and braille material R Sign language, braille matchine, IDP R Amount contributed in cash or in kind by partner organisations Mayor’s Golf Charity cup, Iemas Financial services, South African Human Rights Commission, Liberty Life, FPD, DHSD, CDM, Gender links. R1 549M TOTAL R2 839M

CHALLENGES 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA ChallengesSolutions Insufficient budget Uncoordinated programmes Inequality in the workplace Unequal number of male and female PR Councillors Inefficient economic capacity building for women Adjustment budget and budget inputs Establishment of Special Focus Forums for integration and monitoring purpose Lobby for gender equality Lobby for gender equality and equity Integrated capacity development for women “You have proved that even with limited resources, goals can still be achieved’ – Councillor Ramakgwakgwa, Portfolio committee member.

RESULTS Service delivery Through mainstreaming:  Housing, water and sanitation  Rural development (water and electricity)  Expanded Public Works Programme  Local Economic Development(incubation/SMME programme – benefitting during CHAN and other soccer/rugby tournaments. THE GENDER DISAGGREGATED FORM WAS DISTRIBUTED TO ALL THE UNITS OF THE MUNICIPALITY TO MONITOR INCLUSION OF ALL GROUPS IN SERVICE DELIVERY.. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA WOMEN MEN PWDs YOUTH SENIOR CITIZENS

WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT  Facilitate Women’s Caucus meetings  GBV and gender protocol workshops  HIV and Aids workshops  I Act workshops for support groups  Peer educators workshops on GBV and HAST.  16/365 Days of activism on no violence against women and children and other calendar events  Support for VEP and gender organisations  Orange day campaign  Black Friday campaign

MEN FOR CHANGE  The chairperson of the gender forum  More emerging men organisations (MIPAA, SAMAG, MIAAA)  GBV campaigns initiated and for men  Mayoral Charity Golf day also supported men organisations  Annual and sustained men’s pledge against GBV Councillor Daniel Setsie of the opposition party said: “We as men are happy that you have realised that these issues are not meant for women only. Some of our male friends and relatives suffer in the hands of their wives and men usually feel ashamed and embarrassed to report such cases. The women misuse the protection order and use it to spite their partners. We hope this kind of event can be done annually.”

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION  I embarked on the pre- briefing of special groups for the IDP consultation meetings  Gender Base Violence Door to door campaign  Magoshi’s Forum meetings  Special Focus and CBO Forums  I made special arrangements for Integrated Rapid Public Transport System consultation meetings for special groups.

CHANGES AT THE WORKPLACE  Establishment of the ECD  More women in management positions  More women in bid committees  50/50 presentation in Mayoral Council and for ward councillors  Men more involved in GBV and HIV/wellness matters  Establishment of Special Focus Forums

OUTREACH THROUGH THE MEDIA  Internal communications bulletin  External communications bulletin  Municipal website  Community radio stations x 2  Social network ( facebook, twitter, whatsup)  Local media houses

CHANGES AT HOUSEHOLD LEVEL  Relocation from informal settlement to a new serviced area.  More low cost houses  800 title deeds signed  Water and sanitation  Door to door campaigns – cases of GBV, HIV and other Chronic illnesses. IDP SDBIP SERVICE DELIVERY M E I

CAPACITY BUILDING  Training on gender based violence and gender mainstreaming  Training on the economic empowerment  HIV and Aids training/information centre and condom distribution site  Financial management  Women’s Caucuses

CHANGES IN ATTITUDE  Council’s positive attitude towards GBV, HIV, wellness  Community much involved in GVB issues  Community awareness on hate crimes  Men taking a stand against GBV

Changes at a policy level  Management high level interest in mainstreaming gender, youth, disability services  Gender aware Special Focus policies  Gender Action Plan finalised and signed  IDP inclusive of gender, children, people with disabilities, youth, older persons and people living with HIV.

ANY OTHER CHANGES Support for people with disabilities  Braille material for the blind and a braille machine to the tune of R through IT Unit.  People with disabilities considered for workshops and training sessions  Sign language arranged for the deaf at all consultation meetings. Attitude towards LGBTI  A change in attitude towards LGBTI community though community awareness  Inclusion of LGBTI in the gender action plan  Inclusion of LGBTI in the gender forum and all relevant capacity building.

LESSON LEARNED AND INNOVATION Integrat ed services men and male Council lors Hate crimes Gender Forum Gender mainstr eaming Gender equalit y 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

SUSTAINABILITY AND REPLICATION 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA More budget Annual Mayoral Golf day IDP consultations Gender Forum Ward based activities Intersectoral meetings/Networking

Next steps 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA 365 days plan for women empowerment and the post 2015 gender agenda. Ward committees, Stakeholders, CDWs, councillors, partners Ongoing Training for Special Focus Programmes Forums, councillors and ward committees. To enhance coordinated services 1 st Quarter Women’s parliament and strengthening women’s caucus platform Debates on women’s issues Annually/quarterly for caucus platforms.

‘ You are an inspiration to the community of Polokwane at large. An inspiration and pillar of strength to employees of Polokwane Municipality”. Ms Confidence Rakubu, the communications officer when profiling me for the 1 st quarter of “Bashomi’, the municipal internal bulletin.

THANK YOU/ DANKIE KE A LEBOGA