NATIONAL ASSEMBLY : 24th June 2008

 

Madame Speaker,  

1.       In 2006, the Presiding Officers requested a number of parliamentary committees to conduct an Equality Review to assess whether post-1994 legislation had increased equality in the post-apartheid South Africa, and to consider the success of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act ("the Equality Act") in eradicating unfair discrimination. 

2.       The PC on Justice and Constitutional Development convened hearings with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and the SA Human Rights Commission in order to assess the effectiveness of the Equality Act.  

3.       Subsequent to the hearings, the Committee recommended that:

.        The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development ("the Minister") and the Chief Justice, together with the Judicial Service Commission, the Magistrate's Commission and Justice College must ensure that continuous training on the implementation of the Equality Act takes place;

.        That the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development ("the Department") and Justice College must ensure that support staff are appropriately trained in respect of the Equality Act;

.        That the Department and the SA Human Rights Commission embark on a public education campaign to increase awareness of the existence and procedures of Equality Courts, and to raise awareness of practices that unfairly discriminate against the poor and vulnerable;

.        That the Department table regular quarterly reports in Parliament detailing progress on the:  

i.        designation and equipping of equality courts in the  remaining magisterial districts by the end of April 2008, and

ii.       training of court staff and judicial officers

.        That the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development table annually statistics and analysis of cases dealt with in the Equality Courts throughout the country;

.        That the Commission on Gender Equality (CGE) produces a report indicating how many cases they have referred to Equality Courts since the promulgation of the Equality Act.

.        That Parliament requests the National Commissioner of Police to ensure that all members of the SAPS are conversant with the basic aspects of the Equality Act.  

Madame Speaker,

The IFP fully endorses these recommendations and wishes to request regular updates on the progress being made with their implementation.

Thank you.