BUDGET REVIEW CASE STUDIES 1999

PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYMENT
Women account for just over half (51%) of the 11,4 million public servants employed by government’s national and provincial departments. The gender breakdown is more or less constant across population groups. There are slightly fewer African and Indian women than men in these groups, and slightly more white and coloured women than men.

Overall, 69% of public servants are African, 19% white, 9% coloured and 3% Indian. This breakdown is still not completely in alignment with the country’s population profile. According to the 1996 census, 77% of all South African are African, 11% white, 9% coloured and 3% Indian. (The African age profile is, however, biased towards the younger age groups who would not be old enough to be employed.)

The national departments account for 29% of all public servants and the nine provinces for the remaining 71%. The table below gives the gender breakdown within each of the nine provinces and within the national departments. The national sphere is heavily male-dominated while more women than men are employed by the provinces. Close on three-quarters of national employees are men, compared to 39% in the provinces. Most provincial gender profiles are similar at between 59% and 63% women. The exceptions are Gauteng, with 68% women, and Northern Province, where only 51% of employees are women.

Gender distribution of public servants within provinces and national sphere (%)

Gender

EC

FS

Gaut

KZN

Mpum

NW

NC

North

WC

Prov

Nat’l

Total

Men

37

41

32

39

41

39

38

49

37

39

74

49

Women

63

59

68

61

59

61

62

51

63

61

26

51

There are over 300 occupational categories in the public service. The categories differ widely from one another in terms of the number of employees involved. One third (34%) of all public servants are teachers at colleges and schools. This occupational category accounts for 47% of all African women public servants and 42% of all Indian women. It is the biggest occupational grouping among all race-gender groupings except white men. Only 14% of white male public servants are teachers, while almost twice as many (26%) are functional personnel in the SA Police Service. Overall, this latter category accounts for 9% of all national and provincial public servants.

Public service pay is linked to skill level, with all employees falling into one of seven broad categories. Women are slightly under-represented in the lower-skilled category, where they account for 41% of all workers. They are far more severely under-represented in all levels from highly skilled supervision upwards. They account for 25% of the highly skilled supervision group, 14% of management and 12% of senior management. The percentage increases again to 29% of the highest earning "other" category, but this category contains a total of only seven employees – five men and two women.

Skill and pay levels in the public service

Skill level

Salary (R)

Women

Men

Lower Skilled

0-27443

41%

59%

Skilled

27444-47612

54%

46%

Highly Skilled Production

47613-111653

54%

46%

Highly Skilled Supervision

111654-171425

25%

75%

Management

171426-233078

14%

86%

Senior Management

233079-332205

12%

88%

Other

>332205

29%

71%

TOTAL

50%

50%

DEPARTMENT OF TRADE & INDUSTRY
The tax holiday scheme and the Small/Medium Manufacturing Development Programme became fully operational during the 1997/98 financial year. By 3 November 1998, 99 projects had been approved for the tax holiday. Between them these projects had created approximately 7500 jobs, 85% of which were occupied by Africans and just over 40% by women. The projects also created 43 jobs for people with disabilities.

Employment generated by tax holiday

Race

Men

Women

% women

African

3649

2710

43%

Coloured

0

0

 

Indian

0

0

 

White

767

339

31%

Subtotal

4416

3049

41%

Disabled

17

26

60%

Total

4433

3075

41%

Source: Department of Trade and Industry

Of the applicants for the tax holiday scheme, 12% were women, 59% white men, 15% black men. The remainder were companies and closed corporations.

Applicants for the Small/Medium Manufacturing Development Programme do not submit disaggregated statistics at the time of their application. Instead they supply figures when claiming. By 3 November 1998, 70 of the approved projects had submitted claims. Between them the projects had created over 450 jobs, of which around nine in ten were held by Africans, and just over half by women. The projects did not report any employment of disabled people.

Employment generated by Small/Medium Manufacturing Development Programme

Race

Male

Female

% women

Black

197

212

52%

Coloured

2

8

80%

Asian

1

8

89%

White

23

6

21%

Total

223

234

51%

Source: Department of Trade and Industry

Small, Medium and Micro-enterprises (SMMEs)
The Export Marketing and Investment Assistance Scheme (EMIA) of the Department of Trade and Industry provides partial compensation to exporters for costs incurred in developing export markets. Schemes qualifying for support include:
• Primary export market research
• Outward selling trade missions
• Inward buying trade missions
• Exhibition assistance
• Assistance to industry specific sectors
• Outward investment recruitment missions
• Inward investment missions
• Foreign direct investment research

Between August 1997 and March 1998 323 previously disadvantaged individuals (PDIs) and 791 women-owned SMMEs received assistance through the scheme.

Ntsika Enterprise Promotion Agency provides services to SMMEs through a broad range of intermediaries. Ntsika makes special efforts to reach those who are disadvantaged – whether on account of their race, gender or location. In the second quarter of 1998 assistance provided included the following:

Training and Capacity Building
50 women entrepreneurs
12 rural enterprises

Technopreneur programme providing access to technology and appropriate skills
26 women entrepreneurs
62 previously disadvantaged individuals
17 youth
2 disabled people

School Leavers Opportunity Programme (SLOT) aimed at empowering young people
142 men and 141 women

Women Enterprise Initiative Support Programme
98 women entrepreneurs
30 women and youth

Market and Linkages
18 women entrepreneurs
73 previously disadvantaged individuals
48 youth

Business Development Services
2668 men and 1514 women.

Khula Enterprise Finance Ltd is a wholesale financial institution which provides financial support to SMMEs through a variety of programmes and services. These include a Credit Guarantee Scheme, Khula Start Programme, Seed Loans. Khula uses Retail Financial Intermediaries to provide onlending support to the SMMEs.

DEPARTMENT OF WELFARE
Social Security
Each month the provincial Welfare departments distribute close on R1,5 bn to approximately 2,7 beneficiaries. Old age pensions accounts for approximately two-thirds of both beneficiaries and the total amount. Disability grants accounted for close on a quarter of beneficiaries and funds. The maintenance grant, which is being phased out, still accounted for 8% of beneficiaries and 7% of total payments in October 1998.

Social grants as at October 1998

Grant type

Beneficiaries

%

Amount

%

Old Age

1781878

66%

942323002

66%

War Veteran

9787

0%

5145654

0%

Disability

624808

23%

343231176

24%

Maintenance

226379

8%

95219205

7%

Foster Care

44352

2%

29401680

2%

Maintenance/Foster

1854

0%

1713470

0%

Institution

395

0%

46748

0%

Care Dependency

12931

0%

8777028

1%

Unclaimed

1729

0%

0

0%

Child Support

5006

0%

1308755

0%

Total

2709119

100%

1427166718

100%

Overall, two-thirds of grant recipients are women. The proportion of women is highest for the grants targeted at caregivers – the maintenance grant, care dependency grant, child support grant and foster care grant. Seven out of ten old age pensioners are also women, reflecting the lower age of eligibility for women (60 instead of 65 years), higher average longevity and greater poverty of women. The war veteran’s and institutional grants both have significantly more men than women beneficiaries, while slightly over half of recipients of disability grants are men.

Percentage of grants going to women by grant type and province

W Cape

E Cape

N Cape

Free St

KZN

N West

Gauteng

Mpuml

Northern

Total

Old Age

70

62

68

74

78

65

73

75

59

70

War Vet

16

24

7

9

20

48

17

33

3

18

Disability

40

48

43

45

49

51

44

49

46

47

Mainten

99

99

98

97

99

98

99

99

99

99

Foster

91

95

92

86

92

88

86

82

82

90

Mnt/Fost

99

100

100

99

100

95

97

97

100

99

Institution

41

25

50

31

35

37

CareDep

97

99

96

95

98

95

96

97

96

97

Unclaim

100

35

59

53

59

23

50

ChildSup

94

94

93

93

97

95

95

98

97

95

Total

70

62

66

68

72

62

69

71

58

67

Social Welfare
The provincial departments of Welfare have established projects in all nine provinces under the Flagship Programme for Unemployed Women with Young Children. By early September 1998 a total of R203693 had been spent, and 1448 women and 1863 children were involved in the programmes. The Northern Province had begun to spend its second year allocations while other provinces were still using the allocations for the first of the three pilot years.

The following table reflects the amounts allocated by the Department of Welfare towards the Programme. These Welfare Department funds have been supplemented in Mpumalanga by R500000 from the private sector and in Western Cape by R80000 from the British High Commission. The table also does not reflect contributions in kind by other government departments in respect of training, infrastructure development, expertise and time.

Amount spent and number of women and children involved in Flagship Programme as at 8 September 1998

Province

Amount

Women

Children

Eastern Cape

312574

130

140

Free State

164792

70

210

Gauteng

346300

279

279

KwaZulu-Natal

302474

360

400

Mpumalanga

368669

333

305

North West

318909

130

327

Northern

592000

70

120

Northern Cape

189975

40

50

Western Cape

400000

36

32

Total

2995693

1448

1863

Source: Department of Welfare

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AFFAIRS
By 31 August 1998 over 100000 households had formally registered their interest in respect of land redistribution projects. Of these households, 77000 had their projects approved, and over 35000 had been designated. To achieve this milestone, the beneficiaries had formed a legal entity, identified land, reached agreement with the owner on the price, completed initial land use planning and the Minister had approved the release of subsidy funds.

Close on 20000 households had received final transfer of land. Just under 10% of households who had received transferred were described as woman-headed (WHH). The percentage described as headed by women was highest in Gauteng (at 45%) and lowest in Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga (3-5%). These statistics understate the extent to which women were gaining access to land. In many of these households the man named as household head would have been absent for much of the year in an urban area. Gauteng accounted for over a quarter of all households with transfer, followed by Mpumalanga (21%) and Eastern Cape (19%). Approximately 85% of the transferred project are held under trusts, 10% consist of Communal Property Associations and the remainder are companies.

Progress in land redistribution to households as at 31 August 1998

Register

Approved

Designated

Transfer

Number

WHH

Number

WHH

Number

WHH

Number

WHH

E Cape

13349

4%

8116

7%

5351

11%

3708

3%

Free State

5594

13%

4120

16%

3975

17%

1430

19%

Gauteng

22972

3%

23443

3%

1808

26%

75

45%

KZN

14063

4%

12824

4%

7654

8%

5525

4%

Mpumalanga

9855

5%

6378

8%

5679

9%

4088

5%

N Cape

6039

5%

2517

13%

2208

13%

1741

8%

Northern

9690

27%

7999

30%

3618

38%

1089

14%

North West

17124

4%

8645

9%

3519

15%

1750

27%

W Cape

4166

11%

3695

9%

1559

13%

356

24%

Total

102852

7%

77737

9%

35371

15%

19762

9%

Source: Department of Land Affairs

The Department’s Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate has established a system of ongoing surveys whereby it monitors, on a medium- to long-term basis, what happens to the households which gain access to land. The Department is particularly concerned as to what conditions facilitate the improvement of the economic conditions of community members. It is also concerned about access of those who are resettled to basic services which are the responsibility of other departments or of provincial and local government. The Department is currently investigating more effective ways of working together with these other roleplayers.

DEPARTMENT OF WATER AFFAIRS & FORESTRY
Between April 1994 and end September 1998 over 500000 households were supplied with safe, clean water for the first time. Over 57000 person-years of jobs had been created through the Community Water Supply and Sanitation Programme. Over 31000 (or 55%) of these person-years were accounted for by women, and a further 14240 (approximately 25%) by young women and men aged between 16 and 25 years.

Jobs created, in person-years, on Department’s water supply programmes

End March 1998

End Sept 1998

Province

Total

Total

Eastern Cape

2840

5840

Western Cape

435

450

North West

9200

11310

Northern Cape

1285

1380

Northern Province

10130

15200

Mpumalanga

6650

7250

KwaZulu Natal

9535

13820

Free State

1405

1880

Total

41480

57130

Source: Department of Water Affairs & Forestry

The 1996 census revealed that in October 1996 45% of households had their main water source inside their dwelling, 17% had a tap on site, 20% used a public tap, while the rest used other sources. Only just over half (51%) of households had a flush or chemical toilet, 32% were using a pit latrine, 5% were dependent on bucket toilets, and 12% had no proper toilet facilities. The majority of those without access to adequate water and sanitation services are in rural areas. Poor or inadequate services affect all community members. They place a special burden on women who are responsible for most of the household tasks as well as for seeing to the health needs of family members.

The Working for Water Programme of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry focuses on the clearing of ‘thirsty’ invading alien plants and the rehabilitation of degraded land. The Programme is a public works initiative in that it provides jobs for unemployed people living in the many communities around the country in whose areas it has been implemented. The Programme has consistently favoured women in allocating jobs. It has provided for creches to make this possible where women are constrained by child care responsibilities and has included family planning, HIV/AIDS and other gender-related issues in the training offered to workers.

The table below indicates both the average number of people and the average number and percentage of women employed in the last month of each quarter in the Working for Water Programme. At the end of March 1998 there were 42059 people employed, of whom 55% were women.

Average number of jobs created per quarter in Working for Water

4th 95

1st 96

2nd 96

3rd 96

4th 96

1st 97

2nd 97

3rd 97

4th 97

1st 98

All

4053

6027

6092

5440

6637

8386

7737

8139

14286

40781

Women

2084

3030

2911

2706

3364

4483

3991

4441

6379

20455

% Wom

51%

50%

48%

50%

51%

53%

52%

55%

45%

50%

Source: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry

Working for Water’s strategy document includes a range of commitments to addressing the needs of marginalised groups. These include:
• that 60% of the salaries and wages should be paid to women;
• that 20% of the salaries and wages should be paid to youth between the ages of 16 and 25;
• that 2% of the salaries and wages should be paid to people who are physically or mentally disabled;
• that at least 67% of the work should be undertaken by people living in rural communities;
• that at least 50% of salaries earned in 1999/2000 by those in management positions will go to black people, and that this percentage will increase to 67% in 2000/1 and 75% in 2001/2;
• that a special emphasis be placed on employing single parents, and attempting to ensure that a policy of flexible time is applied where feasible for those with additional responsibilities in their homes;
• that not more than one person per household be employed in communities with households where no-one is employed.

DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR
The Unemployment Insurance Act provides for benefits to be paid to contributors or their dependants in the event of unemployment, illness, maternity, adoption and death. The Act is funded through earnings-related contributions by employers and employees. Benefits are calculated at 45% of the salary earned prior to unemployment, and are payable for a maximum of six months.

In the twelve-month period November 1997 to October 1998, 559741 individuals obtained benefits from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), of whom 38% were women. 87% of all beneficiaries obtained ordinary unemployment benefits, 9% obtained maternity benefits and 3% illness benefits. The total amount awarded amounted to R1874 million, of which 36% went to women beneficiaries.

Unemployment Insurance benefits November 1997-October 1998

Claimants

Amount

Men

Women

Total

Men

Women

Total

Unemployment

331342

155403

486745

1113493015

489383909

1602876924

Illness

10669

6548

17217

44031132

22385472

66416604

Maternity

-

48766

48766

-

162326852

162326852

Adoption

-

22

22

-

98192

98192

Death

6149

842

6991

38792633

3717170

42509803

Total

348160

211581

559741

1196316780

677911595

1874228375

Just over 40% of UIF beneficiaries are aged 21-34 years, and slightly under 40% in the 35-49 year age group. Over a third have educational levels of less than grade 8. Over a quarter of all beneficiaries are from Gauteng, just under a quarter from KwaZulu-Natal and 15% from the Western Cape. Each of the other provinces accounts for less than 10% of beneficiaries. Those who register for UIF benefits represent only a small subset – somewhat over 10% - of the total number of unemployed people in the country.

The Department of Labour also provides a service whereby unemployed people over 15 years of age can register as job-seekers at Labour Offices and Centres. The Department will then attempt to find them a suitable job. Approximately 10% of all UIF beneficiaries tend to register as job-seekers. In the first quarter of 1998 women accounted for an average of 45% of registered job-seekers. The unskilled and service occupations together accounted for a third of all job-seekers.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

The Community-based Public Works Programme
As noted in the 1998 Budget Review, independent evaluations of the Community Based Public Works Programme (CBPWP) identified valuable lessons for policy development. These included:
• the need for more detailed targeting focusing on rural areas, poverty and specifically on women;
• the need for more active promotion of directly productive and labour-saving infrastructure, together with projects to improve access and terms of trade – again taking account of the continuing benefits likely to raise the levels of living of poor women and their households;
• provision for the construction of clusters at the local level, aiming for mutually reinforcing benefits;
• the need to strengthen the internal programme monitoring system.

The Department began introducing these refinements in the Rural Anti-Poverty Programme (RAP), supported by a poverty relief allocation of R85 million in November 1997. The refinements will be continued and spread under the Realigned CBPWP, with an allocation of R274 million announced in September 1998.

The revised Programme Management System for the Realigned CBPWP sets a target that at least 50% of the members of community committees should be women. Women are also expected to account for at least 50% of temporary construction workers, as well as of longer-term beneficiaries from the operation and use of completed assets.

Policy Convergence in the Provision of Physical Infrastructure
In budgetary terms the Consolidated Municipal Infrastructure Programme (CMIP) and its predecessors have been among the biggest public investments in much-needed bulk and connecting infrastructure. The Department of Constitutional Development is administering this programme in line with its support role for local government.

DCD has established a Municipal Infrastructure Task Team (MITT) comprising representatives of all the major government and quasi-government agencies providing different types of physical infrastructure. The guiding purpose of the MITT is to achieve coordination among all such programmes. The approach is not to expect absolute uniformity in the detailed administration of each initiative. Instead the aim is to achieve the closest possible harmonisation of policies and procedures for implementation. One example is the adoption by the CMIP of the geographical targeting system used by the Department of Public Works (DPW) for the Community-Based Public Works Programme.

The DPW has prepared a discussion paper identifying twelve policy concerns from the CBPWP perspective. These include gender equity, wages and the balance between economic and social imperatives in project design and implementation. The next step will be to take stock of the experience of other agencies, such as the departments of Agriculture, Education, Health, Water Affairs and Forestry, Welfare, Housing and Transport. Thereafter, practical steps will be taken to achieve inter-departmental convergence and complementarity of approach.

SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICES/TAXATION
In late 1998 a total of 2263079 people were registered as individual taxpayers. Of these, 1516262(67%) were men and 746816 (33%) were women. [one missing?] In addition, 180393 trusts were registered as individuals for tax purposes.

AGRICULTURE
The Land Bank has designed a number of financial products to cater for the needs of women. One of these new products, called "Step-UP’, is designed to give credit access to rural women who have no collateral base. Over time their collateral will be the track record that they develop with the Land Bank.

The provincial Departments of Agriculture employ extension officers who provide a range of services to farmers. The Departments are endeavouring to increase the proportion of small farmers reached by these services. KwaZulu-Natal estimates that between 72% and 95% of farmer beneficiaries of extension services in each of its five districts are women. Overall, over three-quarters of the close on 150000 beneficiares are women. North West estimates that 38% of the over 27000 beneficiaries are women while Free State estimates a slightly higher percentage, at 42%.

The proportion of extension officers who are women varies widely, from none in Northern and Western Cape to 45% of a small number of extension officers in Gauteng, with a third of much larger numbers in KwaZulu-Natal and Free State.

Extensions officers

Women

Men

Total

%women

E Cape

48

364

412

12%

Western

4

9

13

31%

Eastern

4

124

128

3%

E Griqua

N/a

N/a

N/a

N/a

Central

35

135

170

21%

Northern

5

96

101

5%

KZN

112

226

338

33%

N East

47

97

144

33%

N West

27

58

85

32%

S East

29

54

83

35%

S West

9

17

26

35%

Mpumalanga

87

288

75

23%

N Highveld

2

54

56

4%

S Highveld

54

65

119

45%

Lowveld

31

169

200

16%

Northern

99

505

604

16%

N Cape

0

22

22

0%

N West

29

244

273

11%

W Cape

0

34

34

0%

Gauteng

17

21

38

45%

Free State

69

137

206

33%

ARTS, CULTURE, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
The budget for the Department of Arts, Culture, Science & Technology includes allocations to the Human Sciences Research Council and the Foundation for Research Development. These two councils, in turn, utilise part of their allocations to provide grants for postgraduate studies and research.

The Human Sciences Research Council’s research and scholarship funding programme emphasises previously disadvantaged institutions and individuals. The breakdown of the allocation of research grants and scholarships in terms of race and gender for the 1997/98 financial year indicates that close on half (48%) of all grants went to women, and over a third (36%) to African scholars.

Research grants and scholarships 1997/98

Race

Gender

Grantees

Percentage

Amount (R)

African

Women

191

10%

1 296 810

 

Men

304

16%

2 423 420

Indian

Women

86

4%

577 020

 

Men

69

4%

857 141

Coloured

Women

93

5%

702 104

 

Men

96

5%

942 141

White

Women

561

29%

6 079 003

 

Men

522

27%

8 393 468

Total

Women

931

48%

8 654 937

 

Men

991

52%

12 616 170

In 1998/9 197 (13%) of the 1496 grantholders supported by the Research and Support Division of the Foundation for Research Development were women. In the same year, 1268 (40%) of the 3151 students receiving grant-linked and free-standing bursaries from the FRD, 45 (53%) of the 85 people supported by Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory, and 12 (32%) of the 38 university and technikon students trained through the South African Astronomical Observatory were women.

CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
As at end September 1998, South Africa’s prisons contained 134836 prisoners, of whom 2% were women. Over a quarter of all prisoners were held in Gauteng jails, 16% in Western Cape, 15% in KwaZulu-Natal and 12% in the Eastern Cape. Over half (52%) of all prisoners were African men and a further 42% coloured men. White women accounted for 6% of all white prisoners, while women of other race groups accounted for around 2% of prisoners in the other population groups.

Prisoners as at 30 September 1998

Men

Women

Total

Free State

11521

267

11788

Mpumlanga

8466

132

8598

KwaZulu-Natal

20852

583

21435

Eastern Cape

15766

521

16287

Western Cape

22253

536

22789

North West

10031

121

10152

Northern Cape

4558

131

4689

Northern

3959

113

4072

Gauteng

37737

889

38626

Total

135143

3293

138436

EDUCATION
In 1997 close on twelve million children were registered at schools in South Africa. The overwhelming majority (98%) of these school pupils were enrolled at public, rather than independent, schools. The proportion of pupils at independent schools was highest in Gauteng, at 6%. Girls outnumbered boys at both independent and public schools in all provinces. Overall, 51% of pupils were girls. At the lower levels of grades 1 to 7, however, girls accounted for only 48% of pupils.

School enrolments by province and type of school, 1997

Province

Type

Girls

Boys

Total

% girls

Eastern Cape

Independent

9489

9459

18948

50%

Public

1080998

1003777

2084775

52%

Free State

Independent

5677

5555

11232

51%

Public

390775

381270

772045

51%

Gauteng

Independent

48110

44049

92159

52%

Public

696128

685865

1381993

50%

KwaZulu-Natal

Independent

12796

10540

23336

55%

Public

1400048

1394299

2794347

50%

Mpumalanga

Independent

2337

2002

4339

54%

Public

437852

430322

868174

50%

Northern Cape

Independent

2731

2510

5241

52%

Public

91922

92466

184388

50%

Northern Province

Independent

3653

3609

7262

50%

Public

927678

921541

1849219

50%

Western Cape

Independent

9212

8561

17773

52%

Public

428320

425476

853796

50%

Total excl NWest

Independent

94005

86285

180290

52%

Public

5453721

5335016

10788737

51%

NorthWest

All schools

470183

464037

934220

50%

Total

6017909

5885338

11903247

51%

Source: Department of Education

Nationally there were 559 233 candidates who wrote six or more subjects in the 1997 senior certificate examination. The overall pass rate was 47,4%. In all provinces there were more women than men candidates. Overall 56% of the candidates were women. In all provinces except Free State more women than men passed the examination. However, the pass rate for women (44,1%) was lower than that for men (51,6%). 11% of women and 14% of men candidates passed with university endorsements.

Mathematics and Physical Science have been identified as subjects of great benefit both to the country and to the personal advancement of the individual scholar. In 1997 53% of students who wrote the senior certificate mathematics examination were women, but women accounted for only 48% of the passes in this subject. In Physical Science women accounted for 48% of the candidates but 44% of the passes.

In 1997, 368329 students were enrolled at South African universities, of whom 82% were studying at the undergraduate level. Just over half (52%) of all university students were African, and just under half (49%) were white. Women accounted for more than half of total university enrolments, and more than half of undergraduate enrolments. However, only 46% of those studying at postgraduate level were women.

In the same year 193700 students were enrolled at South African technikons. Close on two-thirds of these students were African and 25% were white. Women accounted for 42% of students at both pre- and post-diploma levels.

Race and gender distribution of university and technikon enrolments 1997

Afr

Col

Ind

Wht

Unsp

Total

TOT

Men

Wom

Men

Wom

Men

Wom

Men

Wom

Men

Wom

Men

Wom

Total

Univers

Undgrad

22%

32%

2%

3%

3%

4%

16%

17%

0%

0%

44%

56%

100%

Pstgrad

20%

19%

3%

2%

3%

3%

27%

22%

0%

0%

54%

46%

100%

Total

22%

30%

2%

2%

3%

4%

18%

18%

0%

0%

46%

54%

100%

Technik

Pre-dipl

35%

28%

4%

2%

3%

2%

16%

9%

0%

0%

58%

42%

100%

Pst-dipl

17%

18%

6%

3%

5%

4%

31%

17%

0%

0%

58%

42%

100%

Total

35%

28%

4%

2%

3%

2%

16%

9%

0%

0%

58%

42%

100%

Source: Department of Education

HEALTH
The Department of Health conducts national surveys of HIV prevalence among women attending the antenatal clinics of the public health service. The overall prevalence increased from 7,6% in 1994 to 16,0% in 1998. Geographically, the rate was highest in North-West province where a quarter of the women were found to be HIV positive. In terms of age, prevalence was highest among women aged 25 to 29 years.

National HIV surveys of women attending public antenatal clinics: Estimated HIV+

 

1994

1995

1996

1997

South Africa

7.6

10.4

14.2

16.0

Western Cape

1.2

1.7

3.1

6.3

Eastern Cape

4.5

6.0

8.1

12.6

Northern Cape

1.8

5.3

6.5

8.6

Free State

9.2

11.0

17.5

19.6

KwaZulu Natal

14.4

18.2

19.9

26.9

Mpumalanga

12.2

16.2

15.8

22.6

Northern

3.0

4.9

8.0

8.2

Gauteng

6.4

12.0

15.5

17.1

North West

6.7

8.3

25.1

18.1

Age group

 

 

 

 

< 20 years

6.5

9.5

12.9

12.7

20-24 years

8.9

13.1

17.7

19.7

25-29 years

8.6

11.0

15.3

18.2

30-34 years

6.4

8.1

12.2

14.5

35-39 years

3.7

7.4

9.7

9.5

40-44 years

5.3

4.4

10.2

7.5

45-49 years

0.4

7.5

5.8

8.8

Source: Department of Health, Pretoria

[I am assuming that the rest of the discussion under Health will include the Department’s approach to HIV/AIDS]

HOUSING
In 1994 the Department of Housing introduced a new National Housing Programme with the ambitious target of delivering one million subsidised housing units by the end of 1999. By end August 1998 over 800000 housing subsidies had been approved and 600000 housing units had been completed or were under construction.

The Department surveyed 200000 of the units in seven provinces for its Housing and Urbanisation Information System (HUIS). The HUIS sample suggests that by August 1998 37% of all approved subsidies were registered in the name of women. In Eastern Cape, Northern Province and Free State approximately 45% of subsidies were registered in the name of women.

Subsidies approved to end August 1998

 

Number women

% women

Number men

% men

Total number

E Cape

20385

45

24551

55

44936

Free State

12709

44

15932

56

28641

Mpumalanga

6109

20

24786

80

30895

North West

11713

37

19831

63

31544

N Cape

3838

26

10734

74

14572

Northern

7017

45

8646

55

15663

W Cape

13510

37

22979

63

36489

Total

75281

37

127459

63

202740

Source: HUIS database, Department of Housing

The Housing Monitor tracks delivery of housing units priced below R150000. Their statistics relate only to projects and project-linked subsidies. In late 1998 there were over 1000 active housing projects in this price bracket. Between them these projects accounted for over 703000 units. The level of delivery in low-priced housing has increased significantly over the last few years, as shown in the table below. The number of units per project has also increased under the influence of the government’s project-linked subsidies. In November 1994 only 108 of over 500 projects were subsidised. In June 1998, 825 of 1037 projects were subsidised.

In 1989 the Northern provinces of Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Northern Province accounted for the largest number of projects. By 1998 KwaZulu-Natal had overtaken the Northern Provinces. Delivery in the Cape provinces of Western, Eastern and Northern Cape and North West was lowest throughout the period.

Level of activity in low cost housing projects by region, 1989-1998

 

North

KZN

Free State

Cape

Total

Units

Nov 89

173

162

33

25

393

257000

Nov 90

244

101

127

53

525

220500

Nov 91

-

-

-

-

 

189400

Nov 92

335

115

182

62

694

206800

Aug 93

182

107

138

69

496

211300

Nov 94

185

106

164

47

502

351900

Nov 95

239

235

159

84

717

499000

Nov 96

270

301

191

93

855

538700

Nov 97

363

361

228

110

1062

751900

Jun 98

300

407

254

76

1037

703100

Source: Settlement Dynamics

A detailed sample of 241 projects of the total of 1037 reveals that in 1998 about 93% of the projects were providing housing packages. The remainder provided serviced sites. This represents a shift from the position in mid-1996, when over 40% of the projects were providing serviced sites.

Most project-linked subsidies are administered through developers. The developer identifies the land and beneficiaries who qualify for the subsidy, sets up a social compact, gets agreement on the product, and then applies to the Provincial Housing Development Board on behalf of the beneficiaries. The Peoples’ Housing Process, on the other hand, works through existing community structures. A housing support centre is established in the community identified, and the community itself sets up an association to apply for subsidies.

The South African Homeless People’s Federation is a nation-wide movement involving nearly 65000 households from more than 1500 savings collectives in over 750 homeless communities. Approximately 85% of the Federation’s members are women. Average household income is under R700 per month.

Federation members started constructing houses from their own savings long before receiving any government assistance. In 1994 the late Minister Slovo agreed that the Federation would receive a grant of R10 million from the Department. This grant was to be used as bridging finance for housing subsidies and for housing loans. The grant is overseen by a Trust on which the government has 50% representation.

In 1995 the National Housing Board in 1995 approved a special subsidy stream for Federation members. The first funds were released in March 1996. By releasing subsidy funds directly to the Federation’s Utshani Fund, the special stream obviates the need for private developers and local authorities and allows communities to design and implement their own housing development. In so doing it significantly reduces development costs which would normally accrue to professional intermediaries such as planners, surveyors, consultants, and conveyancors. The agreement also allows for an abbreviated and much simplified application form.

The framework for the special subsidy stream, as drafted by the national Department, has so far been formally accepted in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Western Cape and informally accepted in the Free State. To date the Federation has built a total of over 3300 houses, of which 1200 have been built with some assistance from government subsidies.

JUSTICE
The government is committed to establishing a judiciary which is representative of the population in terms of race and gender. By September 1998 23% of ordinary magistrates were women, 33% were African, and 5% were African women. The proportion of women decreases with increasing rank. Over 7% of those with higher rank than ordinary magistrate were women in September 1998.

Rank, race and gender of magistrates as at 1 September 1998

Special Grade C

Chief

Regional President

Regional

Senior

Ordinary

White

 

8

5

151

69

708

Men

 

7

5

143

65

524

Women

 

1

 

8

4

184

Indian

 

 

 

5

3

28

Men

 

 

 

1

2

14

Women

 

 

 

4

1

14

Coloured

 

1

 

 

 

34

Men

 

1

 

 

 

29

Women

 

 

 

 

 

5

African

1

20

2

16

 

373

Men

1

19

2

15

78

317

Women

 

1

 

1

4

56

Total

1

29

7

172

154

1143

Men

1

27

7

159

145

884

Women

0

2

0

13

9

259

In December 1998 there were 186 judges serving in South African courts, of whom over three-quarters (144) were white men, 17% were black men, 4% were white women and 2% black women.

Race and gender of judges as at December 1998

Court

Black men

Black women

White men

White women

Total

Appeal

1

-

15

-

16

N Cape

1

-

4

-

5

E Cape

2

-

14

-

16

W Cape

5

-

19

1

25

Free State

-

-

12

-

12

Transvaal

4

1

45

3

53

KwaZ-Natal

5

-

16

1

22

Bophutatswana

3

-

3

-

6

Transkei

2

-

4

-

6

Ciskei

2

-

3

-

5

Constitutional

3

1

5

1

10

Land Claims

2

1

2

-

5

Labour

2

-

2

1

5

Total

32

3

144

7

186

Source: Department of Justice

Legal Aid
The number of applications approved by the Legal Aid Board has increased steadily over recent years. In 1991/2 there were 57692 successful applications. By 1997/8 this had more than tripled, and stood at 193254. The amount allocated also increased, from R35m in 1991/2 to R307m in 1997/8. However in 1998/9 the amount fell again to R210m.

The percentage of successful applications relating to criminal matters increased as a proportion of the total from 66% in 1991/2 to 79% in 1997/8. The percentage of civil matters meanwhile decreased from 13% of the total to 8% and divorce matters decreased from 20% to 12%. Labour and other matters throughout accounted for less than 2% of successful applications.

Applications granted and funds allocated in terms of Judicare system

Year

Criminal

Civil

Divorce

Labour

Total

Funds

1991/2

38247

7195

11620

630

57692

35206000

1992/3

45599

7792

12802

910

67103

56477000

1993/4

60106

7928

10354

1113

79501

62165000

1994/5

67062

7293

9547

1329

85231

66325000

1995/6

87996

11419

12373

1986

113774

182410000

1996/7

123983

16915

20353

2498

163749

156457000

1997/8

153804

16149

22870

1431

194254

307297000

Source: Legal Aid Board

The Legal Aid Board stopped collecting statistics on the race of applicants after 1995/6. It has never collected statistics on gender. Overall, however, more women than men receive assistance for divorce and more men than women in criminal matters.

During 1996 the Board reserved funds for a gender/women’s rights project. As a result of transformation processes within the Legal Aid Board, this has not received much attention to date. With the transformation complete, the Board now hopes to continue further planning for the project.

MINERALS AND ENERGY
Electrification of houses brings many benefits. Electricity can be used for both income-earning and domestic purposes. It saves time and energy and enables people to perform their tasks more efficiently. In particular, it saves women many hours fetching fuelwood. It promotes health and well-being.

The number of new connections to the electricity grid increased sharply between 1991 and 1994. The number of new connections has remained fairly constant since that date at over 400000 per year. In each year farm worker dwellings have accounted for over half of all new connections.

Annual connections by local government and Eskom, 1991-1997

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

Farmworker

51435

145522

208801

254383

313179

307047

274345

Loc Govt

31035

74335

107034

164535

150455

137534

184217

Eskom

0

12698

16074

16838

15134

9414

11198

Total

82470

232555

331909

435756

478768

453995

469760

Source: National Electricity Regulator

By December 1997 an estimated 59% of South African houses were connected to the electricity grid. The percentage of houses electrified increased by five percentage points between December 1996 and December 1997. Eastern Cape had the lowest overall rate at electrification, at 39%. Western Cape had the highest, at 84%. The proportion of houses electrified was higher – at 82% - in urban areas than in rural (32%). The rural-urban disparity was evident in all provinces. It was particularly stark in KwaZulu-Natal, where 84% of urban houses but only 20% of rural were connected.

Connections per province as at end December 1997

Province

Type

Population

Houses

Electrified

% Elec

Eastern Cape

Rural

4 470 004

922 249

187 530

20%

Urban

2 164 902

507 966

374 893

74%

Total

6 634 906

1 430 215

562 423

39%

Free State

Rural

1 368 191

253 438

102 671

41%

Urban

1 531 872

367 996

301 573

82%

Total

2 900 063

621 434

404 244

65%

Gauteng

Rural

330 948

71 524

38 466

54%

Urban

7 178 178

1 748 694

1 401 923

80%

Total

7 509 126

1 820 218

1 440 389

79%

Kwazulu/Natal

Rural

5 191 308

1 015 880

203 187

20%

Urban

3 615 476

846 301

710 974

84%

Total

8 806 784

1 862 181

914 161

49%

Mpumalanga

Rural

2 147 969

408 767

247 132

60%

Urban

930 320

203 402

150 200

74%

Total

3 078 289

612 169

397 332

65%

North West

Rural

2 537 900

500 643

172 516

34%

Urban

1 107 565

235 796

189 501

80%

Total

3 645 465

736 439

362 017

49%

Northern Cape

Rural

274 370

66 350

42 685

64%

Urban

555 705

121 689

102 929

85%

Total

830 075

188 039

145 614

77%

Northern Province

Rural

4 673 406

960 723

340 415

35%

Urban

523 228

125 563

92 969

74%

Total

5 196 634

1 086 286

433 384

40%

Western Cape

Rural

609 611

141 955

71 694

51%

Urban

3 487 020

830 641

746 853

90%

Total

4 096 631

972 596

818 547

84%

Total

Rural

21 603 707

4 341 529

1 406 296

32%

Urban

21 094 266

4 988 048

4 071 815

82%

TOTAL

42 697 973

9 329 577

5 478 111

59%

Source: National Electricity Regulator

PUBLIC ENTERPRISES
There are still very few women among the members of public enterprise boards.

Membership of public enterprise boards

Enterprise

Women

Men

Denel

2

10

Autonet

0

9

Central Energy Fund

1

6

Post Office

1

6

Telkom

2

12

Eskom

1

10

Armscor

1

6

Atomic Energy Board

0

10

Mossgas

2

3

Soekor

 

 

Strategic Fuel Fund

 


SA MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE
The SA Management Development Institute offers training for public servants. The types of training offered include:
• Training of trainers
• Provisioning management and administration
• Policy analysis and project management
• Human resources management and management training
• Communication and customer care
• Productivity and quality management.

In addition, the Directorate of Special Programmes offers training in gender sensitisation and gender mainstreaming; change management; personnel performance management, strategic management and transformation.

During 1998 SAMDI trained 5296 public servants, of whom 54% were women, 51% were African and 33% were white. The proportion of women was highest in Communication and Customer Care, at 66%, and lowest in Provisioning Management & Administration, at 46%. Overall, Human Resources Management accounted for 38% of trainees, Productivity and Quality Management for 19% and Provisioning Management & Administration for 16%.

SAMDI’s 1998 trainees by race, gender and type of course

Afr

Wht

Ind

Col

N/A

Tot

M

F

M

F

M

F

M

F

M

F

M

F

Train Trainers

153

116

6

12

3

5

47

72

1

209

206

Provision Mngmt

328

257

32

29

2

4

107

107

469

397

Policy Analysis

23

26

1

1

9

10

33

37

HR Mngmt

482

468

55

51

34

39

240

344

147

174

958

1076

Special Programs

79

66

7

6

6

3

45

114

6

3

143

192

Communic/Care

104

161

7

26

3

1

67

153

8

21

189

362

Prod’vity&Quality

216

217

17

42

14

37

126

223

53

80

426

599

TOTAL

1385

1311

125

167

62

89

641

1023

214

279

2427

2869