Summit 2016- Sanqebethu Council COE

In 2010, Sanqebethu became a Centre of Excellence for Gender Mainstreaming in Local Government, and has made a 28 percent increase in their progress score from when the first scorecard was administered to the current 2015 score of 65 percent. The initial baseline score was 37 percent. The progress is evident in the level of female representation in the council.

The council has put in place a number of gender-related policies to guide its work. The district council consist of 9 male councillors and 6 female councillors. The council aims to expand its percentage of female councillors from 40%. The Mayor of council is a male, and the Deputy Mayor is a female.

The council is made up of 3 committees, one of which is chaired by woman. There are more men employed than women in their Workforce of the council.

Young people, people living with disabilities (PWD) and community members participate in community-based planning projects and meetings. Between 76 and 100 percent, women participate in public consultations.

The total workforce of the council employees consist of 30 percent women, and 17 percent youth. The accounting and revenue officers are women. The Council amended the recruitment, selection and promotion policies to increase the proportion of women in the workforce.

There are provisions for maternity and paternity leave. The council does have a sexual harassment policy. In cases related to Sexual harassment the council is employing Sexual offences act 2003, Reports by Councilors at Police Stations.

The Sanqebethu J03 Community Council allocates a substantial budget to gender-related projects, these amounts have increased from 2015 to 2016.

As part of the of the Council’s local economic development plan, There is a place allocated for Market place; presently individuals install their temporary shacks. There are 120 beneficiaries benefiting from jobs created by the council, 50 women and 70 men.

Women, men, PWD, and youth are involved in the planning, management, and maintenance of water and sanitation. There is a total of 100 water and sanitation committees. There is 50 women and 50 men on the committees, ten of which is chaired by a women.

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