SA: Polokwane Municipality

Polokwane Municipality is the heart of Limpopo, the Local Council of Capricorn District Municipality. Polokwane Municipality accounts for 3% of the total surface area of Limpopo; however, over 10% of the population of Limpopo resides within its boundaries.

Actions Plan of Polokwane Municipality has been adopted. There’s a portfolio committee of Special Focus chaired by a woman addressing issues and reports of Special Focus before they are tabled at the Council Meeting. Moreover there’s Women’s Caucus where politicians address Gender issues.

The council has 91 councillors, by which 47 of those are male and 44 are female. The Mayor of the council is a female. The Deputy Mayor is also a female. This council is working twice as hard in promoting gender equality and ensuring that not only men secure top positions but women get an equal chance as well.

There are 10 committees within Polokwane Municipality. Of those committees, women chair five and the other five are chaired by men. Women, youth and people with disabilities (PWD) participate in the IDP Meetings, IDP Rep Forums, and Awareness Campaigns. Between 51 and 75 percent women participate in the public consultations.

The council has three months’ provision for maternity leave and one month for paternity leave. There is a flexi time provision for school activities and meetings for people who have children and the council also gives people some free time to attend to family emergencies, for example in cases of death. In terms of sexual harassment cases, Labour Relations, Legal Section and Unions to handle such cases.

Polokwane Municipality has allocated a budget from 2015 and 2016 to support gender related projects.

As part of the economic plan, the council has market stall to help the people have a sense of an income. Itsoseng Centre has 20 stalls, with five allocated to PWD and Three to Youth, seven allocated to Women and last five to Men.

The Municipality has the Environmental Department that deals with climate changes and sustainable development. All stakeholders are consulted during IDP meetings and Campaigns.