Gender

1. National

NATIONAL GENDER CO- ORDINATOR
PATRICIA NYMAN

NATIONAL OFFICE BEARERS DESIGNATE
MDUDUZI  MBONGWE – DG SECTRETARY
ANGIE PHETHLE – 1ST DEPUTY PRESIDENT

NATIONAL GENDER OFFICE BEARERS
EMELIA MAPHAKELA – CHAIRPERSON
THOMAS RADEBE – DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON
VIRGINIA NONYANE – SECRETARY
PAULINE TIMOTHY – TREASURER

NATIONAL ADMINISTRATOR
BOITUMELO MAUCO

2. Regional

EASTERN CAPE – NONDUMISO NGOQO
FSNC – NOZI RADEBE
KZN – NTOMBI NDLOVU
MPUMALANGA – KGAUGELO DIBAKOANE
NORTHERN REGION – MAPHEFO STUMO
NWVAAL – KEDIBONE GOUWS
WESTERN CAPE – FIHLIWE LUSU
WITS – AMANDA MKIZWANA

3. Aims and objectives of the department

To advance the aims of the Union Constitution as enshrined in Section 1  from 1.1. to 1.25 with specific reference to 1,7.; 1.8. and 1.25.
To implement all SACCAWU Congress Resolutions and Programmes emanating from National Congress term mandate.

4. SACCAWU COMPREHENSIVE GENDER POLICY

The Department is guided by the SACCAWU Gender Policy which draws together all SACCAWU resolutions, policy decisions and document into a comprehensive document. The Policy enshrines the vision of a society free from all forms oppression and exploitation based on class, sex, gender and race, in our struggle for socialism. We have a vision of SACCAWU as a home for all women workers.
The overall strategic approach of SACCAWU to advance gender equality is a multifaceted approach guided by the empowerment and leadership of women firstly and gender mainstreaming through:

  • Building Women Leadership, Representation and activism from shopfloor/workplace to National level
  • Creating a Gender Sensitive Environment in the Union that encourage and facilitate Women leadership , Representation, Activism and Gender Mainstreaming.
  • Eliminating the Gender Division of Labour in the Union.
  • Eliminating Sexual Harassment in the Union
  • Organizing Women workers in particular young women workers
  • Building Gender Equality in the Workplace through key Campaigns leading to improvements in Wages and Working Conditions with reference to women and gender. Key campaigns are:
    Parental Rights, Childcare facilities, Eliminating Sexual Harassment, Equal Pay for Equal Work and Work of Equal Value, Health and Safety, HIV and Aids, Safe Transport when Working; extended/flexible Hours, Employment Equity Plans/Agreements, LGBTIQ discrimination and
    building and empowering the participation and Representation of women in Negotiations Teams.
  • Promoting Gender Equality in Society through solidarity with workers in vulnerable positions such as Domestic and Sex Workers. Participating in broader socio-economic struggles to improve the living conditions and quality of life of all working class women, by ensuring that political, socio-economic policies and legalization are gender biased and sensitive; addressing Human Trafficking , Xenophobia and Climate Change
  • Eliminating Gender Based Violence, Femicide and against Children in the World of Work and in Society.
  • Building the Women’s Movement
  • Building International Solidarity

5. ORGANISATIONAL STUCTURES AND MEETINGS

  • Local Gender Committees – once per month
  • Regional Gender Committees – twice per year
  • National Gender Committee – twice per month
  • National Gender Conference – every three years

  • Company Based Gender Co-ordinators and structures from shopfloor/ workplace to National level that drives the Union programmes though organizing and building activism of women members and  meetings as determined by the Constitution – Clauses 8 to 9.

6. MAINSTREAMING GENDER EQUALITY

  • The Department works closely with the Education, OCCBU, International, Legal and Administration Departments as Gender Equality is a crosscutting issue.