CGE ANNUAL REPORT

2022/23 ANNUAL REPORT

Name of Commissioner

Strategic Outcomes

Quarter 2 Activity Report

The Mineral Resources and Energy’s Draft Mine Health and Safety Amendment Bill (2022) – 07 September 2022: - The CGE welcomed the opportunity to make inputs into Bill and shall reiterate the proposed sections under the review of the draft Mine Health and Safety Amendment Bill for the Department. Cognisant that historically the mining industry has been a male dominant sector and the introduction and insurance of the full incorporation of women into this sector have been a challenge. Gender equality in the world of work is generally undermined by the widespread problem of conscious – as well as unconscious bias, where women find themselves sometimes being held back by gender stereotypes, company practices and structures that favours men’s traditional roles and lifestyles over those of women and the mining sector has been no exception to this. The CGE wishes to commend the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy on the bill and its attempt to introduce an aspect of a gender element. However, the CGE finds that the bill is still very gender blind, particularly as it pertains to the actual health and safety of women miners and noted that it fails to comply with Part 3: Preventative and Protective measures at the Mine – Article 6 “Responsibilities of the Employers”, Way Forward / Recommendations: - The CGE welcomed the need for the amendment of the bill, however, there was also a need to strengthen the aspect of occupational health and safety to include the entirety of the science in protecting the most vulnerable worker in the male-dominated industry. Portfolio Committee (PC) on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities – 12 & 13 September 2022: - The Commission for Gender Equality presented its first quarter progress, financial and audit reports to the Portfolio Committee highlighting its achievements and challenges during the period under review, A follow up meeting was held on Friday, 14 October and CGE presented its Annual Report 2022/23 at this meeting. - Way Forward / Recommendations: - CGE to undergo forensic investigation.

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