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Useless gender commission has failed dismally

WILLIAM Gumede's column in Sowetan of August 5, on gender equality, is spot on in showing that gender equality is still a dream.

WILLIAM Gumede's column in Sowetan of August 5, on gender equality, is spot on in showing that gender equality is still a dream.

The Commission on Gender Equality has failed in its constitutional mandate to monitor whether gender equality is implemented in all sectors.

It is a toothless bulldog and lacks visionary leadership. How can gender equality issues be addressed when the commission is in shambles and has no position on anything?

For too long gender and HIV-Aids activists have complained about this toothless body and it seems Parliament does not want to take civil society organisations seriously.

Neither does Parliament and the Presidency want to correct the problems that beset this body. Save for the ANC Women's League, we also know they can't do much when it comes to issues such as the 50-50 campaign.

The commission's track record on a number of issues such as HIV-Aids, sex work and violence against women indicates its unwillingness to address these problems. The institution has also been rocked by internal wrangling.

Former MP Kader Asmal had recommended that the body be closed down.

Gender work is best performed by civil society organisations , while the Human Rights Commission, for instance, has failed even to take on prejudiced political leaders such as Julius Malema .

It took Mbuyiselo Botha of Sonke Gender Justice to take Malema to the equality court. Perhaps he was gatvol of the commission's inefficiency.

The commission is a flop .

James Letsiboho Qololo,Johannesburg

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