South Africa

The Capricorn District Municipality (CDM) at the weekend hosted Limpopo's first provincial Women's Parliament. The purpose of the parliament was to encourage women from all sectors in the district to participate in decision-making and further influence legislative processes which directly affect them.
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SADC leaders have deferred the signing of the Protocol on Gender and Development because some member states need more time to conclude internal consultations following late changes to the document.
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The North West provincial government is providing a forum for women to improve their skills in Information Communications Technologies (ICT), and discuss a wide range of issues in the sector. The North West Women in ICT Indaba will take place at the Mmabatho convention centre Wednesday, where delegates will take part in practical training sessions, demonstrations and discussions on ICT with stakeholders in the sector.
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The Joint Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Women will discuss women advancement and the empowerment of women in politics and gender equality with their Vietnamese counterparts.
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Law enforcement against gender-based violence is to be strengthened, following the signing of a cooperation agreement between South Africa and the United States of America. US Ambassador to South Africa, Eric Bost and Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula signed an agreement set to combat gender-base violence in South Africa.
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The United Nations Security Council has urged countries to enhance female participation in decision-making and to take specific steps to protect women and girls from gender-based violence during conflicts.
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South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said she would not refuse a nomination to head the ruling African National Congress, which is due to choose a new leader next month. The ANC's dominance of South African politics means whoever wins is almost certain to become the next president in 2009.
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Gender activists are planning to march against the ANC Women's League's nomination for Jacob Zuma as the next party president.
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Government should channel finances towards gender equality and women's empowerment programmes, says Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi. The minister emphasised that gender responsive budgets were not separate budgets for women, but are general budgets that are planned, approved, executed, monitored and audited in a gender sensitive way.
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