By Karabo Marifi
Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has drawn a bold line in the sand, declaring that the department’s newly tabled Strategic Plan and Annual Performance Plan is “not a wishlist” but a focused and policy-driven roadmap anchored in constitutional responsibility and institutional accountability.
Presenting the department’s five-year Strategic Plan to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Minister Chikunga laid out a clear programme of action that targets three urgent priorities: intensifying the national response to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), tackling youth unemployment and exclusion, and building an inclusive state responsive to the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.
“We are not presenting a wishlist. We are presenting a focused, policy-driven programme of work. And we welcome your oversight, because it helps sharpen our ability to deliver,” Chikunga told the committee.
From Crisis Response to Permanent Solutions
At the core of the Strategic Plan is the commitment to shift from reactive crisis response to long-term, sustainable institutional change. On GBVF, the department is fast-tracking the establishment of the National Council on GBVF, with appointments being finalised and the Council set to become operational by 1 April 2026.
“In the interim, the department is strengthening the Technical Task Team, aligning sector departments behind NSP priorities, and expanding provincial implementation support — especially in prevention, justice, psychosocial services, and survivor empowerment,” Chikunga said.
The plan also includes bolstering the National Youth Machinery and aligning National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) initiatives with the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention. Efforts are under way to integrate the National Pathway Management Network to streamline job access for young people.
For persons with disabilities, the department will enhance the Disability Rights Machinery, conduct infrastructure audits to improve universal access, and work closely with municipalities to promote inclusive design in public services.
“These challenges won’t be solved by one department. But if we don’t lead decisively on these issues, they will remain peripheral in the machinery of the state,” the Minister cautioned.
Advancing Legislative Impact
Chikunga also highlighted a robust legislative agenda designed to entrench gender, youth, and disability rights as enforceable obligations across government and society. Over the current Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF), four major Bills will be prioritised:
• National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Act: Operationalisation underway; Council to launch in April 2026.
• Women Empowerment and Gender Equality (WEGE) Bill: To be submitted to Cabinet; aims to enhance gender equity compliance.
• Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill: In final drafting stage; aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
• South African Youth Development Bill: Being refined to strengthen youth coordination mechanisms across the state.
“The test of any legislative agenda is not how many laws we pass but how well we implement them,” Chikunga affirmed.
Strengthening Planning, Data and Coordination
Emphasising results over rhetoric, the Minister stressed the importance of embedding gender, youth, and disability imperatives into national planning and budgeting systems. The department is partnering with Stats SA and the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) to build stronger data systems and community-level feedback loops.
“Our aim is to move from episodic coordination to institutional discipline. From fragmented responses to coherent delivery. Because ultimately, our success will not be judged by what we announce but by what we achieve.”
The department also aims to institutionalise Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) practices across all areas of its work. This includes disaggregated data tracking, real-time progress evaluation, and structured reporting mechanisms that ensure programmes respond to lived realities on the ground.
Commitment to Delivery and Accountability
Chikunga concluded her presentation with a powerful reflection on the urgency of the department’s mission. She acknowledged that while progress has been made in some areas, others remain stagnant — and now is the time for clarity, focus, and action.
“We are not starting from zero. We are building on foundations — some strong, some uneven — and we intend to accelerate what works, correct what doesn’t, and ensure that our programmes are matched by institutional capability.”
“We do not take this space for granted. It is a moment of reflection, of accountability, and of alignment between the work we do as a department and the constitutional responsibilities that we collectively carry.”
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