Summit 2017-Thaba Mokhele Council COE
The council has a gender action plan, which is well known and has a high profile champion within the council, as a result of several efforts put to widely disseminate it.
The Council members are twenty one all in all, of which nine of them are women, while twelve are men, which makes up 43% women representatives. In terms of management, only two women councillors are in council management, while men are not represented at all. Additionally, council staff overall comprises six women and four men, of which 60% makes the representation of women.
LNFOD as a non-governmental works around disability persons has a representative by the name of Chabeli Letsane, who ensures that all council proceedings and agenda is disability inclusive, and addresses the needs and interests of people living with disabilities.
There is a provision for maternity leave of three months paid. After the first three months of giving birth the mother is again given nursing hours for the three months. The council does not have a sexual harassment policy but report cases at the police station ( Child and Gender Protection Unit – CGPU ) when they occur. The council’s building is disability-friendly and accommodates everybody.
Local Economic Development; There are no market places specifically designed, and there are no stands that are allocated to women, men, people with disabilities and youth. There is however, a social compact programme, care Lesotho financial schemes (teranka). The Local Economic Development that goes towards the empowerment of women and other disadvantage groups does not exist at all.
Thaba Mokhele Community Council allocated a substantial budget to gender-related projects for the 2017 to 2018.
| Category | Budget 2016 | Budget 2017 |
| Resources allocated to promoting gender equality in decision-making and public participation | $5 534 | $8 486 |
| Resources allocated to promoting gender equality/family friendly/ youth and disability friendly policies and practices | $0 | $0 |
| Resources allocated to gender-responsive local economic development | $18 728 | $19 665 |
| Resources allocated to promoting gender/youth/PWD responsive projects on climate change | $29 998 | $35 998 |
In waste management programme, council ensures that 60% of total labourers engaged are female. There is also an existence of entrepreneurship finance schemes linked to council that benefit women, men, people living with disability, and youth. In hiring of the vehicles for waste management, 45% is given to female owned companies.
- UNDP / GEP funded projects took place within the community, under; Reducing Vulnerability to
Women have been allocated one 103 sites, while men have been allocated 251 sites during land allocation. The committees exist, including the social services committee, which is outstanding in the council, and water maintenance and extensions are carried out. The projects have decreased the long distance travelled by water collectors, who are mostly women, and brought them to nearby places.
The council widely distribute condoms for both males and females without discrimination. The council also network and liase with New Start (PSI) to embark on Test and Treat Campaigns and also to distribute condoms and provide public education.
In terms of prevention and public awareness, the council was actively involved in the fun walk on: 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women and Girls. To respond to the violence and for coordination purposes, the council is an active member of policing forums, and thus work hand in hand with CGPU to support victims of sexual violence and also empower them.
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