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A call for NA to probe provision of free sanitary pads | TaungDailyNews
By REGINALD KANYANE
30 October 2024– The Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities considered a petition from #TeamFreeSanitaryPads calling on the National Assembly (NA) to investigate the provision of free sanitary pads and menstrual health.
Civil society organisation #TeamFreeSanitaryPads briefed the committee on the various things contributing to the unsuccessful implementation of the Sanitary Dignity Programme (SDP).
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Liezl van der Merwe said challenges include insufficient funding, delays in procurement, quality concerns over sanitary products, and fragmented coordination between government departments. Van der Merwe said the committee told the Department of Women, Youth
and Persons with Disabilities that is unhappy about the department’s persistent failure to implement the SDP.
“We have expressed deep concern over the lack of progress. It is unacceptable that we still have young girls missing school and women unable to access their basic dignity due to period poverty. This is a violation of their human rights that we can no longer tolerate.
“The committee acknowledges the valuable work being done by civil society, but we cannot rely on their efforts alone. The government has a constitutional and moral obligation to ensure the dignity and rights of all young girls are upheld, and we will use our oversight role to hold the department accountable,” she said.
Van der Merwe further said some of the key issues raised and discussed during the engagement include the initial request for R400 million in funding for the programme, which was only allocated R157 million in the first year. She added that the committee noted with concern the underfunding of the mandate.
“The committee also heard of the delays and challenges with procurement processes in some provinces, with the Free State province not distributing a single sanitary pad since the 2021/22 financial year.
“The committee also expressed concern about the quality and safety of some sanitary products being distributed, while some committee members called for stronger regulation and oversight from bodies such as the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, for example,” said Van der Merwe.
She proposed an inquiry into the Sanitary Dignity Programme to better understand the implementation challenges and to develop concrete recommendations to strengthen the programme.
“We will use every tool at our disposal to ensure this programme delivers on its promise,” said Van der Merwe.
Meanwhile, #TeamFreeSanitaryPads said that South Africa’s young girls and women need a menstrual health rights bill and law. Nandipha Ndwandwe from #TeamFreeSanitaryPads emphasised that, rather than relying on the existing policy framework, legislation is critical to protect menstrual health.