17 February - Gender - Understanding Gender Budgeting

In today's show we were joined on the line by Bernedette Muthien – Director of Engender. We spoke about Gender Budgeting. Gender budgeting is a method of examining a government budget to determine how it impacts on women, men, children of different social and economic or racial groups. Bernedette helped us understand how Gender Budgeting impacts our lives. Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan presented the budget speech for 2010/2011 to Parliament today. According to Analysts, taxpayers are expected to be "a little poorer" relative to previous years, they predict that this year’s Budget will show caution, stability and savings through stern promises of tighter controls on wasteful spending. Meanwhile, the New Women’s Movement, Engender in partnership with other organisations will be staging a protest in the form of a picket outside Parliament register their concern with the high cost of living, and to demand that government prioritise the needs of poor women and children in the national budget. For more information about Engender contact their offices on (021) 448 2112 or go to www.engender.org.za