Mid Term Report - Gauteng Online

3.4 Deepening democracy and realisingthe constitutional rights of our peopleWhile South Africa’s democratic constitutionprovides the framework for democraticpractice, the defence and consolidation ofdemocracy requires ongoing concerted action.Important strides have been made in overcomingpast divisions and forging a common identity. However,more needs to be done to strengthen nationbuilding and entrench the values and rights enshrinedin the constitution.Important progress has been made in entrenchingthe rights of women, children, people with disabilitiesand other vulnerable groups. However, unfairdiscrimination and the abuse of women and childrenremain a challenge.Key challengesThe key challenges identified in the period 2004 to2014 in deepening democracy include the following:• An increasingly diverse population and ongoinghigh levels of migration to Gauteng from withinand outside South Africa.• The ongoing challenge of racial and genderdiscrimination, increasing inequality and redressingthe legacy of apartheid.• The impact of the HIV and AIDS epidemic onfamily, community and social cohesion.• The socio-economic and socio-cultural circumstancesof a large number of women whichpredisposes them to dependency, and rendersthem unable to leave abusive relationships andvulnerable to sexual abuse. At the same time, increasingwomen’s empowerment also challengestraditional patriarchal relations.• High levels of crime, particularly inter-personaland family violence and crimes resulting fromthe alienation of youth, which can lead to thedestabilization of communities.• Changing inter-generational relations as a newgeneration of young people emerges, with oftena significantly different set of values and aspirationsfrom their parents.Deepening democracy also requires that we createincreasing avenues for all our people to participatein decision making about all aspects of their livesand fully exercise the rights and responsibilities ofcitizenship.Key commitmentsThe priority actions and programmes identified in thefive year strategic programme in 2004 were:Midterm Report - 2004/06 • 45