Women, children and people with disabilities

Know your Minister

The Department of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities (DWCPD) was established in May 2009. The Minister is Ms Lulu Xingwana.

When the announced the new department, President Zuma said the creation of the department was part of government’s renewed focus on doing things differently.

The department replaced the Office of the Status of Women, People with Disabilities, Youth and Children located within the Presidency. The new department works closely with similar sections in the offices of the premiers in the nine provincial governments.

Neglected groups

The department is headed by a director-general and three deputy directors-general each responsible for the portfolios of Women, Children and People with Disabilities.

The purpose of the DWCPD is to drive government’s programme on employment equity, equality and empowerment agenda with regarding neglected groups and historically disadvantaged communities in each of the three sectors.

The department’s mission is to create an enabling environment so that government can monitor and evaluate the carrying out of the three group’s rights as set out in the Constitution.

Goals for gender equality

The DWCPD also aims to assist public-funded institutions, organs of civil society, state-owned enterprises and the private sector to achieve national and global goals for gender equality and the rights of children and persons with disabilities.