Chantelle Fourie-Shawe

Attendance

Present

52

Leave of absence

12

Absent without leave

0

Arrived late

4

Left early

1

Reasons given for leave: Private business (7), Ill health (2), Other (1), Party business (1), No reason recorded (1).

"Absent without leave" means the signed minutes of a meeting held while they were on council neither list them as present nor excuse them, and no similar name appears that day, so misspellings in the minutes don't count against anyone. Each square links to the minutes.

In the chamber

From the 10 sittings transcribed so far in their term. Times are approximate, to the nearest transcript line.

Not present when called

0

Times given the floor

3

Average wait to start

3 s

Average greetings first

0 s

How they speak (AI judgments by Jev) is shown from 10 transcribed lines; they have 8 so far.

Apology or leave of absence (2)

• 24 Jun 2026 · 00:27:00Arriving late. DA notified late arrival. sitting
• 26 May 2026 · 00:14:14Party business. Reason (party business) is given in the next transcript line. sitting

In their words

Every time the chair gave them the floor in a transcribed sitting (3), newest first. The words are the AI transcript of that stretch of the livestream (Argon), so they can include the chair or an interjection; the time link is the place to check.

• 30 Sept 2026 · 05:11:23Item 7 GBVF Strategy · 2 min 52 s

  Read what they said (417 words)

  Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today we are being asked to approve the city's Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Strategy. We do support its purpose. Every woman, child, and vulnerable resident deserves to live safely, and every survivor deserves help when they need it. Although this strategy does speak about awareness campaigns, prevention, psychosocial support, safe spaces, skills development, partnerships, and economic empowerment, it does not tell us clearly what will be delivered, how much it will cost, who is responsible, or when we should see results.

  According to data tracked by organizations like UN Women, South Africa's femicide rate is roughly five times higher than the global average. Studies show that approximately a third of our country's women have experienced physical violence in their lifetime. The response to the endemic crisis can no longer just be words. Where is the measurable action?

  The report says the money for implementation will be sought through the budget process and partnerships. So, essentially, Council is being asked to approve the strategy before seeing a costed plan that tells us what services will be funded and how they will reach residents. We cannot hold the department accountable for promises when the plan does not say what resources are committed or what results it must deliver.

  This is not just a concern from opposition benches, Madam Speaker. Organizations working directly with survivors have been raising the alarm. The National Shelter Movement warned that shelters were under financial pressure and that the 2025 national budget did not make clear dedicated provision for their services. In Parliament, members raised concerns about slow implementation, funding shortfalls, and poor coordination in the national response. At the 2026 Women's Parliament, participants again called for measurable targets, gender-responsive budgets, and consequences when commitments are not delivered.

  Madam Speaker, a strategy is not a service. Survivors do not need another promise that funding will be found later. The department should return rather with a costed implementation plan, measurable targets, named responsibilities, and regular reports to this Council on funding, progress, and service gaps. That is the bare minimum we should expect.

  Enough of the plans that sound good on paper, but does nothing in reality to rid our society of this crisis. If we truly value our mothers, our daughters, sisters, and wives, we must ensure services are funded, and there is a clear line of responsibility, and that results can be measured. Um the Democratic Alliance will therefore not be supporting this item in its current form. Thank you.

• 26 Aug 2026 · 00:48:39Confirmation of minutes · 6 s

  Read what they said (16 words)

  Thank you Madam Speaker. Um, the DA agrees with the contents of the minutes. Thank you.

• 24 Jun 2026 · 00:31:44Confirmation of minutes · 14 s

  Read what they said (43 words)

  Thank you, Madam Speaker. No changes from us. I just have an an an urgent request though. Item 69 to 85, we did submit speakers yesterday. They're not on the list. I'll send them through to you. Perhaps there was an admin issue.

Spoke on

• 30 Sept 2026 · 05:08:32Item 7: Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Strategy
• 26 Aug 2026 · 00:46:23Confirmation of minutes
• 24 Jun 2026 · 00:30:44Confirmation of minutes