The ANC Women's League (ANCWL) has set its sights on the 2027 elective conference, with secretary-general Nokuthula Nqaba vowing to lobby for female representation in the officials list.
Nqaba said the league would prioritise the ANC's next leadership contest to elevate ANCWL members, adding that she believed they had befitting members in their ranks.
“In any position that is available and where we have the leadership of a woman ready and fit to stand the test of time, with all the capabilities and qualities required in terms of the criteria from the guidelines — if that comrade meets those requirements, we will occupy that position.
“We are declaring that we are going to capture and close ranks to occupy any space that is available. We are always clear that it should not be done on the basis of a quota, it should be done because a comrade has met all the requirements as per the guiding documents and the internal processes of the organisation.”
While conceding that the party elections relied on branch nominations, she said the league remained optimistic in its quest to contest to lead the party.
“Particularly at a branch level, because it is the branches that guide us, who decide and dictate who must occupy a particular position in the conferences of the ANC. We are members of the ANC Women's League in good standing and therefore, we are members of the ANC, and have an interest in positions. We always say the time is now and the future is female.”
She said the generation of stalwarts such as Albertina Sisulu can be proud of the state of the Women's League, despite its shortfalls.
She called out the callous behaviour of women undermining each other's leadership — a tendency observed to betray the plight of women when they contest ANC elective conferences.
Nqaba blamed the root of the division to patriarchy, which she says transcends the black, green and gold banners of the ANC.
“We are very proud of where we are, even though there are some challenges. We know that the issues of gender parity are informed by patriarchy. It is not something that is a walkover that we can resolve and say we have managed to get what we want. Even in our mother body, the ANC, we are living under that kind of influence of an old patriarchal system which makes women feel inferior.
“We have a tendency as women of undermining each other, the 'pull her down' syndrome of not giving each other an opportunity. The secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, said it voluntarily that the time is now — here are the opportunities, grab them.”
The ANCWL hosted a wreath-laying ceremony at the grave of late struggle stalwart Albertina Sisulu on Monday where Mbalula said the time for women has come to take up their rightful positions in the top brass of the party.
This as talks have started in the ANC's corridors regarding succession.
Nqaba sang Mbalula's praises, saying his joke that women must not be afraid to contest for the top seven positions such as national chairperson, should not be ignored.
“He is talking to us and encouraging us as women to say, here is the space, let's occupy it. We are also discouraging that tendency of undermining each other and not supporting each other as women in occupying influential positions.
“We cannot sleep, wake up and say we will get positions the following day. It is work in progress. With the kind of SG that we have in the ANC, that is forever available to support us via resources and otherwise, he is available. He ensures that in the ANC, we are given an opportunity, and we are listened to.”
Nqaba said it was the likes of Sisulu from whom they draw inspiration, having proved that women are capable of leading in the liberation movement.
“If it wasn't because of the work done by the likes of Mam' Sisulu, we wouldn't be speaking this language, we wouldn't be having leaders of the ANC appreciating the role, the responsibility and meaningful impact that can be played by women in this country. Not only in government or the private sector, but also in the ANC.
“We have policies that speak about 50/50 and gender parity, making sure that we participate equally with our male counterparts in terms of skills, knowledge and empowerment. We are working towards ensuring that we do not drop the ball, from the legacy that the giants of the movement have given us, instead we stand on their shoulders.”
Nqaba said despite their attempts at ensuring that ANC gender parity policies are followed in government deployment, it was a difficult task because the party had lost majority rule for the first time in 30 years in post-apartheid democracy.
“There was an issue of 50/50 that we were talking about in the government of national unity and we pleaded with the leadership ... to accommodate women so we can get that number. We fell short because of the other parties, but from the ANC we have done our best.”
Despite not winning the battle in the GNU formation, Nqaba says her league championed the inclusion of women where the ANC had influence in provincial structures.
“Today in Mpumalanga and North West have amended [and] corrected the mistake committed there, we have 60% women and 40% male representatives. So these are the things that we can reflect on in terms of goals we have achieved.”
