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ANC Women’s League president Bathabile Dlamini. Picture: Elizabeth Sejake
No one ever questions a man about getting a position by having sex
with someone, or through tribalism. But these issues have been raised because
patriarchy says women are not capable.
ANC Women’s League president Bathabile Dlamini was on the offensive
today, blasting critics who said Thoko Didiza had slept her way to a nomination
for mayoral candidate for the Tshwane metro.
“The issues of patriarchy and power relations are at play right
now,” she told journalists at Luthuli House, where the league threw its weight
behind Didiza.
Didiza herself, however, was not seated among the group of about 10
women’s league leaders who had been nominated to mayoral or other prominent
positions in councils.
“Some of the placards that we have read, they are about comrade
Thoko going to bed… which means that women get into positions through sleeping
[their way to the top].
“We condemn that with the contempt it deserves, because we know
women work very hard, and we do have women in South Africa who have shown
commitment to the people of South Africa.”
She said people should not “use these tricks” when women are placed
in decision-making positions.
She asked why the ANC would elect Didiza to its national executive
committee if she wasn’t good enough to lead.
Didiza was elected to the committee in 2012 after resigning from
Cabinet in 2008, following former president Thabo Mbeki’s resignation.
“So the issue of power relations is very important, which means the
country at large still has a big task of dealing with the issues of the demon of
patriarchy that always changes itself.
“Today it’s tribalism, it’s bed and everything, and no one has ever
questioned a man about being put into a position through sleeping with someone,
or through tribalism.
“And all sorts of issues have come up here just because there are
those that think we are not capable. And we are saying: give these women an
opportunity; you will see change in our communities.”
Dlamini denied that Didiza was set up to fail in a metro which
polls have shown could fall out of ANC hands, saying the job of winning the
metro was a collective ANC effort.
Some of the criticism from those opposing Didiza’s appointment was
that she wasn’t born in Tshwane, but in KwaZulu-Natal.
Although Didiza has carried women’s issues before, such as serving
as national general secretary of the Women’s National Coalition from 1992 to
1994, she has never served in the women’s league.
Dlamini also said the women’s league would support a woman for
president at the ANC’s elective conference next year, but that the structures
had not discussed names yet.
She also said the league would push for 50/50 representation for
women for “all decision-making bodies“, which included the ANC’s top six as well
as the presidency.
This issue was mooted at the party’s 2007 conference when the 50/50
gender representation principle was adopted, but it was decided that this should
not apply to the upper structures. At the time the names on the slates for
leadership did not allow for this. – News24
