Publications
Partners
ANCWL president Bathabile Dlamini. Picture: Elizabeth Sejake
“Blessers” are opportunistic men trying to destroy young people,
ANC Womens League President Bathabile Dlamini has said.
“I feel disorganised and disarmed when someone talks about that. It
looks like prostitution and abuse of young woman by old men with money. It’s
really unfair,” she told journalists at ANC headquarters Luthuli House
yesterday.
“Blessers” give young women money or other goods in return for
their company and sexual favours. Dlamini was speaking at the league’s
announcement of its 60th anniversary celebrations and its plans for its election
campaign.
She said young women should not expect handouts from old men.
“We also try and ensure they understand that at a particular age
you can’t have things that older women have. You must work for them. You must
not always expect handouts or presents. That disturbs your growth,” she told
journalists.
Dlamini however condoned an ANC Youth League election campaign
advertisement showing young women wearing bikini bottoms and ANC T-shirts with
President Jacob Zuma’s face.
“As part of the campaign, young women wear bikinis. It’s youth
programmes. As long as they don’t demean young women and don’t differentiate. As
long as they are able to define beauty,” she said.
Dlamini said before South Africa’s democracy, black women were
unable to participate in beauty competitions. Now they use such competitions to
improve young women’s lives.
“That is very important. Sometimes we want to impose our
stereotypes on young people,” she said. – News24
