Minister hits back at ANCWL

BASIC Education Minister Angie Motshekga has expressed disappointment at a statement issued by the ANC Women’s League accusing her of “ill-discipline” and rejected the allegations.

Motshekga said she had served the ANCWL for years at numerous levels, including as its president.

She had “not organised any events under the name of the ANCWL”, but regularly got invited to address forums on women’s issues during the month of August.

“It is disappointing that an organisation to which I have dedicated a large portion of my life, because it is meant to help women rise up together, can release a petty media statement aimed at trying to bring a fellow woman cde down. Is this what the ANCWL has become under the current leadership?”

Motshekga was a leader in her own right and remained a dedicated member of the ANCWL in good standing. She was an elected member of the ANC national executive committee (NEC) and a cabinet minister. She had written academic papers on women’s issues and served time in prison during apartheid. Motshekga rejected the accusations and encouraged the leadership of the ANCWL to “remain steadfast in their endeavours to emancipate the women of this country rather than take up the petty political battles as they seem to be focused on of late”.

At the weekend, ANCWL secretary-general Meokgo Matuba said the ANCWL leadership had received reports alleging that Motshekga “is organising various events around the country under the banner of the ANCWL”.

“In order to maintain unity within the organisation, the democratically elected leadership of the ANCWL under president cde Bathabile Dlamini will nip in the bud any signs of ill-discipline rearing its ugly head in the organisation (sic).

“Cde Angie must accept that a duly constituted conference of the ANCWL did not vote for her to continue in the leadership. She must allow herself to be led and desist from trying to rule the ANCWL from the grave (sic).” – ANA