Wathinta Mama Sisulu wathinta imbokodo

THE article “Sisulu takes aim at Mantashe” (DD, October 16) refers. The time for the ANC presidency to change from being male dominant to giving a woman a chance should not be viewed from a narrow perspective. Some have already gone out publicly to say women are not ready to rebuild the ANC back to its former glory. The narrative is deeply motivated by the way in which some men perceive their female counterparts in leadership positions – as too weak to stand. Traditionally women are not usually chosen to lead or take over chieftainship or monarchy. This is mainly because at some point they are likely to marry someone from another clan and will be expected to submit to that man from that clan.

But a reasonable man cannot apply that argument to the issue of who should run a political organisation, especially when it comes to a woman with tested struggle credentials such as Mama Lindiwe Sisulu.

She is a longest serving minister in various departments. We’re taking about an internationally trained, tried and tested intelligence cadre here, one who can easily dismantle and assemble an AK47 within seconds, faster than setting a dinner table.

I think it would be a terrible mistake to judge her by the fancy appearance secretary-general (SG). Her struggle credentials speak for themselves – she is the most politically senior presidential candidate of all – no handlers behind her, but because fame and money always mislead, some would wish that this truth never sees the light.

I do encourage the SG takes her up on the cup of coffee discussion as suggested by Mama Sisulu. When and if that happens, apart from taking the SG through the experience of underground struggle where one’s life was not guaranteed and the background of the ANC prior to 1994, Mama Sisulu could share with SG the role played by Abathembu King Sabata Jonguhlanga Dalindyebo (known as Comrade King).

I highlight this issue, because I still have fresh memories of the SG’s utterances to his Majesty King Zwelibanzi on the Mthatha Airport runway in December 2013, when Zwelibanzi went to welcome the body of one of his elder royal family relatives, Nkosi Dalibhunga Mandela.

As he greeted the King, I was standing next to his Majesty. In his closing remarks the SG said “I am a republican. I don’t subscribe to a monarch”, meaning that he did not submit to the king.

The SG said this jokingly but a clear message was passed at the same time. Whilst he was born at Cala village which is under his Majesty’s jurisdiction, he had no shame in making mocking, provocative remarks. I guess being a powerful politician deletes one’s origin, identity and heritage. But we were shocked nonetheless, to hear him confront our King in that way, especially in the land of his ancestors and in front of the royal entourage.

Of course, not all trained ANC cadres, especially those in exile with Comrade King such as the late Chris Hani and OR Tambo would have uttered such derogatory words that by extension might have implied that since the struggle for freedom had passed its dark days, kings had suddenly become irrelevant.

Moving on to the premature start of the ANC’s presidential campaign despite the resolution that nominations would open after the June policy conference. Not a single rebuke came from the SG to those who defied the party’s official position on this matter. Instead he aligned himself with one of the contestants admitting he could not be neutral because “who can be expected to be an island in an ocean of contestation”.

To me this admission was quite shocking considering his oversight of branches in relation to fighting factions. This is surely why he turned a blind eye to those acting contrarily to the official position.

Hayi imbi lendawo (the atmosphere in which we are working is terrible). How does one go public and say, I will rebuild this organisation and take it back to its original glory, whilst defying the same organisation’s official position, trying to run ahead of others.

Doesn’t it cross the person’s mind that if you do become a leader you’ll be reminded of your past conduct and you can’t instil discipline in the organisation because you scaled the ladder by breaking the rules. And having broken the rules once, it’s easy to develop the habit of doing it again when it’s convenient for you to do so.

Some say Mama Sisulu’s campaign started very late. Not true. It started on time – the official time. If she was so ambitious, she too could have broken the same rules and later said, I will fix them when I become a president. How absurd that would be.

An impartial SG would have called for the disqualification of those who entered the race before the bell rang, but because such conduct might possibly achieve his desired outcome, this went uncorrected.

Then on Tuesday night on SABC news, Mantashe said: “It can’t be free for all , the election process had to be managed.”

His utterances still imply that he is not ashamed of trying to ensure that the outcome favours his preferred candidate.

And if he already has a preferred outcome as SG – the person who is expected to champion the correct auditing of the results – how are we expected to be confident that he will ensure fairness?

This is a recipe for deep crisis and factionalism in the movement orchestrated at the highest level.

That’s enough explaining of a culture where wrong becomes right, not to mention the persecution that happens to those who stand against an unjust system to the extent that they decide to leave their hard-fought for liberation movement.

I’ve no doubt expressing my views will earn me more victimisation. But I think truth has to be told. Sorry SG, this includes to your fellow comrades who chose to blindly support your position.

Let’s allow the branches, not money, to determine the outcome of position. No undue influence. No using the same old formula of electing a male president while expecting a different result – this is lazy thinking and a boring proposition for today’s youth who will see it as discouraging innovation.

Then there is the fact that a particularly inspiring characteristic of woman leadership is sensitivity. Women have, over many generations, suffered acute poverty. They know the pain of seeing a child going to bed on an empty stomach or collapsing in a classroom due to hunger.

South Africa suffers inequality to the degree that certain individuals can afford R10-million plus for a buffalo (cow) whilst rock drillers in our mines facing death every day are denied a net salary of R12 500 and cannot afford to educate their children to break cycles of family poverty.

Under woman leadership inequality will doubtless be dealt with vigorously.

Over the centuries Africans were turned into the servants of foreign masters who turned our kings into their employees, paid them stipends, hired and fired them as they wished. Little has changed, to be honest. We still see our brothers and sisters being peasants in their land of their fathers. Change is needed. I write as an ANC-loving person and a traditional leader. The mistake the ANC tends to make is to concentrate on branch delegates before the national conference while ignoring the voices of those who are not going to the conference as delegates.

Yet more than 11-million people vote for the ANC – not just over 4 200 delegates who decide on the presidency of the party.

For those not going to the December conference the reality of trying to retain the majority will begin to kick-in come January 2018. Traditional and religious leaders who might think our voices don’t matter now will make another mistake if they don’t support change.

I therefore encourage all bold and beautiful women of Mzantsi to show us what they have, that a woman’s place is not defined by the kitchen as is stated by some. Imagine Dr Zweli Mkhize or comrade Cyril as Mama Sisulu’s deputy. A mindshift is needed to avoid repeating past mistakes.

Some have been made to believe that ANC culture requires a deputy to automatically assume the presidency. But this is not in the ANC constitution nor has it been raised throughout a series of policy conferences. So why raise it now, unless for opportunistic purposes and to disadvantage others.

When I delivered my King’s speech on September 27 last year at an Emperor’s Palace gala dinner hosted by the ANC Women’s League to mark Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s 80 birthday, I told of how, when Madiba was sentenced to life imprisonment, Mama Winnie never broke down in tears, instead she loudly shouted “Amandla”. With her fist clenched and lifted up, she repeatedly called “Amandla”, while smiling at Madiba.

Had she collapsed, I doubt Madiba would have survived the blow of losing his wife for the sake of pursuing freedom for his people. Yes, he may have regretted putting the liberation of his country before his wife and children, but Mama Winnie’s spirit gave him strength when he needed it most.

Such incidents demonstrate clearly the strength a woman such as Mama Sisulu can bring for change in the movement.

Wathinta abafazi wathinta imbokodo. (You strike a woman you strike a rock). Wathinta Mama Lindiwe Sisulu wathinta imbokodo.

Prince Langalibalele Mthunzi Ngonyama is spokesman for Abathembu King Zwelibanzi