ANC top six visit Winnie
Leaders note her contribution
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is not shocked by the shortage of female leaders in the ANC’s top six positions but believes a lot more work needs to be done for women to assume leadership roles in the ruling party.
This came out yesterday during a courtesy visit by the ruling party’s top six executives – albeit without party deputy president David Mabuza – at her Orlando West home in Soweto.
The 81-year-old told the media after her meeting with the ANC top brass that she did not expect a larger female representation after the ANC’s national conference last month.
“I didn’t expect any other results actually because I don’t think that the women worked hard enough to tell these men that it is time for women. I think there is plenty of time to organise for that kind of leadership,” she said.
“But we are very lucky that we have this type of leadership. I’m convinced that they believe the same that there should be more women in the national executive committee of the ANC. It has always been a patriarchal society and we didn’t expect changes overnight.”
An air of euphoria hung outside Madikizela-Mandela’s home as a crowd of about 50 people waited for the leadership to arrive. ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa said the purpose of their visit was to introduce the new leadership.
“We are also here to give uMama a copy of the January 8 statement and to draw inspiration from an outstanding daughter of the nation who has contributed so much and who also sacrificed so much for our Struggle,” Ramaphosa said.
He said they were also there to draw counsel from MadikizelaMandela as they believed that she and other former leaders would be able to provide them with guidance.