Friction between Angie, ANCWL

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

Motshekga, pictured, said yesterday 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 August and throughout the year as a gender activist.

“This month I have been invited to many women’s month forums within and outside of the education sector. I still have many invitations that I will be honouring,” she said.

Motshekga took “immense exception to the statement issued by the ANCWL directly to the media without even requesting facts beforehand”.

“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 statement aimed at trying to bring a fellow woman down. Where is the spirit of the great comrade Charlotte Maxeke, who founded this organisation and said ‘if you rise, bring someone with you’?” Motshekga said.

She had written academic papers on women’s issues and served time in prison during apartheid, fighting for the rights and dignity of women in the country.

“My involvement in women’s struggles date far back, before the ANCWL presidency, and my commitment goes beyond that,” she said. 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”.

On Saturday, 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 Bathabile Dlamini will nip in the bud any signs of ill-discipline rearing its ugly head.

“She 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,” Matuba said. – ANA