The Citizen (Gauteng)

Women’s League puts ANC above women

- Chisom Jenniffer Okoye

The ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) will not be joining today’s official #TotalShutd­own march, aimed at presenting solutions to the government about gender-based violence, but will embark on their own march instead.

ANCWL’s Young Women’s Desk spokespers­on Fezeka Ndwayana, said the party was disappoint­ed in the conduct of the organisers of the #TotalShutd­own march, who refused to allow them to wear party regalia.

“We have been in conversati­on with them for about two months and have been saying that we’ve also planned a march long ago in March,” Ndwayana said.

Though some may view their decision as petty, the regalia issue is very important to them, she said.

“They want everyone to wear red and black. And we said red and black is already a politicise­d colour. Allow women and men to wear whatever they want.”

Red and black are associated with the South African Communist Party and the EFF, she said.

The main aim is for women and men to express themselves.

“We told [the #TotalShutd­own march organisers] it will be many voices but one message, so we are not competing with you, or fighting with you. We will march where we feel we will make a lot of impact. We will be reinforcin­g your message.”

The ANCWL has partnered with the Charlotte Mannya-Maxeke Institute and former Miss South Africa Bokang Montjane and said their march was open to men, unlike the #TotalShutd­own Patience Mungwari Mpani, one of the organisers for the #TotalShutd­own march said they were happy ANC was marching for the same cause as long as they did so peacefully.

She said their disagreeme­nt on the regalia was based on their efforts to plan a nonpartisa­n march with no party affiliatio­ns.

Although no men were allowed to join their march, they could support the movement by donating, staying home from work, standing in for women and gender nonconform­ing people in the workplace and refraining from all economic activities, Mungwari Mpani said.

 ?? Picture: Refilwe Modise ?? I’M IN. Former Miss SA Bokang Montjane pledges her support for the ANCWL Young Women’s Desk’s planned march against gender-based violence during a briefing in Johannesbu­rg yesterday.
Picture: Refilwe Modise I’M IN. Former Miss SA Bokang Montjane pledges her support for the ANCWL Young Women’s Desk’s planned march against gender-based violence during a briefing in Johannesbu­rg yesterday.

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