Female president on league’s agenda

THE African National Congress (ANC) Women’s League is to debate the possibility of endorsing a female candidate for South African president at its national conference, which begins today.

The league’s policy documents are awash with the dire situation women in SA face, noting that women are lagging behind in occupying leadership positions in critical sectors of the economy such as information and communication technology, mining, construction and manufacturing.

But its focus at this week’s con- ference is likely to be political, as it looks to the ANC’s 2017 elective conference. It will debate the possibility of a woman president, seen as a proxy position by some, for those opposed to Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa taking the helm of the ANC, and becoming state president.

“We now have to answer the women president question, we have to deliver on it because society wants it,” said league president Angie Motshekga at a media breakfast yesterday.

The debate over a woman president began in earnest when, in the runup to last year’s national elections, President Jacob Zuma said the country was ready for a female leader.

African Union Commission chairwoman Nkosazana DlaminiZuma and parliamentary Speaker Baleka Mbete have been touted as possible candidates.

The conference is taking place about two years behind schedule due to weaknesses in league structures on the ground. The league had to effectively rebuild itself in provinces such as the Eastern Cape. It is battling to gain ground among younger generations, a factor also certain to be discussed.

Ms Motshekga seems poised to be challenged by Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini in a tight race for the league’s top position.