‘Women can rule – if we unite’
The ANC Women's League (ANCWL) ended Women's Month on a high note with a closing ceremony at its Knysna parliamentary constituency office in Long Street on Saturday. Keynote speaker and local ANC politician Mertle Gombo urged women to "occupy their space" in all non-governmental organisations, churches, school governing bodies and political parties. Gombo said if women unite they can govern the country. "We must stop hating each other as women. The hate among women is the reason why women are not occupying strategic positions in organisations," Gombo said.
She also encouraged women to know what is happening in their wards and identify the poor families therein.
Speaking for the ANCWL veterans, Nompumelelo Koti said women need to stand up for their rights. "We as women elect men into positions forgetting that we are capable of leading. Women need to stand for their rights and not allow being used by men. Let's stand up for other women and not be used to fight other women," she said.
The majority of people campaigning for their parties are women, said Koti, but when it comes to filling positions they are left behind. "Positions are given to men everywhere," she said.
The league's regional task team member, Nolufefe Mbalo, highlighted gender-based violence, and said, "We need all the prayers we have in order to fight gender-based violence."