More able women in the ANC – Shabangu
Sisulu says time is right to deal with racism
“Don’t judge me because I am wearing a dress.”
This was the statement made by Susan Shabangu, the Minister of Women in the Presidency, at Luthuli House, Johannesburg, yesterday.
She was speaking during a media briefing at ANC’s head office, where the party presented a discussion document on social transformation ahead of the party’s national policy conference next month.
“Judge me on what is it that I can do in society,” Shabangu said. “Contributions in society must not be judged on the basis that you are wearing a trouser (sic) or you are a man.
“The reason that there is an emphasis on women is precisely because of the society we are living in which has left women behind.”
Shabangu made the remarks in front of Human Settlements Minister and subcommittee on social transformation chairwoman Lindiwe Sisulu, who has been endorsed by an ANC branch in the Eastern Cape’s Amathole region to be the next party leader.
Shabangu’s comments come as those who don’t want former AU Commission chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to take over the ANC reins, arguing that the ANC would split again if she succeeds President Jacob Zum a as ANC leader.
Shabangu, also an ANC national executive committee member, said there were many capable women in the party.
“We will judge a woman on the basis of her performance,” she said. “That is the debate in the ANC we are not shying away from.”
Shabangu vowed that women would compete with men.
Highlighting the ANC policy proposals on social transformation, Sisulu admitted that now is the right time to deal with the issue of racism constructively to ensure that all vestiges of racism are a thing of the past.
“This committee did try to deal with the issue a few years ago and we found the environment not ready,” Sisulu said.
“We believe now the environment is ready. Racism is something everybody identifies with and racism no longer needs definition.”
The ANC discussion document says that while strides in the building of a socially inclusive and cohesive nation have been made, poverty, and
‘ ‘ The society we are living in has left women behind
racism and inequality continue to remain a stubborn developmental obstacle to the achievement of social-economic equity in the country.