ANC must act over lack of women in top six – Mabuyane
‘DA, EFF, IFP have done better’
ANC Eastern Cape chairperson Oscar Mabuyane has bemoaned the limited number of women nominated to the top six positions of the party, saying the positions should reflect demographics.
Only national executive committee (NEC) member Nomvula Mokonyane and party veteran Febe Potgieter made it to the top six nominations. However, they will both battle it out for one position – deputy secretary-general.
However, one of the party’s mooted constitutional amendments is to have two deputy secretary-generals.
“All of us comrades must be highly concerned with limited nomination of women and less show of demographics in the results,” Mabuyane said.
“The ANC cannot reverse or remain static on the issue of women representation in the top six.
“The ANC must not come out of the 55th national conference with one woman in the top six, that would be a reversal of our democratic gains.”
Political analyst Ongama Mtimka said yesterday the ANC and its leaders had failed to take principles agreed upon, such as representivity and ethical leadership, to be practically implemented on the ground.
“…what determines who gets to lead in the ANC is a function of the power-centric competitive rivalry and not open democratic processes, which are controlled by the use of ethics, values and principles…,” Mtimka said.
“…who has the power and what value they bring to others in securing a rise within the party is what determines leadership in the ANC rather than principles of integrity, ethics and representivity.”
Political commentator Jan Jan Joubert said, of the four largest political parties, the ANC had the worst record for electing women to top leadership. “The DA, EFF and IFP have done much better.”
Joubert said women in the ANC who held high office were almost always appointed (premiers, MECs, cabinet members and mayors), not elected by members. “This is why so many of these women fail so abysmally –… they are merely appointed to fill quotas, not because they are the true leaders; the people’s choice.
“If he [Mabuyane] felt so strongly about it, he could withdraw his own name…”