Female politicians take centre stage

The tale of two women that unfolded on the country’s political stage yesterday was fascinating, but their stories could not be more different. As one – Makhosi Khoza – left the ANC, another, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, was being sworn in as a member of parliament representing the organisation.

Khoza has been one of the ANC’s most outspoken internal critics on state capture, corruption and the need for President Jacob Zuma to step down.

Dlamini-Zuma, on the other hand, is Zuma’s anointed successor as president of the ANC and then of the country.

What will happen to Khoza now has been a matter of considerable speculation, and all she would say was that she was aligning herself with those who want to save South Africa and with faith-based organisations. She has denied she would join either the DA or the EFF, the ANC’s most vociferous political opponents.

Dlamini-Zuma’s immediate future is also unclear. In the wake of reports that her appointment as an MP will see her being fast-tracked into a Cabinet post, she said she had been instructed by the party to go to parliament, but she had not been told anything more.

It will be interesting to see whether Khoza can be a catalyst for further defections from ANC ranks and whether she will energise the opposition. Khoza certainly has significant sympathy from urban voters.

Dlamini-Zuma has been spending her time recently in rural areas, where she has been well received. Her campaign is gathering momentum and she will not be a pushover for her major opponent, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.

If Dlamini-Zuma does win the electoral race, it will be interesting to see whether she will become her own woman politically or whether her political strings will be pulled by her ex-husband.