By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the new leadership of the women’s league must promote access to quality education and skills development for women, equal work for equal pay and access to capital and financial resources.
Ramaphosa was addressing the ANC Women’s League Conference on Sunday night.
“This is an important issue so that we can empower the women of our country and in govenment. We are moving forward with this yes, we are moving forward in preparing women with workshops and training.”
Ramaphosa has also tasked the new leadership with ensuring 40% of government procurement goes to female owned businesses.
Sisisi Tolashe has been elected as the new president of the ANC Women’s League.
Tolashe’s slate was elected in a clean sweep with an overwhelming majority of delegates favouring her as the leader.
The ANC elections committee said that 2 962 delegates voted of the 3 065 that were eligible.
The elective conference took place at the Nasrec Expo Centre, south of Johannesburg.
Ramaphosa further urged the women’s league to aid the ruling party emerge victorious at the 2024 polls.
“As women you have an important role to play also in the forthcoming elections. I will be relying on you to ensure that you raise the voice, the campaign and the presence of the African National Congress right throughout the country.”
“As we go around campaigning, we will find you in the front line. And this time around, you are also going to be joined by the ANC Youth League because the Youth League is awake… the young lions are going to be roaring… and are going ensure an ANC victory in the next coming elections,” he said.
“As we approach the 2024 elections, the Women’s League has an important task to mobilise women throughout society behind the ANC,” he said.
He said the Women’s League was an army of the ANC and therefore had to lead not through slogans and shouting but through the content it has.
“He reminded the women that they were gathered at the conference because of a “generation of South African women who refused to remain silent in the face of injustice.”
“We conclude this National Conference on the eve of Women’s Month, which commemorates one of the most memorable contributions of the women of our country to the struggle for liberation – the Women’s March of 1956, said Ramaphosa.
“This Conference was privileged to be have been joined by one of the leaders of the Women’s March, Isithwalandwe/Seaparankoe Mam’ Sophie de Bruyn.
“Together with leaders like Lillian Ngoyi, Rahima Moosa and Helen Joseph and thousands of women, Mam’ Sophie confronted a powerful adversary and marched on the Union Buildings to deliver the demands of the women of South Africa.”
The conference was plagued by several delays, with delegates still yet to vote for additional members who will form part of the ANCWL’s 40-member national executive committee.
It’ll follow the example set at the ANC’s 55th national conference in December last year of catching up remaining issues, and completing the gathering through hybrid platforms.