By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The newly elected president of the ANCWL, Sisisi Tolashe, says the elective conference was a success despite multiple delays, and backlogs in registrations that were caused by technical faults.
Tolashe said the ANCWL remained focused on fighting patriarchy, despite needing to clarify how it planned to differentiate itself under new leadership.
“The ANC Women’s League exists to address those challenges within the society. It is the first organisation that has taken that decision. That those challenges of patriarchal tendencies are a problem for society, women in particular,” said Tolashe.
“Hence the establishment of the women’s league exists for this reason. It has made strides in addressing that. However, there are still challenges. It is not only an ANC problem, it’s a societal problem. Hence, we go through a very bad experience of gender-based violence.
“The women’s league is encouraging women to come together for all of us to fight it.”
Tolashe also vowed the league will “support and rally around” President Cyril Ramaphosa , who has come under sharp criticism from former statesmen and business leaders over SA’s weak political leadership.
Ramaphosa, who is serving his second term as ANC president, has been criticised by his political opponents, business, civil society and the media for his slow pace in implementing structural reforms to address the country’s socioeconomic crisis.
The league has also announced additional members of its new national executive committee (NEC).
The 40-member NEC includes popular senior leaders who also serve in government.
Bathabile Dlamini, who lost Tolashe in the race for the presidency, has seemingly lost support from the branches of the league.
This means she has failed to make the top five of the league, further not getting enough votes to be elected into its highest decision-making body.
With just over 100 votes, ANC PEC member in Limpopo, Johanna Aphiri, has come out on top in the election of additional members.
But Dlamini has indicated that she has full confidence in the newly elected top five leadership and pledged to support them.
She said she was committed to working, assisting, and providing guidance to the top five elected leaders who have embarked upon a new strategy and journey to achieve their goals of improving the lives of women across the country.